Laura Podeschi

EN340 / IN350 Global Haiku Tradition
Dr. Randy Brooks
Spring 2005

Laura Podeschi

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A Separate Peace Haibun

kasen renga: Headlights & Streetlights

Bernard Einbond and Bashô

FIGHTING FOR PEACE
A collection of Haiku
by

Laura Podeschi

Fighting for Peace is my first collection of haiku. This compilation not only reflects past experiences, but also looks toward the future; moreover, this work indicates the amount of introspection I have done throughout the past semester. The title resulted from one such haiku:

fighting for peace
the leaf trembles
on its branch

Like the leaf, I am constantly fighting for inner peace. Throughout the semester, I have continued to develop a sense of self. Essentially, the haiku within Fighting for Peace concern my struggle to hold onto who I am as I continue to move forward.

Each of the haiku in Fighting for Peace brims with meaning. This collection of poetry may at first seem disconnected, a menagerie of word pictures. But, on deeper reflection, you will find something more. Individual haiku come together to tell the story of one woman’s journey toward wholeness and inner peace.

The poetry in Fighting for Peace is beautiful and insightful, encouraging readers to embark on their own journeys toward personal wholeness. Read and enjoy!

-Kimberly Adams

blue swings
meet the sky
we jump

tracing the path
of an old scar
the tree’s bark

yellow dandelion
I ask him
if he’s happy

looking for
lightning
I hold my breath

taking my eyes
off the road
a leaf flutters by

on the road
we talk about
where we’ve been

someone to confide in
this sudden gust
of wind

late night conversation
slipping
through cracks

fighting for peace
the leaf trembles
on its branch

two-thirty in the morning
I ask him
to forgive me

winter reflected
a white horizon
through the window

gust of winter wind
icy fingers separate
then unite again

the tide rises
a hint of orange
in winter sky

rush of water
I no longer know
the face staring back

girl’s bathroom
she washes the ashes
from her forehead

rain drips down
the black umbrella
a shadow falls across his face

he smiles at me
from across the net
love-thirty

the phone rings
I tuck my hair
behind my ear

Spring lilies
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep

FIGHTING FOR PEACE A collection of Haiku by

blue swings meet the sky we jump

tracing the path of an old scar the tree’s bark

yellow dandelion I ask him if he’s happy

looking for lightning I hold my breath

taking my eyes off the road a leaf flutters by

on the road we talk about where we’ve been

someone to confide in this sudden gust of wind

late night conversation slipping through cracks

fighting for peace the leaf trembles on its branch

two-thirty in the morning I ask him to forgive me

winter reflected a white horizon through the window

gust of winter wind icy fingers separate then unite again

the tide rises a hint of orange in winter sky

rush of water I no longer know the face staring back

girl’s bathroom she washes the ashes from her forehead

rain drips down the black umbrella a shadow falls across his face

he smiles at me from across the net love-thirty

the phone rings I tuck my hair behind my ear

Spring lilies I drop my luggage on the doorstep

FIGHTING FOR PEACE
A collection of Haiku
by

blue swings
meet the sky
we jump

tracing the path
of an old scar
the tree’s bark

yellow dandelion
I ask him
if he’s happy

looking for
lightning
I hold my breath

taking my eyes
off the road
a leaf flutters by

on the road
we talk about
where we’ve been

someone to confide in
this sudden gust
of wind

late night conversation
slipping
through cracks

fighting for peace
the leaf trembles
on its branch

two-thirty in the morning
I ask him
to forgive me

winter reflected
a white horizon
through the window

gust of winter wind
icy fingers separate
then unite again

the tide rises
a hint of orange
in winter sky

rush of water
I no longer know
the face staring back

girl’s bathroom
she washes the ashes
from her forehead

rain drips down
the black umbrella
a shadow falls across his face

he smiles at me
from across the net
love-thirty

the phone rings
I tuck my hair
behind my ear

Spring lilies
I drop my luggage
on the doorstep