Haikus: Fall 2016 by Rich Cureton

I

Woodpecker’s workin’.

Twelve knots twist up the tree trunk.

Bluejay is jealous.

II

Leaves, yellow and red.

White clouds cross a bright blue sky.

Rows of mowed green grass.

III

Torn trees, brown bushes.

Bare branches, pockmarked patches.

Frayed forms, figurines.

IV

Sleek lines slip along.

Birds are not this beautiful.

Blades bite. The back bends.

V

Fall leaves, fluttering,

Sun skipping across the grass.

Wind in the willows.

VI

Helicopter hats!

Seeds swirling in the sunlight,

Blown, to be reborn.

LVII

Glinting light, bright green,

Wings by the window, watching

Us, here, watching her.

LVIII

In flight, they’re smoooooooth, as

The sand shores of Sheboygan.

Top guns, blue angels.

LIX

Stacked shelves, in sequence,

Waft up from the water, land

Lifted from the sea.

LX

Soaring seraph, saint:

Talons tucked; white tail, wimpling;

Head held high; wings wide.

LXI

Fifty-foot hickory!

Tip-top tree house hideout hangs

There. Eyes up! Eyes out!

LXII

Clack, click! Clack, clack, click!

Tall Tom Turkey, toes tapping.

Clop! Clip! Clop, clop, clip!

LXIII

Look out on the lake.

Feel the fire. Smell the smoke.

Listen to the leaves.

LXIV

Cool, quiet evening.

Choruses of crickets croon.

Last light is leaving.

XV

What should I do now?

Salmon swim upstream to spawn.

What will I be then?

LXVI

Buddha’s everywhere.

Green fields glistening with grain.

Barracudas, bugs.

LXVII

Red berries, brown branch.

Leaves lie, littering the lawn.

Warm sun. Full moon. Frost.

LXVIII

Fire. Smoke. Burning leaves.

White petunias on green stems.

Late low light. Bright stars.

LXIX

Puppy plays, splashing.

Father and daughter hold hands.

Bright sun. Waves. Brown sand.

LXX

White lights, blazing.

Turnpike traffic. Clear, cold air.

Long road. Loud music.

LXXI

Hot black smoke. Red flame.

Sun-soaked green grass, wet with dew.

White clouds. Blue sky. Wind.

Rich Cureton is a retired English professor. With his brother, Kirk, he owns a shoreline cottage and 10 acres of land on Wisconsin Bay Road, north of Gills Rock. He has been coming to Door County, regularly, for 60 years. November through April, he lives with his wife in Ann Arbor, Michigan. May through October he is at his cottage in Door County.