Karen Mcfadin

PACE Global Haiku • April 2007
Dr. Randy Brooks

Karen Mcfadin

• • •

author study on
Randy Brooks

A Flattened Teddy Bear

by
Karen Mcfadin

A flattened teddy bear is one that not only shares secrets with its owner, but stirs memories in those who look upon it. Although it may now be sitting on a shelf, the memories are loud and clear.

This collection of haiku is my teddy bear. It shares my memories. Some are new, but many are old and have been sitting on the shelf of my consciousness waiting to resurface. My approach to writing Haiku is to open my mind and let what is around me to stir those tucked away memories. If I have written successfully, the readers of this collection will be taken back to their own memories.

flattened
the cherished teddy bear
watches over his room

a good day at preschool
he remembers to wear
his underwear

mother raccoon
in the attic
newborns cry

trees breaking
in a cold wind
marriage mending

two of us
shadows from candles
dance on the wall

winter wind
snuggled in the sag
of the old mattress

ditches swollen
from a summer storm
boat races

in the dark
a flash leaves
my impression on the wall

she turns the yellow pages
inspirations from
above

A Trio of Souls

boy scouts skiing
on a mountain
two friends are joined by a third

late night talks
while souls draw close

a widow mourns
two mothers
hold out their arms

tears of sorrow
dried through kinship

making memories
laughter joins
three hearts

friendship blossoms
into sisterhood

by Karen McFadin,
Debbie Tucker,
and Linda Wiesner

Offspring Ballet

April wind sends
seedlings twirling downward
nature’s dance

birds are chirping
while building their nest

hummingbirds sing
a golden tutu flitters
across the playground

little girls
chasing the breeze
arms wide open

the sun warms cherub faces
dizzy from their spins

screams
with each fall
mothers cringe

by Sue Short
and Karen McFadin

© 2007, Randy Brooks • Millikin University
All rights returned to authors upon publication.