(#14a)

autumn eve sun sinks
The lowest insect projects
long shadows
criminal fingers like yours
took lighter being from me

(#14b)

the reply

shade swells to dusk
a cloak for lovers 'crime'
give freely and take
balanced nature
listen to the night ferals

"While I gaze upon it
I feel a certain distance:
The moon light
Makes its way to dwellings
Everywhere, I feel."

      by Ki no Tsurayuki


My Reply

Bright Issues the Moon
dusts the landscape with pale ash
illumination
slackens our taut customs
we're brought closer to our hearts

[Bonus Material. Earlier looser version :

When brighter the Moon
unknots our taught habits
spends our ideas
freely in its pale light
we act closer to our hearts]

"Although I try
to hold the single thought
of Buddha's teaching in my heart,
I cannot help but hear
the many crickets' voices calling as well."

                      by Izumi Shikibu


My Reply

The Buddha once heard
noisy Crickets at their play
received good teaching
did the crickets from the man
who practiced great stillness

(#6)
Floods of relief
supplants the Thaw
bathed of pollution
i peacock my presence
fashioned for new company

(#5)
After the snows
landscape runs conjugal
Decay to Life
I yawn in gelid air
wake to the view

(#4)
man whales on a man
penalty out of law
a violence observed
i bare to get anger  
instead I view cold  

(#3)
courtly on my birthday
a candle forest of flame
blaze of age
marked memories
struggle for the trail ahead

This is for us
who work with those
we love or tolerate
(hate seems a bit strong
for them we’re forced among,
it’s not like we’re a picnic either...)

You are mainly wonderful,
sometimes misguided,
but we’ll hide grumps
in flippant huffs
because we know the pull
is mostly in the same direction

But know we miss the scrum,
the ****** staff room air,
hurried tea and coffee
and meaningful cake

Daily, we take time to thank you
as we grapple this stupidity
that dwarfs all sense

The dinner table desk
is a lonely place

yet another iffy coronavirus haiku
by michael r. burch

plagued by the Plague
i plague the goldfish
with my verse

Keywords/Tags: haiku, coronavirus, plague, social distancing, homework, working at home, poets, poetry, goldfish, writing

I began a thought
followed it really closely
until dazzled by a mote of dust
that drifted by me

momentarily dumbfounded
I grasped to catch
where I had been heading
when a cat crossed the garden
and intent on its actions
I stalled once more

I shook my head
and pinned my fingers
to the keyboard
to rattle out important words
but then I wondered
how the Easter Islanders
celebrated Easter
and went down that rabbit hole
for an hour

Resurfacing I finally began
and sentences flowed
for a good five minutes

until I saw
that it was time
for dinner

Sometimes I see
The world in black and white,
Whether I'm relaxing in my bed,
Playing Minecraft,
Or running a mile.

Trying to get biology
OUT of my head!

I'm guessing that I've grown horns!
I'm guessing I'm human no more!
But I'm sorry,
I needed a break.
I needed to say:
I'm over this thing called, school!

I want to go home.
I want to stay there.
I want to not finish my homework.
I want to live my life free
From the eternal chains
Of torment and classrooms,
Filled with books,
More than I could ever read.

Please let me out,
I'm willing to take a leap.
I'm willing to take a risk.
Please let me have a break,
My brain feels as though it might break.