Encounter

the subway routine
elbow to elbow to rib with a half dozen
strangely his touch is what I notice

hoping to gain attention
as the lights flickering above

the argument
he and I had this morning replays
as I stare into a strangers smile

clouds form above
rushing through the day
no time to see the cherry blossoms

a girl passes me
wearing the perfume I used to wear

loneliness....
surrounded by people
as the day goes on

          by Kim Day & Alike Norman

My favorite Rengay for this kukai 3 is The Photo. I like how it begins and ends with the same type of haiku and therefore bringing it back around to the beginning of the Rengay. I can picture this photo and all of the people of her family; how some are doing well and others not. My favorite line is, “a phone call from the darkness/ they are getting a divorce.” You can literally hear the call, at night, in the silence, and feel the sadness and strong emotion of the news, almost as if it was your own family. That is why I really like this Rengay. Christin

The Photo

photograph propped on fireplace
all of us smiling
from our dorm room bench

how comfortable all four fit
in a two door coupe

walking through the corridors
the disinfectant burns my nose
baby boy looks like her

in the sunlight
a wedding invitation
has landed in the rosebush

a phone call from the darknes
they are getting a divorce

photgraph propped on the dresser
all of us smiling
children in our arms

          by Alike Norman & ?

The Neighborhood

through the missing slats
daisies catch the sun
sitting on her rocker with the broken rung

trash talkin'
on the court nearby

rhythmic thumping
chain link rattles
shadows run from the heat

their laughter rippling
from the open hydrant—
an ice-cold surprise

music in sidewalk puddles
splashing to the beat

a familiar tune
the driver stops...
we run to get a scoop

          by Eris Eridanus & Jacque Manicki

Sunday Afternoon

warm summer breeze
alone on the bench
she feeds the ducks

lost in thought
memories pour

picking up the pace
running—
from his past

storm clouds
on the brink
rumbling of thunder

lightning crashes
rain falls from above

soaking wet…
their picnic uneaten
in the garbage can

          by Jacque & Jackie Manicki (my mother-in-law)

Primrose and Clover

the battle horn sings
haggard pikemen march out
singing their death song

women throw primrose
as they pass the clover covered mounds

vultures circle ahead
the sky grieves
a battle looms

thunder approaches in the distance
lightning against lightning
opposing forces meet

the battle rages
the sun sets low

red crimson flows
across the golden ground
primrose and clover will dress the new burial mounds

          by Seth Eridanus and Eris Eridanus

Seth just turned fifteen. He has been learning and writing haiku as I have been. We used a haiku that he had previously written as our hokku.

Empty Eyes

hectic day
relaxing
under hot water

unfamiliar sound
heart pounding

empty eyes
reflect
in the mirror

musky smell
torn flesh
on broken glass

deep red
splatter

early dawn
tear stained cheeks
breathless

          by Rachel & Amanda

The Cycle

lipstick and heels
picking out
her favorite panties

prowling pray
the victim is spotted

white lies
lead
to the dark room

sweaty palms
leaning in for a kiss
rejected

tied and gagged
surprised – he liked it!

bra and lipstick
picking out
her favorite heels

          by Rachel & Amanda

Sweet Blessings

cold sticky goo
on my swollen belly
baby's first picture

diapers, onesies, and bottles beginning
to fill every inch of the house

growing bigger
trying to kick
his way out

humid days
swelling ankles

frantic last minute
phone calls
sharing the news

ray of sunshine
glorious day

          by Courtney Kerley & Buffy Smith

Forest Fantasy

the family finds
among the snow
the perfect tree

the cool blade echoes
as it hits the trunk

with the flurries
timber falls
on the frozen ground

a cardinal proudly perches
between crystal branches

pale moonlight
on crimson feathers
winter frost

filling the crisp air
silence

          by Lauri Torbert, Mark Isaacs, Courtney Kerley

Wedding Day

Autumn day
Beach side resort
family near

beyond the stairway
my true love awaits

she’s heading this way
speechless
my princess

eyes lock
vows recited

life changing
lots of flashes
time to party

rose pedals
romantic dinner
for two

          by Justin Pratt & ?

June Meteor Rain

summer day
beach side lunch
best friend

crashing waves
basket f l o a t away

knee high in water
recovered the goods
dinner time

sandwiches soggy
pickles salty

chocolate cake
telescope
another world

flash in the sky
meteor rain
perfect ending

          by Justin Pratt & ?

I loved this renga because I was able to connect with it on such a personal level. I connected with the first three lines because, like the writer, I needed just one more class to satisfy my graduation requirement. The second three lines resonate with me due to my course load this semester and that I’ve been taking two classes per week, needless to say I’ve been going to bed very late the last five weeks. The effect of these late bed times makes class time creep by, as the writer states. Break times are the times we get to socialize and stop focusing on class and represent an oasis’ in the class schedule that we wait for. The final lines summarize the experience in both our longing and our frustration as it is the soda machine which contains the caffeine we desire yet sometimes refuses to accept our dollar bills. Carson

6-10pm

global haiku—
need one more class
to be full time

wrong class room
on the syllabus

four hours left…
late bed times
make time creep by

the clock ticks
in time with my pulse

break time
doesn’t come
soon enough

i hope the machine…
takes my dollar

          by Stephen Lones & Katie McIntosh

House Bunny

lost in this world
only word known by—
blonde

too old…
twenty-seven

Bodaciously Going
Where No Bunny Has Gone Before...
College

they wanted a role model
they got a Playmate

Brains. Beauty. Bravery.
These girls
don’t know it yet

rags to riches
ZETA

          by Katie McIntosh

Passion

Over and over my mind replays
Wanting you close
My dreams take control

As I lay
Awakened by your touch

Morning glory
Sunshine seeping in
Coffee grounds in the air

On the beach
Hand and hand
Our footprints in the sand

Watching the tides
As our worries disappear

Together forever
We’re inseparable
How sweet it is

          by Kimilee Day & Tobais Jarrett

In the beginning….

Darkness
He spoke
Light

Smiling
Pleased with His work
Day and night

Water
He spoke again
Creating

Dry ground
A new sky above
Pleased

Fruit trees
Bearing fruit
Seeds

The sun
Marking the seasons
The greater light

The lesser light
Governing the night
Moon and stars

Living creatures
Filling the water and sky
For the first time

Animals
Covering the earth
According to their kind

Dust in hands
Molding and shaping in
His image

Breathing
The breath of life
Heartbeat

Resting
Looking at His creation
Seventh day

          by Melissa Davidson & April

Winter Games

Winter pond –
Testing the ice
One toe at a time

Skates and sticks
Piled high in wait

Ice swept clean
Teammates are picked
One by one

Break time…
Marshmallows in chocolate
Warm little hands

Assembly line
Scarves and hats are checked

Winter wonderland
Playing outside
Until mom calls us in

           by Nicky & Jeremy Wallace

Harmony

Floating butterflies
Dancing with each other
Barefoot in the grass

Daisies sway in rhythm
To the wind in the trees

Nature's Music...
The brook flowing
over moss covered rocks

Waterbug twirling
above a waltzing trout
Cicada sings

Young buck prances
through the rolling meadow

long shadows caress
along boughs of a pine
the moon smiles

          by Nicky Wallace and Sue James

SOUTHERN STYLE

spring break—
off to the lone star state
for a taste of southern comfort

just the two of us
hand in hand

circling the riverwalk
so many restaurants
so little time

candles and tablecloths
a sizzling steak
awaits

time stands still
sharing key lime pie

our last day
in paradise
where will we dine tonight?

          by Curt Swigert and Mary Sue Swigert

NAIL BITER

the band plays
as teams warm up—
jump ball

catch the pass
first to score

foreheads perspire
knotted score
means overtime again

pacing on the sideline
biting his tongue
as the ref jogs by

rows of bleachers
filled with school spirit

the team rallies
playing as one
success 

          by Mary Sue Swigert and Julie Trimble

The Mother-in-Law

Six months…
Unrealized expectations
They break up

New possibilities
Emerge……

New year
Seven weeks to go
Degree complete

A change is coming ….
Spring winds blow

New Job
Friendly faces
Something more….

Another glass of wine
Life is good

          by Tamara & ?

Family Pets

First day home
Cameras flash
Puddle on the floor

Tricks to learn
Friends to make

Introductions
Dog to cat
Fur flies

Obedience
Training 101

New bed
New toys
Now he sleeps with me

Constant companion
Forever friend

          by Tamara & ?

Reunion

In the sold out arena
The lights go dim –
Our hearts pound

As the smoke rises
So do the screams

From the stage
The idols immerge
To the adoring fans

Cameras flash
From all around
Like shining stars

Memories of the past
Meet the thrill of the present

A band reunited
A mother’s excitement
Now her daughters

          by Julie Trimble & family?

Igor’s Plot

dark lab
mad scientist
maniacal plan

evil invention
mass destruction

hunched assistant
“Igor…
Throw the switch!!!”

sparks fly
body moves
life created

terror plot—
of world domination

experiment fails
monster is good
Eva instead of evil

          by J. Mark Isaacs &Coral Isaacs

Forrest Fantasy

the family finds
among the snow
the perfect tree

the cool blade echoes
as it hits the trunk

with the flurries
timber falls
on the frozen ground

a cardinal proudly perches
between crystal branches

pale moonlight
on crimson feathers
winter frost

filling the crisp air
silence

          by Courtney Kerley, Lauri Torbert & J. Mark Isaacs

An Assignment

the finger points at
lettered images liberated
from the open book

my mind reaches out
to capture the spirit

pencil in hand
squinting eyes
ideas spinning

eraser dust smudges
no words quite right
on sterile paper

searching left, up, down
and out the window in the grass

I don’t have no
haiku ants
in my pants

          by Sue James and Elizabeth James

We’ll Never Do This Again

Moving furniture
The middle of December
I fell twice

The temperature
Below freezing

Moving
In the middle of the night
We make like thieves

Frozen hands
Carrying boxes

Hundreds of books
We refuse to leave behind
Boxes of elephants

We’ll never do this again
During a frozen night

          by Mary and Christin Birmingham

Papa

In the frozen foods
I smell his cologne
When no one is around

The scent brings back memories
-my flooded mind

A grandfather,
A father,
Long gone.

I look for the source of the smell
Among the pepperoni pizzas

Shivering
From the open freezer door
I still don’t move

Finally closing the door, I remember
I still need cottage cheese

          by Christin Birmingham & ?

Bibliography

western or romance
shelved with care
to many choices

a reader’s smorgasbord
banquet for all ages

whispers between aisles
patrons seeking
the perfect match

knight takes bishop
computer takes card catalog
librarian takes over due fine

newspaper on a stick
hanging for a day

magazines entombed in plastic
tax forms galore
help me please!

          by Ed and Lauri Torbert

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