MID-FEBRUARY HAIKU ASSORTMENT

(Each individual three-line haiku is considered a poem on its own,

despite perhaps being related to a common theme.–J.E.C.)

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(Additionally, haiku may or may not include punctuation—traditional haiku generally do not  have it –J.E.C.)

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Presidents’ Day off

Waving away package trucks

Skeleton crew on

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American loss,

Long weekends not historic…

Blurred history lost!

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High snow banks turn brown

Road salt stains on pavement grey

Waiting for snow days

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Plow trucks stand idle

Except for salting road ice

No more overtime?

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Winter buds wonder

Is it time to grow and sprout?

Freeze burnt other years…!

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Swans in ponds feeding

Youngsters finally on their own

Mommas drove them off

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Easter candy sales

Set up before the fourteenth

Valentines half off

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–Jonathan Caswell

DOUGLAS AT NIGHT

DOUGLAS AT NIGHT

I walked through Douglas last night,

A darkened stroll in varied light…

Beheld those dam lights*

To guide goose flights,

The swans were beyond my sight.

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Walking alone in the dark,

My work bag got heavier as I walked…

Its shoulder strap

Gratefully intact,

On alternating shoulders it parked.

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Was grateful for passing cars,

I could see down the road far…

To avoid branches snapped

Or by a vine wrapped,

Waking on cement or tar.

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The Mumford gurgled peacefully,

As the lights of town I see…

Over a stone bridge

Paced slackened a smidge,

It was a long walk for me!

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The grade up twisting North Street,

Reminded of my old Health Aide beat…

Hayward Landing, I was sure,

Was just as secure:

Living there would have been a treat.

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Passed an darkened police cruiser where

I quietly passed who was there…

And went on my way

Without delay,

Enjoying warm night air.

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Couldn’t see lights of home through the trees,

‘Til I rounded the corner and eased…

Onto the driveway

Where I started my day,

I hoped my shop’s bill wouldn’t quease!

–Jonathan Caswell

*See my poem, LANDING LIGHTS????, posted July 2, 2013.

MARSHMALLOW ISLANDS

MARSHMALLOW ISLANDS

 

Floating islands in a mill-pond,

Peacefulness there upon….

With folded necks

One suspects,

Snoring from them is profound.

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Asleep in the heat of the day,

Siesta for swans is okay…

Water eventually

Wakes them gently,

When the fish want to play!

 

–Jonathan Caswell