the fixed white stars
turning in the night—
my dog is dead

sun-bathed meadow—
a deer prances
into my crosshairs

morning alarm—
my cat asleep
where you should be

sleepy hands
caress me awake--
just five more minutes

Joanne Weise (5)

This haiku has a very familiar feel to me, as it probably does to everyone. Everyone that has ever lived has had this feeling of not wanting to get up, to have only five more minutes, which will quickly turn into another hour if they aren't careful. Even with the gentle caress of waking hands, the urge to sleep is more powerful than the mortal mind. Mark

Ahh, those were the days…! I can remember my mom gently caressing me awake, especially on those lazy Sunday mornings: “C’mon Raquel, there are chores and things to do!” Sometimes I wake up and I am homesick for my mom pulling up the blinds and helping me start off my day. Now I have independence and an alarm clock. And still those warm memories… Raquel

clear blue sky
big bright moon
oh what a beautiful night

Alicia Kelly

Reminds me of particular evenings when you can see the moon but it's not dark out yet. It also reminds me of the eve right before a good party that's about to happen later after a pretty good day. The moon already shinning it's bright light early to guide you through an upcoming darkness of the night, it feels right. Anthony

in grandma's house
the water dish and litter box
already gone

silver reflections
in the dancing lake
waxing moon

dancing colors
a single stone
representing life

Ali Scott

cool breeze
mind numbing roar
of the air conditioner

out of the corner of my eye
i can't tell
if they are kissing

Josh Wild (2)

I really like this haiku. I used to work in a department store, and I would look over and see people kissing, so as soon as i read this, I got that memory. It also makes me think that someone is trying to look to see what the couple is doing, but that person also does not want to be nosy so the look out of the corner of the eye. Alicia

a moth fluttering
toward a lamp
full of dead moths

Josh Wild

This haiku is great because it captures the exact nature of moths.   You never see them flying around for the hell of it, but always toward a light, which is their nature. Even if they see their own demise in the light source, they just don't care. I love it. Joanne

girl on cell phone
repeating herself
"kiss my ass"

stepping stones
deep in the water
the tops of houses

Mark Beanblossom (5)

The image that jumps to mind is Red Moon Theatre’s production of Loves Me… Loves Me Not…. I went to this play last Sunday in Chicago. It was a show based on the disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was performed behind the Museum of Science and Industry in the Jackson Park Lagoon, not far from Lake Michigan. The set was actually in the water. The roofs of these houses in the play were almost entirely submerged in the water. It was a play that took tremendous risk: it incorporated only a few lines of dialogue; it was what would be considered a “spectacle.” It was a chronicle of the affected people’s lives. It had no beginning and no end. It didn’t “end” as one is accustomed to seeing play’s end. It asked many questions and gave the answer of the passage of time… Raquel

asleep on my book—
on the desk
cold coffee

Rick Bearce (2)

damp leaves
in the crosswalk
the cars don't yield

Josh Wild (2)

gunshots
as I lay bleeding on the floor
-Game Over-

Rick Bearce (3)

Reminds me of the countless number of people who are killed by violence, whether it's purposely or accidentaly. People who choose to live by that type of lifestyle end up living short lives. The game over part reminds me of a saying that life is a game you just have to know how to play it. Anthony

I like this haiku becasue it starts being so dark and violent, but then ends up being so humorous. With the first two lines, we are concerned and scared at what is going on. Was the author attacked? Is he/she dead? But then, with the last line, our fears our assuaged and we realize that the author is only playing a harmless video game, and the only pain he/she is feeling is the frustration at having lost agian. Mark

breeze on the lake
in the distance
laughs of drunken fishermen

farmer’s daughter
selling produce—
What superb melons!

Rick Bearce (2)

texas hold-em
until i'm dealt
suited aces

Joanne Weise

I like this haiku because I am a big poker player. The great part about this one is the implication of the suited aces. Since hold 'em is only played with one deck, two aces of the same suit would imply someone is cheating. Rick

incoming call
from my little brother
bail money

Joanne Weise (3)

As soon as I read, I imagine that it is late at night. That person is tucked into bed and all the sudden the phone rings. You have to crawl out of bed and answer the phone. Suddenly, you're left with the choice to either bail him out or do nothing at all. Alicia

against my face
a cool wind blows
a cold and lonely night

Alicia Kelly (2)

up the trunk,
ever expanding outwards
leaves

Deidre Fields (3)

This makes me think of autumn and the leaves are expanding outward, because they are dying and about to fall. I can imagine how the leaves look right before they are about to kiss the ground. I feel a slight breeze that is tempting the leaves to drop slowly to the dry grass below. Carrie

he sits silently
deep in conversation
his fingers flying

Mark Beanblossom (3)

I really enjoyed this poem, because I can relate to it so well. It is so modern and shows how technology is a major part of our lives and society. I have been sitting at my computer, talking to people, and then realize an hour or two has gone by. This poem makes me imagine the clicking sound of the keys. Carrie

I just can't get past the last line of this haiku, because I find the image of someone sitting down, deep in conversation, waving their hands around, maybe to help illustrate a point they're trying to make. The first line hangs me up, though; maybe the person is silent at first, until they're offered a topic that they're able to comment on with their hand motions. I see two people sitting in the grass near a tree on a cliff-like area, overtop a huge landscape, one picturesque for flying - hence his flying fingers. I love this image. Joanne

mint-green Abe
in a circle of trees
someone is studying