Haiku Inspired by Japanese Culture


last blossoms outside

gifts gather near the Coin Mint

petals on the path

______________________

a pink petal falls

after the cherry has bloomed —

confetti shower

_______________________

wisps of incense smoke

smell of cedar, sound of drum

monks and nuns chanting


___________________

peace and quiet reign

the sound of a butterfly

lichen are breathing

________________

ferns live by maple

stones rest by camellia

air tickles the leaves

___________________

kimono for tea

fragrance of ceremony

whisking green bubbles

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fire, gold, wood, and drum

temple giant leads the chant

Bow. Pray. Bow, now smile

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cherry petals fall

a dusting of snowflakes recalled

cable car rising

___________________

coffee cherry ripe

two green stones wrapped together

bound for china cup

____________________

sunshine and showers

play across the garden stones

a moist wind gusts cool

_________________

morning mist lingers

droplet hangs from cypress leaf

Fuji hides all day

__________________

in the hawk’s garden

a Samurai hunts wild ducks

green leaves grow again

_______________

Samurai wields sword

calligrapher wields brush

west wind wields breath


__________________

from the rocks, a smile

cedar tree bows low with grace

Sayönara, friend

_____________________

Blue Bear stories sing

Teddy’s eyes are firmly fixed

drawn by Shuto’s pen

_______________________

a gin and tonic

fresh energy in liquid

released by the gods

__________________

Sasaki

(unfinished)

Sadako Sasaki

Hibakusha

Tears holding hands

School friends together

Running races

Joyfully growing

Folding paper cranes

One thousand for peace

Thousands massacred

Wind, rain, and fire

Tears shed for you

Hiroshima.

Travelling now

Where are you going?

Lightening time, warming soon

Green pheasant calling