the puppy
chasing his tail-
avoids my grasp

two butterflies
dance with the breeze-
and each other

all night diner-
a fly, samples each table
then joins us

the shadow
of a butterfly-
overshadowed

white mice
taking your disease-
mouse’iahs

she whistles
for her dog-
dogs whistle back




A Note:

In most of my Haiku, I try to capture a single moment in absolute terms keeping the spirit of traditional Haiku, though at times, I break with the traditional, as did some of the masters, and use abstracts or other poetic devices not often found in more traditional writings. I rarely use the 5-7-5 syllable format simply because the Japanese onjii does not correlate with the English syllable. Many modern Haiku poets, the real ones, not like me, say the 5-7-5 structure in English cannot match the Japanese version and suggest a much shorter form. Some abandon the number of syllables altogether, and simply focus on the spirit of the work. The idea of a 5-7-5 syllable poem, constructed in three lines, is not a Japanese tradition, but an English attempt to adapt to a Japanese discipline. Many Japanese Haiku were actually written in a single line format. Some were written in three, others more. As English linguists gained more knowledge in the Japanese language they saw that the onjii was not a syllable. Comparing the Japanese onjii to the English syllable is like comparing an apple to an orange. This point can be verified through an examination of Haiku publications. I no longer name my Haiku, keeping with Japanese tradition. Also in an attempt to maintain tradition, I try to imply a season or nature setting. Many Masters used humor in their writings, an area that I attempt every now and then. Like all poetic forms, Haiku has evolved throughout the years and continues to evolve. One thing I have found in my research and examination of Haiku, both traditional and modern, is that everyone seems to have their own idea as to what constitutes a good Haiku. Even the Japanese Masters did not all agree or hold to what we now consider to be traditional Haiku formats. My hope is that you enjoy mine. Thanks for reading.