LOVE - a Haiku

your love is a rose
deeply, lovingly tended
by another's kiss

by Michael Perry

SUMMER NIGHTS OUT IN THE COUNTRY

the big fat moon  shines down, in a midnight
souless delight happy with it all, giddy, full of itself
the confidence oozing, filled with, a righteous piety
on a bent, up till then, as a  line of angry looking clouds
give the impression of- an arrogant smile crossing the
moons face, what a touch, this slick character moon, still
with tricks up it sleeve, the winds begin shifting
bringing more change; in cracks of thunder to break the back
as silent streaks of lighting, become alive, hot and murderous
all in  response to what was a previously silent night
brought about, now coming to pass, the modality of change, swift deepening, quick to a sullen nod for nothing breaks the
monotony better than a sudden mood swing from a fickle moon's changing of mind on this hot summer country night

by Michael Perry

PAST THE EXPIRATION DATE

i was sitting at the table
fumbling with my hands
unaware they were moving
from here to there, absentmindedly
in front of me sat a bowl
of mostly unappetizing fruit, to say the least
but near the bottom i spied
something bright orange, i reached in
and pulled up a nectarine, small
glistening, how could i have missed you?
yet here you are, nestled in my palm
i couldn't wait to peel back the skin to
reveal the fruit underneath, little by little
i pulled back the sections i had exposed
until i saw the luscious looking fruit underneath
as the juice ran over my hands and between my fingers
i could hardly wait, the anticipation was building
until i took the long awaited bite, i blinked once, twice
as the sour taste overwhelmed my taste buds
that was it, the moment gone, my expectation underwhelmed

by Michael Perry

*****- a Haiku

***** once had its hold
i was the fun drunk, that changed
when i almost died

by Michael Perry

TIDE POOL

it was the day after, the storm
had barreled through the day before
leaving everything torn and tossed
as the sun was beginning to shine- little peeks
here and there, the sea had claimed victory
with such a furious power that it tore down the
jetty we all used to fish upon, it was now
a series of jagged rocks here and there like, marbles
thrown on a carpet mat, we are used to storms coming
from the sea, but this one rattled nerves, as i walked on
the length of the shore, as most locals would do
have done, with previous other storms, milling about
looking for something they could cook up for that nights meal
- i kept going on, soon i looked back, checking
my progress, everyone else was now scattered like
little dots, unrecognizable as people now, at this point
the air was cold and wet, as it bit into me- i should have
dressed warmer but i didn't think about it at the time
looking down at my feet, my shoes soggy with dampness
i came upon a small eddy of water far from where the incoming tide
was barely meeting the sand at this point, i gazed into the
small pool to see it teeming with life- the little creatures waiting
for the tide to come in and take them back to the relative safety
of the sea before any dangers could claim them- overhead, i heard
seagulls cawing squawking, making a lot of noise, they saw this little pool
of water as well, biding their time, making circles in the gray skies above
i looked back down at the small pool telling myself, not on my watch
so i planted myself into the soft, dank sand making my legs go
crossed legged to wait it out in the gloaming dusk for the tides eventual return

by Michael Perry

BABBLING BROOK- a Haiku

babbling brook, speaks
with it's stories of life lived
choosing each parsed word  

by Michael Perry

INTO THE NIGHT- a Haiku

out of the silence
into the night, come strangers
looking for a fight

by Michael Perry