Saturday, May 28, 2011

Letter unread haiku

now it's raining
the letter you wrote last night
remains unread

malahan hujan
suratmu yang semalam
belum kubaca

Rotting straws haiku

who's coming?
no cricket song but smells
rotting straws

adakah yang datang?
tanpa kerik jengkerik cuma bau
jerami membusuk

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Tuberculosis tanka

the vapor
from the river below
reaches the balcony
where he talks to
his tuberculosis

alternate version goes

from the balcony
gazing at the river down below
the vapor rises
and gathers the air
i exhale tuberculosis

Monday, May 23, 2011

Seienchin haiku

These haiku were inspired by a karate move (kata) named seienchin. I am greatly indebted to shensei Alex Poerwo who teaches karate and generously shared with me his work-in-progress on karate lessons.

1/
misty morning wind
stands out in a crowded bush
blooming dahlia

2/
newborn awaits
a cocoon under dahlia leaf
sways in the wind

3/
on dahlia petal
a butterfly gently lands
yin and yang

4/
breeze over the pond
a riffle fish freezes the current
for a ladybug

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Global warming haiku

global warming
searching my haiku
for the kigo

Thursday, May 19, 2011

One in a million tanka

night in the open
consumed with cricket song
we know out of millions
there's a star for us
each and everyone

Haiku Pix Review #2/Spring 2011

Rosebud and clovers tanka

so hard i've been
trying to be accepted
now you tell me
how the rosebud floats
among the clovers

Haiku Pix Review #2/Spring 2011

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Garden walk tanka sequence

1/
silent stroll
thru the morning mist
in garden of memories
nothing changed much
but the clouds and the chill

2/
long time no see
by the paved footpath
overgrown grasses
dews, leaves and the hibiscus
remind me who i was not

3/
picking lemongrass
for cooking this morning
the first time
i learn not to confuse
me and my alter ego

My haiku collection on video

It's been a while I learn to haiku. Still, I consider myself a beginner, a newcomer. The video attached is simply my way of glancing back at my learning and exercise.

Solitary shell haiku

solitary shells
i, carps and catfish
a warbler in the bush

ruang menyepi
aku, ikan mas dan lele
prenjak di semak

Silent footpath haiku

silent footpath
the remnant of your last kiss
hibiscus blossoms

jalan setapak
bekas kecupan terakhirmu
kembang sepatu

Friday, May 13, 2011

Pauper wedding haiku

she tightens her corset a pauper wedding

dia kencangkan lilitan setagennya kere kawinan

Newborn baby haiku

the first cry of our newborn baby a lotus blooms

tangis pertama bayi kami sekuntum teratai rekah

Monday, May 9, 2011

Nightmare and the rain haiku

exactly in between
my nightmare and the rain
a door open

tepat di antara
hujan dan mimpi burukku
pintu terbuka

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Pillow fight haiku

pillow fight
over the dos and don’ts
a marriage after all

pertengkaran di tempat tidur
tentang yang harus dan dilarang
betapapun ini pernikahan

Afterimage haiku

lightning strikes
i hold my breath for
the afterimage

petir menyambar
aku menahan nafas
silau sesaat*


*Better Indonesian translation needed.

Bamboo rustle haiku

lightning strike
a bamboo grove rustles
as i blink

sambaran petir
gemerisik rumpun bambu
saat berkedip

Season shift haiku

season shift
searching what’s been missed
in my haiku

pergantian musim
mencari yang terlewat
dalam haikuku