By Geoffrey Dean
[Composed in Bloomington, Illinois, this summer.]
bench in graying greens
greets at a corner bus-stop –
moss meets moisture here
aging oaks shelter
homes along the boulevard –
coffee on the porch
gurgling fountains
splash garden color under
gargoyle’s watchful eye
once white, a garage
still stands as if still in use –
hotrod languishes
behind blue shingles
under a conical roof –
a circular room
branches shudder and
sway; wave of green gives away
squirrel’s escape route
tuft of white behind
compromises camouflage –
rabbit’s morning dash
scented herbs, hint of
light, joggers left, bikers right –
Constitution Trail
sculpted front-yard bears
hug trees, laze about, look fierce –
visitors forebear
twin white trucks, brand new
faded red bike made for two –
trail ride in tandem
| Copyright © 2019 by Geoffrey Dean |
verses shaped and furnished:
ReplyDeletebus bench, oaks, fountains,
...roofs...rooms...trails....
Great job! It's not easy to write traditional haiku--and you do a great job. These two were moprte than wonderful:
ReplyDeletebehind blue shingles
under a conical roof –
a circular room great contrast
and
aging oaks shelter
homes along the boulevard –
coffee on the porch such a simple phrase
and
gurgling fountains
splash garden color under I really like "garden color"
gargoyle’s watchful eye
I know, I know--I said two of them were wonderful. I placed three here--but who's counting?
Michael, Geoff does seem to have a gift for writing haikus, doesn't he? I might have said the same things you do in your comment, but they would not have meant as much, coming from the poet's father (rather than from a master poet with no blood relationship).
DeleteThank you Michael! I use the haiku form with a certain sense of guilt that I am appropriating it without fully adhering to its "rules". I think the first one you comment on has more of those elusive haiku qualities, like that feeling of a moment in time rather of an action taking place, than most of my other ones. Now, "coffee on the porch" was originally "smoking on the porch," but that seemed too active and...unidyllic?
ReplyDelete