SPASMS OF LIGHT
Part I ~ Haiku
"Spasms of Light" is the first anthology of haiku and other writing from Wonder Haiku Worlds. The works here are collected from the postings on Wonder Haiku Worlds between the years 2005 and 2007. The selection was made by Shyam Santhanam and Narayanan Raghunathan. We intend to publish the selection as a printed book over the upcoming months.
We request the authors to carefully look over the presentation and accuracy of their works in the following pre-print. Please contact us with any errors or omissions that you find. Also inform us if there are any past appearances of these works in print or online publications that you believe should be acknowledged in the printed book. There will be a section reserved for these acknowledgements.
Each contributor will receive one free copy of the book. You will be contacted again, when the copies are ready, about shipping details. If you wish to request for additional copies, please let us know (by email) well in advance so that enough copies can be printed. The copies will be priced at Rs 300 for residents of India and USD 18 for others.
If you have any comments or questions regarding the book, please don't hesitate to contact us. We hope that this anthology is as wonderful an experience to you, as it is to us.
Shyam Santhanam
Narayanan Raghunathan
for Wonder Haiku Worlds
Contents
- Spasms of Light ~ Part I ~ Haiku
- Spasms of Light ~ Part II ~ Haibun
- Spasms of Light ~ Part III ~ Tanka
- Spasms of Light ~ Part IV ~ Senryu
- Spasms of Light ~ Part V ~ General Short Verse
- Spasms of Light ~ Part VI ~ Cinquain
each there
for the other--
moon and pine
[Micheal McClintock]
full moon ocean
a solitary dolphin
leaps across stars
[Shyam Santhanam]
two deer lost
in the twilight grasslands ~
a bird shows the way
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
mulling cider--
the conversation fills
with last night's snow
[Tim, Maryland, USA]
new snow
the silence deepens
flake by flake
[John Daleiden]
golden flowers
sway in cool breeze ~
a ruby butterfly
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
birds at the feeder
each one awaiting its turn
-the light turning green
[Richard Doiron]
pulling her hood up
blocking out the snowflakes
along with his words
[Richard Doiron]
buried in snow
dreaming icicles hang from
the roof of his mouth
[Richard Doiron]
twilight wind ~
thousands of golden leaves
a few turn to butterflies
[Shyam Santhanam]
winter sun
the cat finds a good spot
on the shed roof
[Andrew Shimield]
the sun,
through a cloud prism,
coloring the sky
[Judy Kamilhor]
fury of hail ~
trees stoop low in
the loud silence
[Shyam Santhanam]
white roses
awaiting, rainbow
butterflies
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
bony hands
praying...
trees in winter
(Translated from Romanian)
[Vasile Moldovan]
empty courtyard-
only an enchained dog
barking at the moon
(Translated from Romanian)
[Vasile Moldovan]
a lone dandelion
gently descends ascends
becomes a breeze
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
with the neighbours
a night of sad songs
after her funeral
[Geert Verbeke]
endless ocean ~
a swan looks at the sky
flutters sunny wings
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
moonless night-
in the public garden
a broken street lamp
(Translated from Romanian)
[Vasile Moldovan]
pausing between bites
on the guava tree
the parrots
[Ram Krishna Singh]
inter-city train journey -
a rattling window top
shuts itself
[Alan Summers]
new friends watch
first snow at dawn ~
geese soar greeting
[Shyam Santhanam]
midday sun ~
two rose sellers drizzle
water on fresh roses
[Shyam Santhanam]
dusk at the golf club
part of a marker pole
a tawny frogmouth
[Alan Summers]
winter sun
the homeless man offering
his coat to a newby
[Francis Wesley Alexander]
nile sunset
across the water
the call to prayer
[Andrew Shimield]
First published in 'Presence', a UK haiku magazine.
almost spring ~
a butterfly roams sleepless
in astral winds
[Shyam Santhanam]
little boy races
the river to the ocean
who will reach first?
[Shyam Santhanam]
cool breeze ~
a tiny tortoise basks
on a lotus leaf
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
the mountain path
descends in mist ~
a distant sunrise
[Shyam Santhanam]
a streak of orange
through the valley of clouds--
seat belt fastened
[Ram Krishna Singh]
cool sky wobbles
on autumn waters ~
one-legged crane
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
motorway jam
a butterfly flits
between the cars
[Andrew Shimield]
moving in
with a new lover
the same old suitcase
[Andrew Shimield]
First published in 'Red Moon' anthology
that earthy smell
mashing potatoes
I make a mountain range
[Andrew Shimield]
traffic block ~
geese hold their ground
on the winter highway
[Shyam Santhanam]
summer rain stops ~
butterflies emerge from
mystery shelters
[Shyam Santhanam]
moonless night ~
the stars shift
to an owl's cries
[Shyam Santhanam]
winter vespers.
the hermitage of the valley,
surrounded by ravens.
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
climbing together
the mushroom pillar ~
a row of ants
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
evening over herbs
like a letter
a white butterfly
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
August night -
sharing stillness
crickets and stars
(Translated from Romanian)
[Corneliu Traian Atanasiu]
children return home
splashing through the pools on road
school bags on their heads
[Ram Krishna Singh]
an evening
a dragonfly makes waves
on the lake's water
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
the cricket singing
under the grass
the moonlight
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
sunset
in the arms of grandmother
the purring cat
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
drinking tea alone
in the vase nearby
the dry flower
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
old black crow
in the winter sun
has a little preen
[Andrew Shimield]
under the grape vine
on the cat's back
flowers and stamens
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
naked ankles in the wave
dispersed in the sand
tingling bracelets
(Translated from Romanian)
[Corneliu Traian Atanasiu]
dawn--
the sleepy cat opens
one eye . . .
[Carole Macrury]
morning beach ~
a horse and rider
vanish into mist
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
dead tree
the primula blooming
at daybreak
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
the hedgehog cub
between dried leaves
autumn evening
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
seamless white
after the first snow
ahh... the smell of coffee.
[Arjun Parameswaran]
the old cemetery
amidst ruined crosses
growing violets
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
plum trees loaded
with fresh snow
deserted road in sunrise
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
stolen apples-
another little thief
the same scent
[Dana-Maria Onica]
walk in the morning
grandmother's garden
reds apples
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
a silent flower
my companion
for one night
[Chevrefeuille]
a white butterfly
captive in a Dacia
in the evening
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
wings spread
the peacock pecks into
spring waters
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
moonlight -
the dying rabbit's
blood
[John McDonald]
blocking the end
of the narrow street -
a harvest moon
[John McDonald]
waning moon-
sagging flowers
of her blouse
[Vishnu Prasad Kapoor]
the lotus pond ~
a butterfly watches self,
flying on clouds
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
loud chapmen
talk their wares along this street
pigeons scatter
[Magyar]
white lily
shadows of petals
on petals
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
green breeze
on the tree, enters the sky
becomes invisible
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
pollard willows
surrounded by the river --
autumn rains
[Chevrefeuille]
moving between
the fingers of a toddler
the first winter rain
[Ram Krishna Singh]
memories
etching new light
on rock's faces
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
autumn rain
the bridge over the brook
almost invisible
[Chevrefeuille]
purple sea
as far as man can see --
horsetail field
[Chevrefeuille]
departing
cherry blossom petals fall
without sound
[Chevrefeuille]
early morning
nothing between me
and the rising sun
[Andrew Shimield]
many hued winged dreams
flash in the garden of my heart;
myriad butterflies.
[Aju Mukhopadhyay]
twilight city ~
a stray butterfly at
the cross roads
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
between stepping-stones
the eyes of a green frog
looking disturbed
[Chevrefeuille]
daybreak at the park
spreading their perfume
lime flowers
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
evening in the park
abandoned on the bench
the jazz CD
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
lime tree blossoms
the old man listens to a waltz
at the old record-player
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
orchestra in the park -
all flowers listening to
waltz by Chopin
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
Sonata of the Moon
remembering Beethoven
daybreak at piano
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
winter bylanes of
Banaras ~ Dhrupad
aalaap in Bhoop
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
Note:
Vārāṇasī: a famous Hindu holy city situated on the banks of the river Ganges (Ganga) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, dating back thousands of years and being contemporaneous with Sumer. The name Kasi is mentioned in the Rig-veda. It is often also referred to as "city of temples and learning". (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi)
Dhrupad: The Most traditional meditative Way Of Indian Classical Music. Vedic Origin unknown (Dhruva + pada : The steadfast state of Dhruva ~ As steadfast as the pole-star)
Dhruva: in Hindu mythology, was the prince blessed to eternal existence and glory as the Pole Star (Dhruva Nakshatra in Sanskrit) by Lord Vishnu. The story of Dhruva's life is often told to Hindu children as an example for perseverance, devotion, steadfastness and fearlessness. The original source is Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 4. (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhruva and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhrupad)
Aalaap: The traditional Indian Musical Extempore Discovery and Elucidation of a raaga ~ Not necsaarily set to a taal(a)
Bhoop: An ancient early morning Raaga Of Hindusthani Music.
caught
in the wedding picture...
starry night
[Dana-Maria Onica]
after a yoke day
the buffalo goes grazing
with a crow on his back
(Translated from Romanian)
[Vasile Moldovan]
peach blossoms
in sunlight dreams ~
a squealing squirrel
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
leaves everywhere
in the pitiless rain
the abandoned nest
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
bare field
between bulls bugles
the rising sun
(Translated from Romanian)
[Corneliu Traian Atanasiu]
the house locked ~
an orange butterfly flies
towards the sky
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
Thanksgiving Day -
sharing the slice of bread
with a sparrow
[Dana-Maria Onica]
stray dog
waiting for me...
Thanksgiving Day
[Dana-Maria Onica]
shimmering
between colored leaves
a pebble
[Chevrefeuille]
a silk ladder
from the earth to the sky:
two moonbeams
(Translated from Romanian)
[Vasile Moldovan]
thunder lightning ~
in the thulasi-thara
the dancing flame
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
Notes:
thulasithara: the earth under thulasi / the platform in front of Hindu houses where Thulasi is grown to Welcome Goddess Lakshmi. At "sandhyaa"[twilight] a burning lamp is placed on the platform.
rain beats
on the orchids
they just dance
[John McDonald]
first frost
an old man and his old dog
support each other
[John McDonald]
cherry blossoms
bloom open white light ~
pure azure sky
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
on the main street
the multi-coloured umbrellas
autumn rain
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
at dawn
the icicles turn red--
winter sunrise
[John Daleiden]
in her chapel
the smell of incense
and her smile
[Geert Verbeke]
in this moonless night
lights in front of the windows-
the carol singers
[Vasile Moldovan]
misty dawn ~
the ocean brings distant
echoes ashore
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
the love boats -
they bob up and down
on the lake
[Geert Verbeke]
falling blossom
children roll laughing
down the grassy bank
[Andrew Shimield]
autumn pond ~
three ducks cackle on
sunlight dreams
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
in the florist's window
a cruciform wreath
of spring flowers
[John McDonald]
stream murmuring
heron
dozes on a rock
[John McDonald]
first calligraphy-
a pine tree's shadow across
the snowy clearing
(Translated from Romanian)
[Vasile Moldovan]
ducks raise their heads
listen:
the fishmonger's horn
[John McDonald]
a child beggar
in the newly rich world:
Jesus Himself
(Translated from Romanian)
[Vasile Moldovan]
from the bridge:
a duck on each shoulder
a trout swims out from my ear
[John McDonald]
your scent lingers
in the empty bedroom
I sip morning tea
[John Daleiden]
angry honking
a foreign duck
tries to join the group
[John McDonald]
a sunbeam
glistens in the tears
of the snowman
[Dana-Maria Onica]
temple gate -
the breeze gets in faster
than the devotees
[Kala Ramesh]
this meadow
beneath the rainbow...
I would return home
[Dana-Maria Onica]
thousand bees
on the blossom cherry tree
the lonesome mother
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
asleep and snoring
in my rocking chair
her lousy dog
[Geert Verbeke]
the shy toddler
opens her fist -
a dandelion
[Andrew Shimield]
First published in 'Blithe Spirit', journal of the British Haiku Society
twilight river ~
the boat drifts on with
mountains of grapes
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
distant thunder ~
a glimpse of the moon
through cloud rhythms
[Shyam Santhanam]
turning on the lamp
of the lighthouse of Tekirghiol
the old fisherman
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
Notes:
Techirghiol (pronounced ['te.kir.gjol], historical name: Tekirgöl) is a town in Constanţa County, Romania. The name is derived from the Turkish Tekirgöl which means "the lake of Tekir". According to a legend, a blind and crippled old man named Tekir and his old donkey reached the shore of the lake by mistake. Trying to pull his stubborn animal out of the mud, Tekir was miraculously healed so he could see and walk normally again. Since then the lake has become famous for its healing properties. Tekir and his donkey are featured in a statue located in the center of the town. (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Techirghiol)
on the cliff
looking for the falling stars
cloudless night
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
daybreak -
the fishermen returning to shore
in empty boats
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
the hot tea
warming my hands
it is snowing
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
sparkles
in the puddle... this winter
with spring make-up
[Dana-Maria Onica]
from the wet soil
a bud appears
the first crocus
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
spring melancholy -
waiting for the raindrop
on the tip of a leaf
[Dana-Maria Onica]
leaving church
crow stands in my way
looking defiant
[John McDonald]
spring morning
the daffodils
their golden throats
[John McDonald]
late night
on the bank next to lime
two lovers
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
homeless woman
cherry blossoms rain
all around her
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
on the beach
the silent and the noisy
water and seagulls
[Geert Verbeke]
his mother's name
covered with fallen leaves -
in the twilight
[Geert Verbeke]
march winds
daffodils
lightening, darkening
[John McDonald]
goat path
the wild violets nibbled
by shadows
[Darrell Lindsey]
a giant banyan ~
a butterfly ascends
the last heaven
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
cloudy sky
gunshot sound
in deep valley
[Reza Aerabi]
summer winds ~
far beyond the hills
the sun just sets
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
yellow flowers blaze
in the twilight breeze ~
the last blue butterfly
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
a dreary drizzle
for over ten days
lonesome the old man
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
bowing with the priest
in the humid evening,
a tall sunflower
[Darrell Lindsey]
the wind shakes
the plum petals
I open the umbrella
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
her blind son
from the honey jar tasting
autumn light
[Eduard Tara]
by the war memorial
the cherry tree's blossom
come and gone
[John McDonald]
dreary morning
the only sunrise
a forsythia
[Magyar]
golden grassland
looking for the shade
two deer
[Magdalena Dale]
in the pause
of pond `s toads
crickets
[Reza Aerabi]
beyond the clouds
the seamless sky ~ beyond
the sky, the Buddha-s!
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
a puddle in breeze ~
the sky on earth becomes
glistening waters
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
a rainbow curves
across the river ~ boats
pass one by one
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
snail hitches ride
on silent turtles back
wheeeeeeeee!
[Robert Travis Howard]
whistling wind
through trees
now higher; now lower
[Robert Travis Howard]
silence between
long midnight chat ~
a shooting star
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
storm passes
scrubbed-air scent
ladybug on my cheek
[Robert Travis Howard]
by the Madonna's shrine
a camellia bush -
buds reddening shyly
[John McDonald]
fierce cyclone ~
at my night window
a silent toad
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
the lamps are burning
in the deserted streets -
I hear her footsteps
[Geert Verbeke]
toward the open sea
carried by the white sails
north wind is travelling.
(Translated from Croatian)
[Silvija Butkovic]
rabbit's face eaten
...a last moon
in fox's eye
[John McDonald]
in her orchard
the smell of wild flowers -
a sweet melody
[Geert Verbeke]
another funeral -
crow in his black
attends
[John McDonald]
wet streets
are dried by the smile
of the morning sun.
(Translated from Croatian)
[Silvija Butkovic]
on the rose
dew, sunlight and
a butterfly
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
winter wisteria
pods hang
...bats in my dreams
[John McDonald]
out of the mist
...and into the mist
heron glides
[John McDonald]
how sad the chestnuts
remaining without the leaves
in the autumn rain!
[Maria Tirenescu]
at first flash
even the cricket keeps silence
its raining
[Maria Tirenescu]
a chrysanthemum
on a new grave
the first snow flakes
[Maria Tirenescu]
really is it snow?
just now a plum tree
opens into flower ?
[Maria Tirenescu]
a row of ants
climbing up a rose
a petal falls
[Maria Tirenescu]
Acacia in flower
in pitiless rain
no bee
[Maria Tirenescu]
birth of spring ~
sprouts of yellow
in cool sunlight
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
sunrise
fogs the spring nights rain
hummingbirds
[Magyar]
passion Sunday -
on the table
the lily's spilt pollen
[John McDonald]
illness gone -
at the window her bright eyes
forsythia-lit
[John McDonald]
last sunlight
sways the grasses ~
deer retreat home
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
starry night -
glow-worms as
scattered villages
(Translated from Farsi)
[Reza Aerabi]
reeds lean
their shadows -
koi behind bars
[John McDonald]
sounds of sunbeams
on the hard earth-
stone rhythms
[Vasile Moldovan]
lotus leaves shape
subtle raga-s in breeze ~
baby lotuses delight
[Shyam Santhanam]
three sparrows -
waiting in the bush,
for the cat to go away.
[Jens-Chr. Kjaer]
beside the window,
cat gazes at the wonders
this spring morning brings.
[Christine Bruness]
Atlantic Ocean~
the tide rises and then falls
gives...and takes away
[Christine Bruness]
party over ~
a stray dog sniffs
in moonlight
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
new nests
hanging from the twigs...
burden of love
[Vasile Moldovan]
monarch
floats on a dampened breeze
milkweed follows
[Magyar]
whirling river
breaking the wooden bridge
the snow melts
[Maria Tirenescu]
snowflakes
on pine trees -
glistening.
[Marijo]
falling snow ~
an angel in white ascends
the empty night sky
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
origami cat
folded meticulously
a silent meow
[Tom Conally]
Notes:
Origami (from oru meaning "folding", and kami meaning "paper") is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. The goal of this art is to create a representation of an object using geometric folds and crease patterns preferably without the use of gluing or cutting the paper, and using only one piece of paper. (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origami)
summer:
parched field -
cry of cicadas.
[Marijo]
Mysore street ~
myriad smells emerge
in summer breeze
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
in every bucket
a glow of the full moon
the frogs croak
[Geert Verbeke]
cherry blossom
floats on the stream
...plop of a trout
[John McDonald]
hot day
even ashes
looking for shelter
(Translated from Farsi)
[Reza Aerabi]
cherry blossom
the bee leaves
...unsteadily
[John McDonald]
listen...
among the silent flowers
a butterfly
[Magyar]
cat skulks -
ducklings swim in circles
...their clockwork legs
[John McDonald]
swan lies
coiled in sleep -
still centre of the stream
[John McDonald]
moon-rise...
geese argue
with their shadows
[Magyar]
robins tug
the caving earthworms...
a cat creeps
[Magyar]
sun moves across
caught in a spider's web
a shadow
[John McDonald]
luminous jungle ~
lions with eagles' wings
snakes with bird songs
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
on the still water
swan's shadow show:
a swan preening
[John McDonald]
moonless sky:
fireflies in trees
illuminating the night.
[Marijo]
apple in a fruit tray
partly eaten -
a worm inching out.
[Marijo]
in the broken bell,
under a cobweb
song of a cricket
[Vasile Moldovan]
three small birdies
in the small brown nest
goodbye earthworms
[Tom Conally]
twilight stillness ~
some flowers still pose
for breeze dances
[Shyam Santhanam]
red berries
mixed with brown and green
grandpa's garden
[Geert Verbeke]
invisible birds chant
light ~ yellow flowers
swell in light
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
the mill's
lonely water-wheel -
the dried-up stream
[John McDonald]
on the pavement
a pigeon's egg - washed out,
clean as a new moon
[John McDonald]
clothes-Line
one sock falls
by sudden rain
[Reza Aerabi]
spring breeze --
trees gently swaying ...
rustling of the leaves.
[Marijo]
three ducks
only three ducks
wrinkling the whole stream
[John McDonald]
the row of ants
stopping suddenly...
the vesper bell
[Vasile Moldovan]
swans asleep
magnolia petals
on the lawn
[John McDonald]
dewy raindrops dart
down lanky lecherous leaves
swooning in silence
[Keith A. Simmonds]
the red rose ~
a lone dewdrop
turning invisible
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
intoxication:
cherry blossoms
blowing in the wind
[Keith A. Simmonds]
owl questions echo
across the warming pond
silent moon
[Magyar]
cherry blossoms:
sparkling clouds
drifting to the ground
[Keith A. Simmonds]
empty garden dawn ~
three ruby butterflies
in a linear formation
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
hands praying...
the blades of grass
before the tempest
[Vasile Moldovan]
a jump...
and tomcat catches
the dry leaf
[Maria Tirenescu]
sunrise
the dandelions flowering
among the ruins
[Maria Tirenescu]
morning breeze ~
a sparrow climbs a sunbeam
into the Neem tree
[Shyam Santhanam]
hissing wind
summer morning din
a snake in the grass
[Keith A. Simmonds]
on the way to the heaven
a skylark just flies over
the rainbow
[Vasile Moldovan]
in a pantry shelf
column of ants
dragging their loots.
[Marijo]
winter dawn ~
the cat opens eyes
closes them again
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
foggy freeway -
cars heading
to cloud nine.
[Marijo]
sound of a waterfall
...wind through
the green willows
[John McDonald]
summer sunrise-
on a blade of grass the dew
passes away
[Vasile Moldovan]
chilly spring morning ...
tucked under its mother
a young killdeer napping.
[Marijo]
mossy icon of
Gautama Buddha ~
moist green frog
redefines mu
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
cicada sings
snail still
slowly, slowly
[Reza Aerabi]
smashing bodyguards
near the black cow-
three white birds
[Vasile Moldovan]
sunbathing -
the ants, barefoot
I, barefoot...
[Dana-Maria Onica]
felling
the oak of my friend -
I search his shadow
[Dana-Maria Onica]
a duck swims by -
tied up boats
rise and fall
[John McDonald]
sunrise
on a halo of mist
hitching a ride
[Keith A. Simmonds]
dawn birds
in rapture song ~
a distant frog's croak
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
a firefly
over a crib:
baby's eyes twinkle
[Keith A. Simmonds]
a butterfly monk
meditating on beauty:
ephemeral glow
[Keith A. Simmonds]
blackbird's singing
fills the air -
even the crow listens
[John McDonald]
lightning
slicing the night:
a summer storm
[Keith A. Simmonds]
Buddha Jayanthi
Ah! Bodhisattvas move on,
great seer ants
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
in the still of night
the moist sounds of weary waves:
a sentinel moon
[Keith A. Simmonds]
moonless nights
in seamless darkness~
i await my fullmoon
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
drowsy cat
lazing on the lawn
winking at a pigeon
[Keith A. Simmonds]
blazing a trail
on my window sill:
a snail
[Keith A. Simmonds]
spring snow storm
a deer sprinting ...
a hunter and his dog.
[Marijo]
falling into the shade
of the peony -
the peony's petals
[John McDonald]
spring waltz...
symphony of light
wafts of perfume
[Keith A. Simmonds]
rain in pond
dead duck floating in
frogs song
[Reza Aerabi]
autumn drizzle ~
an old man on
a bicycle
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
rainy spring night
a cat in our front door
wet and shaking.
[Marijo]
two swans
their nest empty
swim alongside the ducklings
[John McDonald]
living light-
in the middle of the great marsh
a little lotus in bloom
[Vasile Moldovan]
azure -
birds and fishermen
going fishing
[Reza Aerabi]
lime fragrance
among rain drops...
I am still on my way
[Magdalena Dale]
three empty nests
in the poplar near the road
leaves everywhere
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
wild cherry-tree
two copper-coloured leaves
fall together
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
a ripe coconut
falls on the garden;
carrying the moonlight with it
[Aju Mukhopadhyay]
Mother Earth bleeding
on the cross of man's longings ---
dismal inferno
[Keith A. Simmonds]
the dying sunflower
stares
into the teacup
[John McDonald]
afternoon ~
on the empty wall
a line of sunlight
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
a sip of nectar
from the petals of beauty:
a butterfly dance
[Keith A. Simmonds]
the wind and the rains
chiseling little by little
Rock Garden
(Translated from Romanian)
[Vasile Moldovan]
late spring evening --
my cat still up on a tree
talking to a birdie.
[Marijo]
hummingbirds galore
hovering in majesty
sipping sweet nectar
[Keith A. Simmonds]
the eyes of butterfly-
beside the phone
wooden rosary
[Reza Aerabi]
swathed in silken sound
seductive sacred sunbeams:
a shimmering waltz
[Keith A. Simmonds]
starry night ~
a distant church-bell
in the moonlit breeze
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
a first bird visits -
the tiny apple tree
bows
[John McDonald]
in a pet store
a bird in a cage
whistling and singing.
[Marijo]
toward the shore
rising and falling -
the dead fish
(Translated from Persian)
[Sarah]
spring gust
the baby bird's heartbeat
grows faint
[Darrell Lindsey]
butterfly
forgetting, remembering,
forgetting... the way
[John McDonald]
two blackbirds on a stump
centuries-old songs
in their beaks
[John McDonald]
a red rose
stuck in the snow---
the sun weeps
[Keith A. Simmonds]
shade a moment,
Oh Cloud! -
waiting butterfly
[Reza Aerabi]
clouds of crickets
in a summer dance---
farmers' angst
[Keith A. Simmonds]
cow swimming in pond
an egret hitches a ride...
loud peals of laughter
[Keith A. Simmonds]
night shelter-
in the abandoned nest
the full moon
[Vasile Moldovan]
a crafty spider
creating a labyrinth:
a fly entangled
[Keith A. Simmonds]
gazing down on heron -
gazing down
into the water
[John McDonald]
wild ducks in the sky
one... two spiraling down ...
the hunter's target.
[Marijo]
flock of sparrows
feasting on bread crumbs ...
two chickens join in.
[Marijo]
a wild rose -
nettles lean forward
guarding it
[John McDonald]
yelping shepherd dogs
huddling sheep thundering by...
dust clouds in the air
[Keith A. Simmonds]
stillness of temple-
all the time's wheels
stopped suddenly
[Vasile Moldovan]
the candle blows out
inside the old woman's shack:
a summer storm
[Keith A. Simmonds]
a tiny green frog
settling in silky petals
of a hybrid rose.
[Marijo]
midnight winds roam
the mountain meadow ~
fireflies dance silence
[Shyam Santhanam]
a bruised hibiscus
after the raging tempest...
petals in the mud
[Keith A. Simmonds]
light and angles-
through so many objects
the soul of woman
[Vasile Moldovan]
a candle flickering
in a solitary hut:
a sentinel rose
[Keith A. Simmonds]
spring twilight ~
a peacock awake in
jungle echoes
[Shyam Santhanam]
light emanations
on the throne of the spirit
words of prophecy
[Keith A. Simmonds]
a mild summer day
yawns with bouquets of leaves
meandering streams
[Keith A. Simmonds]
rivulets gyrate
scintillating silhouettes
vanishing moonlight
[Keith A. Simmonds]
soft sibilant sounds
cascading down surly rocks
sun glistens with glee
[Keith A. Simmonds]
duck scratches her head
with an orange foot -
relief on such a grey day
[John McDonald]
a butterfly above
the gopuram ~ bell echoes
in camphor fumes
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
flooding abated -
a rock rises from the stream
washed clean
[John McDonald]
messianic minds:
magnificent mountains moan
mysterious maze
[Keith A. Simmonds]
a seagull soaring
away in the sultry sky:
wistful memories
[Keith A. Simmonds]
a herd of deer ~
some stare, some nibble
some don't care
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
at the river's edge
ice melts from willow branches
a dangling fish-hook
[Timothy Russell]
sultry evening-
looking for sea snails
kids at the beach
(Translated from Persian)
[Sarah]
A crane conducting
and the northern wind playing
the organ of bamboo
(Translated from Romanian)
[Vasile Moldovan]
among the sparrows
flitting in the cherry tree
one blue parakeet
[Timothy Russell]
balls of hail falling
surly and surreptitious...
a storm in summer
[Keith A. Simmonds]
tiger lilies
along the dustyroad
soft rain
[Magyar]
spring dream ~
flame children flying
on fiery dragons
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
tall thistles -
through their leaves
rags of blue sky
[John McDonald]
rhythm...
with every drop of rain
a fern dances
[Magyar]
late autumn -
a single golden leaf
rides the rapids
[Carole Macrury]
full moon --
checking the cheese cake
in micro oven.
[Marijo]
receding thunder
my father holds a lily
in his stricken hand
[Timothy Russell]
not one veil
over the hero's bones...
only a cobweb
(Translated from Romanian)
[Vasile Moldovan]
dandelions
circle the empty funeral urn
requiescat in pace
[John Daleiden]
summer picnic --
a tamed squirrel
joins the party.
[Marijo]
pond songs
crickets... frogs and rain
a distant highway
[Magyar]
at the coast
counting seagulls -
sunset
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
seamless empty void ~
infinite unborn dreams
flutter invisibly
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
come into view
stones little by little-
the ebb
[Sarah]
in the distance
a partial rainbow
my morning walk
[Tom Conally]
a busy bee
bound for a rose
buzzing
[Keith A. Simmonds]
soft hues of sunlight
shimmering upon the dawn...
summer symphony
[Keith A. Simmonds]
lonely old woman
with hot tea cup
the sparrows warblings
[Maria Tirenescu]
at daybreak
a cherry white petal
in my cup of black tea
[Maria Tirenescu]
butterflies swooning
to the magical rhythm:
a bamboo flute
[Keith A. Simmonds]
at evening
above the harvest wild cherry
the new moon
[Maria Tirenescu]
soft summer rain
from every single tree
different tapping
[Boris Nazansky]
spring breeze...
the orchard's fragrance
mixes with her perfume
[Tomislav Maretic]
crickets echo darkness ~
trickling water-drops in
the first crow's cry
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
Dog's days-
in the shadow of a boat
a lot of fishes
[Vasile Moldovan]
summer storm
in the sound of wind
the cricket night song
[Tomislav Maretic]
summer house
the closet cricket's song
joins those outside
[Tomislav Maretic]
red butterfly
sighing on a rose...
shafts of sunlight
[Keith A. Simmonds]
journey's repose ~
autumn trees emerge
in sunset flames
[Shyam Santhanam]
tenderness and love
on the cross of suffering:
I seek your fervor
[Keith A. Simmonds]
lightning bug
hides in the rain drops
a bat misses
[Magyar]
mountains rise
on the dawn sky ~
mist on the lake
[Shyam Santhanam]
one candle
in the old man's hut
flickering
[Keith A. Simmonds]
necklace of clouds
on the mountain top:
flowers aglow
[Keith A. Simmonds]
the humming bird
hovers with a bumble bee
a single blossom
[Magyar]
on a rose
a butterfly
asleep
[Keith A. Simmonds]
so silent
after the funeral -
the rain
[Geert Verbeke]
while that mountain rises,
these clouds get out of the sky...
misty spring twilight
[Vasile Moldovan]
ducks
two upside down - searching
the clouds at their feet
[John McDonald]
the croon of
afar cameleer -
summer moon
[Reza Aerabi]
dawn -
light moves across
the curve of the apple
[John McDonald]
the old 'haunted house' -
gull flies across its walls
...a shadowy cross
[John McDonald]
one scoop of ice-cream -
in the silver spoon
light of a harvest moon
[John McDonald]
like the apples:
red cheeked -
too much wine
[John McDonald]
in the silence
of the great temple...
a mosquito
[Vasile Moldovan]
birds chirping
children's voices in the wind:
a park in summer
[Keith A. Simmonds]
the sun peeks out
after the rains and the chill:
walkers everywhere
[Keith A. Simmonds]
tentacles of snow
rising above the ships' masts:
a glistening dock
[Keith A. Simmonds]
flat pebbles sailing
across a shimmering lake
on ripples of sunlight
[Keith A. Simmonds]
the old lady
ducking and dodging -
falling chestnuts
[John McDonald]
one flame
in the garden lantern's glass -
Rose Of Sharon
[John McDonald]
jazz clarinet -
a black butterfly
dances round the radio
[John McDonald]
rays of sunlight
waltzing on the window pane:
hilarious voices
[Keith A. Simmonds]
cat on a wall
napping fitfully...
a pigeon looks up
[Keith A. Simmonds]
dropped rosary
caught on a thorn -
a drop of blood
[John McDonald]
late cicada
the row of ants indifferently
going over him
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
a frog croaking
at the edge of a pond
yearning for the rain
[Keith A. Simmonds]
the drunkard's garden -
two red apples stare
at the black-eyed susan
[John McDonald]
spring day
walking along the river
cooing of a pigeon
[Chevrefeuille]
willow trees sighing
beside a twinkling river...
old women musing
[Keith A. Simmonds]
watching a crane
in pale fog ~
washing legs
[Reza Aerabi]
a hummingbird
sipping hibiscus nectar
wings aglow
[Keith A. Simmonds]
filaments of light
flashing on the windows:
first snowfall
[Keith A. Simmonds]
summer afternoon -
embracing the sky from the east
a turn down rainbow
(Translated from Romanian)
[Maria Tirenescu]
autumn trees
blowing in the wind:
a spiral of leaves
[Keith A. Simmonds]
Yosemite waterfall
glittering in the midday sun
an oriole flies over.
[Marijo]
apples ripen
willow trees bow down
to welcome autumn
[Keith A. Simmonds]
chariot wheels rest ~
the deity has left
the temple on a mouse
[Shyam Santhanam]
autumn chill --
a stray cat sleeping
in an empty oak barrel.
[Marijo]
autumn peeks:
a denuded paulownia
quivers in the wind
[Keith A. Simmonds]
leafless branches
etch dreams on the sky ~
a descending sun ~
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
gazing the moon -
the fragrance of flowers
for a short moment
[Geert Verbeke]
full moon --
unread letters
in a waste basket.
[Marijo]
a crimson sunrise
dawns on the horizon:
a lonely star peeps
[Keith A. Simmonds]
two lovers blushing
under a maple tree:
night of the full moon
[Keith A. Simmonds]
leaves
the colour of ducks' bills -
among the ducks' bills
[John McDonald]
escaping the mad city
seeking the vast ocean ~
the little row boat
[Shyam Santhanam]
footprints
in the sand
big and small.
[Marijo]
a cock crowing
at the midday hour:
a summer eclipse
[Keith A. Simmonds]
summer bus-stop ~
travellers disperse
soaked in sunlight
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
a peaceful stupa
disappears in the snow -
nothing changes
[Geert Verbeke]
weary western winds
swirling softly in the sun...
ships sailing serenely
[Keith A. Simmonds]
long twitching fingers
of beckoning clouds
in twilight silence
[Keith A. Simmonds]
swathed in silken sound
seductive sacred sunbeams...
shimmering samba
[Keith A. Simmonds]
unfolding his
silent wings the Maitreya
sprouts on a lotus
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
autumn moon --
an owl settles
on a limb of tree.
[Marijo]
penetrating eyes
outside my window:
a squirrel
[Keith A. Simmonds]
rolling of the drums
in the morning stillness...
salute to shango
[Keith A. Simmonds]
remembered forever ~
my shadow across the
the forget-me-nots
[Shyam Santhanam]
cocks crowing
on a small farm...
the breakfast hour
[Keith A. Simmonds]
an owl hooting
in the hush of night...
a cold wind rising
[Keith A. Simmonds]
tumbling snow
stuck in the chimney:
a smoke signal
[Keith A. Simmonds]
the sun has set ~
the fire has dissolved
in oceans of clouds
[Shyam Santhanam]
wistful winds waltzing
upon the breathless ocean...
a rich symphony
[Keith A. Simmonds]
a wild deer
pausing at his shadow...
a full moon
[Keith A. Simmonds]
chrysanthemums
in the morning frost
quivering
[Keith A. Simmonds]
quiet bell chimes ~
the temple elephant
on a midnight walk
[Shyam Santhanam]
hard-working ants
pausing to send signals...
a winding cortege
[Keith A. Simmonds]
river breeze ~
after a swim we dry
in resonant light
[Shyam Santhanam]
a river murmurs
in the sizzling sunlight:
joggers whizzing by
[Keith A. Simmonds]
dragonfly's shadow
over a leafy pond...
children frolicking
[Keith A. Simmonds]
spring breeze ignites
luminous parables on
the sunlit rock
[Shyam Santhanam]
down a raging river
a caterpillar holds on
to a floating leaf
[Keith A. Simmonds]
summer dawn ~
all around the sad bird
debris of civilization
[Narayanan Raghunathan]
glistening dew
under the morning sun:
carpet of pearls
[Keith A. Simmonds]