Celebration All Around

Global Haiku Traditions, 2017

solo kasen
by

Alex Herrera, Mackenzie Martin, Maddy Delano, Morgan Better, & Megan Batty

Celebration all around

a calamity
as we sit in silence
family Thanksgiving

the table is smaller
dad

strong hands
that used to lift me up
        now have fallen

I still see the crescent shape
the moon's presence

as big as his heart
presents
our Christmas tree is standing

family gathers
the children cheerily sing

•

the crackling hearth
engulfing the room
with warmth and love

celebration all around
at the savior's birth

the clock is counting down
I search for someone
to count with

stars glow in the dark
        over our warm bed

frozen beard
unforgiving wasteland
the arctic tundra

watching a penguin dance
my favorite movie

•

snowflakes falling
    cold on my tongue
        April showers?

happy snowmen
slowly melt into sad puddles

looking down
the full moon's reflection
        smiling back

the leaves are growing back
the sun is coming soon

everything awake
after a long cold slumber
        reborn and rejuvenated

celebrations in the street
heroes adorned with gold and silver

•

flowers open
as if to greet the happiness
        all around

what in carnation
the blue flower exclaims

a rainbow
birthed from the ground
the dusty bees buzzing, buzzing

the leprechaun
guards his pot of gold

Court jesters appear
fools and tricksters
only for 24 hours

tick tock clock
counting down til Easter

•

eggs become
the color of tulips
children become giddy

please take pity
my AC is broken

classes are coming
to a close
please slow down

sunshiney rays
lengthy warm days

day in the sun
big yellow sun
oh        big yellow moon

the stars
accompany the luna moth

•

I chew slowly
peanut butter luna bars
crunchy

tossing almonds
to our favorite pigeons

peck
enjoying the taste
peck peck

graceful birds finish their meal
to fly over the cool still pond

President's Day
the cherry blossoms are
opened in Washington

year-round happiness
our dad buying bright flowers

• • •