Haiku
edited by Kala Ramesh
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winter dark -
the empty sky full
of honking geese
the iridescence in a magpie's tail -
nothing is black and white
high winds -
a kestrel hovers
somehow
a black dog
in a derelict tunnel -
distant thunder
snow
dancing
jackdaws
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locked soldier ants
throw their weight about
—silent disco
driving off-track—
the fattest elephant seal
steals a pre-dug patch
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late afternoon
mountain shadow
crawls across the meadow
hermit thrush
in the bare redbud tree
loneliness
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after the storm
small clouds parked
on double yellow lines
doe-eyed chihuahua—
my labrador skids to a stop
in mid-fetch
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when there’s no one left
to tend your grave
starlight
seaside toilet
even the spider
stays outside
when you realise
what death means
nightingale
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confessions
the open doors
we hide behind
back and forth
along the pier
my share of sky
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day's end
a few petals remain
in the hearse
polished floor
a patch of sunlight
slides
across borders
this language
of snowflakes
ebb tide
shells remain
and questions
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economics class
a jet plane in the sky draws
the exponential curve
under the skipping rope
the moon jumps
with me
first paddy spikes ...
a bunch of golden strings
in my hand
even in Kerala
watching the snake boat race
I long for Kerala
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ancient turtle
the etching on your shell
reveals the world
songbird
I hear your thoughts
in the breeze
empty shell
someone I know
lost at sea
rising sun
burning itself into
patterns
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a gentle tide
entering my dream
the call of a loon
trail dust …
climbing Mount Hood
with my shadow
campfire embers …
my mother’s voice
drifting to sleep
winter rain —
on my resume
the weight of ink
sunbeams
in a trail of dust
a moth in flight
first confession —
a heavy stone falls
into the sea
revisiting
her tombstone
the scent of moss
among endless
trees and deep valleys
the mystery of me
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how different
these woodland paths
fallen leaves
family reunion
they live their lives
through faded photos
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hearing the music
of the forest ...
autumn rain
a black swallowtail
clings to the parsley
I tiptoe away
fallen leaves ...
the unfinished house
up for sale
window view —
the morning glory
climbs the moon
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hair cut short
I stop being friends
with the wind
breaking clouds
a litter of puppies left
outside women’s shelter
she calls
I answer—
koel and me
leaving the stars
where they are
mountain river
the path home
becomes narrower
rose bushes
finally in remission rogue summer
moving day
was the house
this big before