MrSmith1's picture

    A Flimsy Excuse for a Friday Afternoon at the Haikulodeon

     

     

    Here's this week's heap of haikus:


    tanka haiku:

    Try to retain the
    ability to express
    delirious joy.

        Any moment, happiness
        could spring from your
    consciousness.


     

     

    ---

     

     

     

    When the universe
    conspires to foil your plans,
    don't bitch, make new plans.

     

     

     

    ---

     

     


     
    haiku quintet:

    Forced to make choices,
    Ramona's voices told her
    t'was best to be wed.

    Now, they fit snugly,
    their bodies melt into one;
    their love, just oozes.

    There is a comfort
    that blesses lovers after
    nearly sixty years.

    They're like old shoes, whose
    leather has grown supple 'cuz
    they're worn ev'ry day.

    Only Love will last
    beyond the moon and stars ... so
    keep your hand in mine.


    (Happy 59th Wedding Anniversary, Ramona!!    Here's to many happy years to come!)

     

     

    ---

     

     

    (a haiku quintet:)


    The 'boys' had many
    nicknames while workin' the streets;
    Kebab and Gyro,

    Were two of them, but
    Souvlaki Sue and Hortense,
    would make them famous.

    Posing as "trannies"
    was not their idea of fun ...
    then they met, Angel.

    And Angel showed them
    a world they had never known,
    and arrests were made.

    Convictions, of course,
    were harder,  but you knew who
    got it in the end.

     

     

    ---

     

     

    Candle-lit cabin
    on a ship that sails the seas,
    studying the maps.

     


    ---

     


    For his childhood town,
    he chose Piscataway ... cuz
    he hated Mahwah.

     

     

    ---

     

     

    Debating a duck
    ain't easy, and depends what
    topic's on the bill.


     

     

    ---

     

     

    The shrinking distance
    'tween my life and my dreams ... It's
    just a-whirled away.


     

    ---

     

     

    She'd prove, she said, her
    state of emergency ... by
    slowly emerging.

     


    ---

     

     


    To remember love
    is to journey through the soul
    and restore the heart.

     

     

     

    ---
     

     

     


    A tall glass of juice,
    is no substitute for a
    big mug of coffee.

     

     


    ---

     

     

    double haiku:

    Our want, rather than
    need. is our intentional
    determination.

    Our need, rather than
    our want, is the extent of
    our determining.

     

     


    ---

     


    Charms of finches, and
    murders of crows ... memories
    of grey elephants.

    That was inspired by hearing my Spondy friend Fee's song entitled Murder of Crows:


     

     

     

    ---

     

     


    Life may intrude on
    well-crafted scenarios,
    never write in ink.

     

     


    ---

     

     

     

    Slowly I arose
    squinting to see the peaches
    'neath the bamboo tree.

     

     

    ---

     

     

     

    Storming the Bastille;
    not something that you want to
    lose your head over.

    (Happy Bastille Day - July 14th!)


     

    ---

     

     

     


    When kids are forced to
    sing TO their supper, sometimes
    noses get messy.

    (Photo courtesy Kristina Rebelo)

     

     

    ---

     

     

     

    It was a new look
    for the British embassy ...
    and a lot more fun!

     

    (Photo courtesy Kristina Rebelo)

     

    ---

     

    Architecture that
    inspired awe surrounded us,
    and we tore it down.

     

    (The old Penn Station, 1936. Photo by Berenice Abbott.)

     

     

    ---

     
     
    Sneaking through the dell,
    he followed a dried creek bed
    and made his escape.

     


    ---
     

     


    Pretty little birds
    clinging to branches, swaying
    in the morning breeze.

     

     


    ---

     

     


    I do much wonder ...
    I also do much yearn and
    dream of tomorrow.

     

     


    ---
     

     

     

    An over-dose of
    an antidote, will become
    a poison itself.

     

     


    ---
     

     


    On the road of Life,
    focus on what drives your heart,
    not the car you're in.

     

     

     


    ---

     

     

     


    She seemed unaware
    her stunning figure put the
    guys in an uproar.

     

     

     

    ---

     

     


    After harvesting
    the amber waves of grain, what
    remained were flowers.

     

     


    ---

     

     

     


    Sometimes what we think
    are flaws are, in fact, strengths when
    in the right context.

     

     

     

    ---
     

     

     

     

    Crushing a spirit
    through humiliation is
    what breeds most evil.

     

     

     


    ---

     

     

     

    A ladybug clings
    to my sleeve.  I give her a
    ride to my garden.

     

     

     

    ---

     

    double haiku:

    Elegant gestures,
    are sometimes ways of easing
    tense relations ... but,

    your ‘middle finger
    ’ain't no elegant gesture.
    Know what I'm sayin'?

     

     

    ---

     


    Before he mothered
    us, he tried to play a bike.
    Zappa for the Schwinn ...


    (March 4, 1963 ... The Steve Allen Show -  Guest: An unknown and clean-cut Frank Zappa plays a bicycle.)

     

     

    ---


    The future, said the
    gypsy, held great things ... to her,
    that meant reading palms.

    ---

     

     



    To start the music, 
    you must cover stops.  Pick up
    your stone flute and blow.


     


    ---

     

    And Hope shall lead them,
    it shines through darkness ... besides,
    who else knows the way?

     

     

    *****

     

     

     

     

     

    Comments

    Thank you so much for your contribution to our celebration!  You have made me cry once again.  I've shared this with a few others and you'll be happy to know (or will you?) tears have been shed all over the country.  I'll bet you didn't know you had that kind of power, huh?

    BTW, you are very, very special.  If I could write as well as you, I would let you know in so many words.


    You are so kind, Ramona!   I am in awe of your relationship.  59 years is no small feat and deserves major celebrating!    As for me, I've been making people cry for years, not always intentionally, but never mind that.  LOL


    Lovely poem. Congratulations, Ramona.

    Didn't mean to intrude with my nonsense.


    Thanks, Oxy.   Mr. Smith has touched my heart with this.


    Congratulations to you and your husband, Ramona. Most folks don't like anyone enough to look at them every day, much less live with them for 59 years ... so you're an inspiration to us all!


    Thanks, barefooted.  I can't say it's always been easy, but we're both grateful now that we stuck with it.  We're still not convinced it's been 59 years. That's impossible! But the calendar doesn't lie.  Lol.


     

    That lady bugs me.

    That, sir, is no ladybug,

    That bug is my wife.

     

    Take my ladybug, please.


    Lady bugs ... hmmmm
     

    Oh sweet and lovely,
    Lady be-ugh Oh Lady
    be-ugh to-who me.

    ---

    a lady bug can
    fit down in a manhole, but
    flies will zip right up.
     

     

     


     


    Lady bugs are good

    but they put the bite on you

    that's why they're called tramps.


    You like lady Bugs?
    It always made me laugh how
    Elmer couldn't tell ..
     


    You got me. Fudd?


    Yes, Fudd seemed to like "Lady" Bugs ...   (see below)

     


    To bug a lady

    all a gent needs to do is

    treat her like a tramp.


    Good one, barefooted.

     

     


    ;-]


    Excellent, Missy!!


    ride into my garden

    a shiny new bicycle

    sadly built for one

     


    One syllable too many in the first line;  
    try "Ride through my garden" instead.

     

    Ride through my garden,
    park beneath the sycamore,
    let me pluck your spokes.


    mis-wrote a line of yours

     

    ride through my garden

    on shiny new bicycle

    sadly built for one


    big mug of coffee

    no sugar, no creme: coffee

    a simple white mug


    Again, one syllable too many, this time in the second line;  
    try "no sugar, cream ... just coffee" instead.

    Also try using the third line to comment, contrast or add something new, not simply re-state the first line.

     


    already changed it.

    I'm really tired. Time for me to go to bed.


    slowly emerging

    like wisps of clouds over heath

    swirling and then gone


    Excellent!!   I like this one a lot!
     


    Slowly emerging like wisps of clouds over heath, swirling and then gone ...

    She was so excited to meet him, so sure she'd know exactly what to say.

    He was standing right in front of her, waiting to hear all her thoughts, smiling pleasantly.

    Oh, please! Words, why won't you come when I call? Help! This can't be how it ends!

    He looked at her and laughed ... as he took her hand in his, she wondered why she ever wondered.

    Time passed, tears later she came upon the place they met and anchored herself to the memory.

    No, I can't be that anymore. I tried my best! Why aren't the answers where they used to be? I can't find them!

    Beauty is fleeting,

    perhaps innocence is, too.

    Swirling and then gone.


    beauty is fleeting:

    papers fluttering across

    unforgiving streets

      


    Nice!!

    Beauty is fleeting,
    like Cinderella rushing
    back home at midnight.


    Married for ten years

    To Mildred, Maude and Mabel,

    Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens.

     


    HA!!  Excellent, Oxy!!   I think there is more to this story ... 

     

    Married for ten years
    and never an argument ...
    just bitter feelings. 
     


    I enjoyed this as always. I even like reading the comments. Thanks.


     

    Thanks, trkingmomoe!!


    A life together.
    Can get a lot of things done;
    Divided labor.

    Being good with words is good;
    But we must carve the mountain.


    Good one, moat!!

    I packed my swimsuit,
    but we must carve the mountain ...
    hope someone brought knives.

     


    Getting close to it
    gets the thing done in real time.
    Showing up again.


    Showing up again.

    Answering futility

    on the same worn path.


    Good ones, moat and missy!!

     

    Secret to success?
    It's very simple really ...
    showing up again.
     


    She has a point, though.
    It could all be really dumb;
    A Novocaine dream.


    Good one, moat!

     


    A Novocaine dream
    will often have one sub-text;
    never trust Dentists.

     

    ---


    That was the weird thing;
    it could all be really dumb,
    Republicans don't care.


    ---


    She has a point, though
    he was loathe to admit it.
    He hated losing.

     


    When the hand gets close,
    what is the body doing?
    Putting itself out.


    Nice.

     

    Smokey the bear says:
    "A burning forest won't be
    putting itself out."
     


    A hand is withdrawn

    Two young faces lose their charm

    The moment has passed.


    Excellent, Oxy!!

    Friendships may not last,
    People grow apart, and then,
    a hand is withdrawn.


    A hand is withdrawn;

    a cheek reddened by blushing

    instead of a slap.

    ----------------

    A hand is withdrawn,

    shyly self-conscious over

    putting itself out.


    Shyly self-conscious
    hand draws a wavering line.
    Not the other kind.


    A hand is withdrawn,

    he can't bluff without laughing.

    See you next Friday.


    Mr. Smith always shows up on Friday.

    Thank the Good Lord. hahahahah

    I was thinking about him. I told Missy, go to Mr. Smith's corner. Nobody aint never going to bring you down there.

    Missy still shows up on our blogs generally. hahahahah

    It is a safe place.

    But we are a relatively safe place anyway. hahahah

    We shall see our hero on Friday.

    the end


    Indeed, Oxy, indeed.

     

    Note to Gamblers: If
    you can't bluff without laughing,
    Joker, don't poker.


    Best not to poke 'er,

    cause if 'er doesn't like it

    then the poke's on you.


    Ha!


    If 'er don't like it,
    the match, she won't strike it,
    smoke 'em ... then poke 'em.


    Good one, Missy!

    riddle-ku:

    Why is a cat like
    a burning monk? 'Cuz neither's
    putting itself out.  

     

     


    I missed this. I do not even know how I missed this.

    I receive delirious joy when I see my granddaughters

    The oldest does not even like me. hahahah

    That just adds to my love for her.

    The nine month old has not reached an intellectual level in order to understand her sister's understanding of reality. hahahah

    Anyway I am nuts about these kids, probably because of their love for their father. ha

    It is genetic and familial and psychological I guess.

    Oh and ladybugs.

    A couple of years ago I was caught in a rainstorm around the pond and this stupid turtle was running the wrong way. I just had to pick him up and turn him around and he went for the pond.

    You reminded me of this insignificant incident.

    the end

     


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