Original Haiku

Original Haiku and Tanka by Michael R. Burch These are original haiku and tanka written by Michael R. Burch, along with haiku-like and tanka-like poems inspired by the forms but not necessarily abiding by all the rules. Dark-bosomed clouds pregnant with heavy thunder ... the water breaks ―Michael R. Burch The poem above is my favorite of my original haiku. I wrote it while working on translations of haiku by the Oriental masters. Here's another one I particularly like: one pillow ... our dreams merge ―Michael R. Burch The Original Sin: Rhyming Haiku! Haiku should never rhyme: it’s a crime! ―Michael R. Burch The herons stand, sentry-like, at attention ... rigid observers of some unknown command. ―Michael R. Burch Late fall; all the golden leaves turn black underfoot: soot ―Michael R. Burch A snake in the grass lies, hissing "Trespass!" ―Michael R. Burch Honeysuckle blesses my knuckle with affectionate dew ―Michael R. Burch My nose nuzzles honeysuckle’s sweet nothings ―Michael R. Burch The day’s eyes were blue until you appeared and they wept at your beauty. ―Michael R. Burch The moon in decline like my lover’s heart lies far beyond mine ―Michael R. Burch My mother’s eyes acknowledging my imperfection: dejection ―Michael R. Burch The sun sets the moon fails to rise we avoid each other’s eyes ―Michael R. Burch There are more rhyming haiku later on this page ... Iffy Coronavirus Haiku yet another iffy coronavirus haiku #1 by michael r. burch plagued by the Plague i plague the goldfish with my verse yet another iffy coronavirus haiku #2 by michael r. burch sunflowers hang their heads embarrassed by their coronas I wrote the poem above after having a sunflower arrangement delivered to my mother, who is in an assisted living center and can’t have visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic. I have been informed the poem breaks haiku rules about personification, etc. Homework (yet another iffy coronavirus haiku #3) by michael r. burch Dim bulb overhead, my silent companion: still imitating the noonday sun? yet another iffy coronavirus haiku #4 by michael r. burch Spring fling— children string flowers into their face masks yet another iffy coronavirus haiku #5 by michael r. burch the Thought counts: our lips and fingers insulated by plexiglass ... yet another iffy coronavirus haiku #6 by michael r. burch masks, masks everywhere and not a straw to drink ... Dark Cloud, Silver Lining by Michael R. Burch Every corona has a silver lining: I’m too far away to hear your whining, and despite my stormy demeanor, my hands have never been cleaner! New World Order (last in a series and perhaps a species) by Michael R. Burch The days of the dandelions dawn ... soon man will be gone: fertilizer. Untitled Haiku Dark-bosomed clouds pregnant with heavy thunder ... the water breaks ―Michael R. Burch one pillow ... our dreams merge ―Michael R. Burch Crushed grapes surrender such sweetness! A mother’s compassion. ―Michael R. Burch My footprints so faint in the snow? Ah yes, you lifted me. ―Michael R. Burch An emu feather still falling? So quickly you rushed to my rescue. ―Michael R. Burch The sun warms a solitary stone. Let us abandon no one. ―Michael R. Burch The eagle sees farther from its greater height— our ancestors’ wisdom ―Michael R. Burch The ability to disagree agreeably— civility. ―Michael R. Burch She bathes in silver ..……. afloat …….. on her reflections —Michael R. Burch Celebrate the New Year? The cat is not impressed, the dogs shiver. —Michael R. Burch NOTE: Cats are seldom impressed by human accomplishments, while the canine members of our family have always hated fireworks and other unexpected loud noises. Variations on Fall Farewells like falling leaves, so many sad goodbyes. ―Michael R. Burch Falling leaves brittle hearts whisper farewells ―Michael R. Burch Autumn leaves soft farewells falling ... falling ... falling ... ―Michael R. Burch Autumn leaves Fall’s farewells Whispered goodbyes ―Michael R. Burch Variations on the Seasons by Michael R. Burch Mother earth prepares her nurseries: spring greening The trees become modest, coy behind fans * Wobbly fawns have become the fleetest athletes: summer * Dry leaves scuttle like crabs: autumn * The sky shivers: snowfall each translucent flake lighter than eiderdown the entire town entombed but not in gloom, bedazzled. Variations on Night Night, ice and darkness conspire against human warmth ―Michael R. Burch Night and the Stars conspire against me: Immensity ―Michael R. Burch in the ice-cold cathedral prayer candles ablaze flicker warmthlessly ―Michael R. Burch Variations on the Arts by Michael R. Burch Paint peeling: the novel's novelty wears off ... The autumn marigold's former glory: allegory. Human arias? The nightingale frowns, perplexed. Tone deaf! Where do cynics finally retire? Satire. All the world’s a stage unless it’s a cage. To write an epigram, cram. If you lack wit, scram. Haiku should never rhyme: it’s a crime! Video dumped the boob tube for YouTube. Anyone can rap: just write rhythmic crap! Variations on Lingerie by Michael R. Burch Were you just a delusion? The black negligee you left now merest illusion. The clothesline quivers, ripe with unmentionables. The clothesline quivers: wind, or ghosts? Variations on Love and Wisdom by Michael R. Burch Wise old owls stare myopically at the moon, hooting as the hart escapes. Myopic moon-haunted owls hoot as the hart escapes The myopic owl, moon-intent, scowls; my rabbit heart thunders ... Peace, wise fowl! Tanka All the wild energies of electric youth captured in the monochromes of an ancient photobooth like zigzagging lightning. ―Michael R. Burch The plums were sweet, icy and delicious. To eat them all was perhaps malicious. But I vastly prefer your kisses! ―Michael R. Burch A child waving ... The train groans slowly away ... Loneliness ... Somewhere in the distance gusts scatter the stray unharvested hay ... ―Michael R. Burch How vaguely I knew you however I held you close ... your heart’s muffled thunder, your breath the wind― rising and dying. ―Michael R. Burch Miscellanea sheer green stockings queer green beer St. Patrick's Day! ―Michael R. Burch cicadas chirping everywhere singing to beat the band― surround sound ―Michael R. Burch Regal, upright, clad in royal purple: Zinnia ―Michael R. Burch Love is a surreal sweetness in a world where trampled grapes become wine. ―Michael R. Burch although meant for market a pail full of strawberries invites indulgence ―Michael R. Burch late November; skeptics scoff but the geese no longer migrate ―Michael R. Burch as the butterfly hunts nectar the generous iris continues to bloom ―Michael R. Burch Childless by Michael R. Burch How can she bear her grief? Mightier than Atlas, she shoulders the weight of one fallen star. Ascendance Transcendence by Michael R. Burch Breaching the summit I reach the horizon’s last rays. The Reason for the Rain by Michael R. Burch The day’s eyes were blue until you appeared and they wept at your beauty. Imperfect Perfection by Michael R. Burch You're too perfect for words― a problem for a poet. Intimations by Michael R. Burch Show me your most intimate items of apparel; begin with the hem of your quicksilver slip ... Expert Advice by Michael R. Burch Your breasts are perfect for your lithe, slender body. Please stop making false comparisons your hobby! Autumn Conundrum by Michael R. Burch It's not that every leaf must finally fall, it's just that we can never catch them all. Laughter's Cry by Michael R. Burch Because life is a mystery, we laugh and do not know the half. Because death is a mystery, we cry when one is gone, our numbering thrown awry. The Reason for the Rain (II) by Michael R. Burch The sky was blue until you appeared and it wept at your beauty. Here's a poem composed of haiku-like stanzas: Dandelion by Michael R. Burch Lift up your head dandelion, hear spring roar! How will you tidy your hair this near summer? Leave to each still night your lightest affliction, dandruff. Soon you will free yourself: one shake of your white mane. Now there are worlds into which you appear and disappear seemingly at will but invariably blown wildly, then still. Gasp at the bright chill glower of winter. Icicles splinter; sleep still an hour, till, resurrected in power, you lift up your head, dandelion. Hear spring roar! More Rhyming Haiku Dry leaf flung awry: bright butterfly, goodbye! ―Michael R. Burch brief leaf flung awry ~ bright butterfly, goodbye! ―Michael R. Burch leaf flutters in flight ~ bright, O and endeavoring butterfly, goodbye! ―Michael R. Burch a soaring kite flits into the heart of the sun? Butterfly & Chrysanthemum ―Michael R. Burch The girl with the pallid lips lipsticks into something less comfortable ―Michael R. Burch I am a traveler going nowhere, but my how the gawking bystanders stare! ―Michael R. Burch NEW ORIGINAL HAIKU ADDED 7-25-2025 Such a frigid winter day, our words also icy —Michael R. Burch Her love, sheer and queer as gossamer, did not adhere... —Michael R. Burch I dream of love as bankers dream of repossessing Ferraris. —Michael R. Burch, after Anais Vionet The hummingbird fans an iris: myriad acts of kindness go unnoticed. —Michael R. Burch Sun sinking into the sea who taught you how to swim? —Michael R. Burch Yet another leaf assumes its autumnal splendor then falls. —Michael R. Burch Fireflies thinking to illuminate the darkness: poets. —Michael R. Burch Stars conspire astral mischief but only the silent moon witnesses. —Michael R. Burch Chickadees squabbling, denying each others’ rights: another unholy war. —Michael R. Burch Licentious breezes whisper intimations to quivering leaves: nightfall. —Michael R. Burch Late autumn: fleeting words increasingly missing syllables. —Michael R. Burch Life insists on pruning its gaudiest wildflowers. —Michael R. Burch Her lips extravagant embers smoldering beneath my kiss. —Michael R. Burch The bees have returned along with the rebellious butterflies: Spring! —Michael R. Burch Sudden snowfall: all traces of you erased. —Michael R. Burch A leaf falls —disaster!— until it flaps its wings. —Michael R. Burch At the end of a long day my pillow gently embraces me. —Michael R. Burch The tyrant’s statue: dubious accolades, doves deposit denials. —Michael R. Burch Silence is golden especially to the younger when you’re olden. —Michael R. Burch Baby blues? My checkbook boo-hoo-hoos. They keep outgrowing their shoes! —Michael R. Burch They’ll pick up and move on, Soon forgetting I’m gone. —Michael R. Burch Deer still sporting their winter coats? Spring’s delinquent! —Michael R. Burch The most likely cause of gauze is dandelion “ahs!” because they shed applause. —Michael R. Burch The pregnant mother’s belly swells in concert with the fulling moon. —Michael R. Burch Live among the blossoms while you can; grow straight and tall and fairer than them all... Oh, never fall! —Michael R. Burch, "Exhortation" So many snowflakes whirling a-swirl: confusion —Michael R. Burch Starlight evening: the universe twinkles its mysteries... —Michael R. Burch Another New Year... the fireworks, followed by real explosions —Michael R. Burch Venus, flirting with the Moon and Mars? Fickle gods! —Michael R. Burch should the sky fall, let my last breath praise Your existence —Michael R. Burch It ever was night, yet in the darkness I found you, shining, bright. —Michael R. Burch a last leaf clinging to life declines to fall... —Michael R. Burch the Universe, dazzled by her beauty, swoons. —“Eclipse” by Michael R. Burch Anxiety surrounds me like an immense night void of stars. —Michael R. Burch Loneliness engulfs me like an immense night void of stars. —Michael R. Burch Crow perched quizzically on scarecrow: natural comedian! —Michael R. Burch Autumn leaves swirling: dreams aloft & imperiled —Michael R. Burch struggle to fit into cramped too-small shoes: tiny haiku —Michael R. Burch your easy smile brightens the day natural as wildflowers —Michael R. Burch a single silver leaf on the old oak tree: autumn moon —Michael R. Burch The Ultimate Haiku Against God by Michael R. Burch Because you made a world where nothing matters, our hearts lie in tatters. Keywords/Tags: Haiku, Tanka, coronavirus, nature, love, heart, family, mother, son, seasons, spring, summer, fall, winter, sun, moon, rhyme, rhymed, mrbhaiku

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