Japanese

The
Toast Point
Haiku Contest!

A Japanese Garden of Verse

Entries from November, 1996


Moonchilde writes 12/01/96

A blustery day -
even the fish curl up with
a good book to read.

The poet comments, "As always, please ask your readers to let me know if this work touched them. And thank you for this forum!"

Toast Point grins. "You're welcome!"

Stefan writes 11/30/96

Gold Star! You may read these lines
But don't keep them in mind: it's
A one-way haiku

Stefan, it's correct and very nice!

Danielle Shea writes 11/29/96

Seen structure of light
Glowing from the majestic
outrageous, moon beam.

Moon and stars collide
Into the sunset of love.
Making us wonder.

The Artster writes 11/28/96

Gold Star! Kirk asks, "What is it?"
"Checking tricorder", says Spock.
Bones adds, "It's dead, Jim".

The poet comments, "Dialogue from almost every episode of Star Trek. Who knew it was a higher art form all along?"

Dooley Mudpuddle writes 11/28/96

Knees lift high over
Drifts of snow, hard and bloody
Work, two bits a day

Eyes growing weary
Legs too short for the footstool
All my pets have died

christo writes 11/27/96

Gold Star! and seven angels
fell burning from heaven, and
drowned into the sea

jkc..k writes 11/27/96

Gold Star! Crimson-tipped leaflets
Glazed in a feathery frost.
Crystalline sparkles.

Sara Burchell writes 11/24/96

I, soft and naked
sitting and waiting at night
searching for my dream

Larry Cruikshank writes 11/24/96

Gold Star! Whispering secrets
The cool wind growing colder
November dancing

On near-naked trees
sparrows scurry - noisy leaves
prepare for winter

Welcome to the internet, Larry!

Laur writes 11/24/96

Gold Star! Nepotism is a
nonrepresentational
opportunity

Christy B. writes 11/24/96

Sparrows flying South
Rain drops on dark grey feathers
Flight to warmer climes.

Holmanza writes 11/24/96

Matthew is a priss
In his scout leader outfit
Let's give him a miss.

The poet comments, "This haiku can be changed depending on how you feel about the Matthew in your life by changing miss to KISS!"

Jonathan Janssen writes 11/23/96

Gold Star! The chill embraces
My soul in its icy cloak.
The sun is no more.

Neca Stoller writes 11/22/96

Yellow crop duster
Swooping low, then floating up
Trails of white descending

Broderick AR Jones writes 11/22/96

The moon shines above
Beams of madness fall toward
Earth, and the waves move

Gold Star! My neighbor's garden
glossy green grass grows, always
More cheerful than mine

Rose, the sweetest smell
Water drops off its petal
An ocean of scent

In the grass jungle
The mantis stalks the lady,
No refuge for bugs

The poet comments, "These Haiku poems are a thank you to Jennifer, and Nicole. They have lifted my spirits without even knowing. Thank you ladies. -Broderick-"

Broderick AR Jones writes 11/21/96

Gold Star! Stepping into Fall
The leaves dance elegantly
Before my own eyes

Jay Richert writes 11/20/96

They fall to the ground
as sport for the yard-vain man
Leaf-Herding Season

John Mulder, the Netherlands, writes 11/20/96

Gold Star! A hidden nest somewhere
from a brooding blackbird
completes my garden.

shouts of joy
from children in the garden
romping with water

Gold Star! One fierce gust of wind
an acorn bombardment
A deer-park's high-day

A violent row
like a crashing thunderclap
cooling down at once

A carp, motionless
underneath the water surface
staring face to face

The Convivial Codfish writes 11/20/96

Gold Star! Ancestor candles;
My dead aunt's flame shines brightly
amid the others.

Texas Teacher writes 11/19/96

Cross-country runner,
Continuously moving;
Long, lean legs stretch out.

The poet comments, "This is a description of my Sudanese female student, a multi-medal-winning member of our high school's cross-country team."

Relax writes 11/19/96

After work, sit down,
Grab something to drink and hope
The cable's installed

The poet comments, "A simple poem in simple language. something we can all relate to."

Munen Muso writes 11/19/96

Samisen plinking
the geisha's soft elegance
noticed in moonlight

Note to the poet: After consulting a dictionary of musical instruments, Toast Point changed the spelling of your first line.

Gold Star! sunlight dwindling
the crescent moon awakens
black midwinter nights

white kimono
the daimyo's belly
ripens

Ali Asaria writes 11/19/96

Gold Star! No color, no art;
A lonely land lacking life:
In it, I am trapped

I can remember
the soft sound of singing birds.
Now, there is silence.

Purple dragonfly -
flutter aimlessly through my
dreams -- this is freedom.

Teacher in St.Louis writes 11/18/96

Everyone deserves
A chance to learn in whatever
Capacity they have.

The poet comments, "The good of the few outweighs the concern of the many, only when the few have become the many do we take notice."

Texas Teacher writes 11/16/96

Gold Star! Dry leaves, red and brown,
Tap dancing down the sidewalk:
Autumn's chorus line.

Gold Star! A film of white netting
Conceals her face from the groom;
No matter: her love shows through.

Rose petals float down;
Sweet perfumes carpet her path:
The radiant bride.

The poet comments, "And she lived happily ever after."

Bright smiles and giggles
Fill our house with happiness;
Our grandson is here.

The poet comments, "Ryker is wonderful! How we love him!"

Welcome back, TT! Haven't seen you here in a long time!

jkc..k writes 11/15/96

Gold Star! Earthtone mosic
Warm tonal blends, sharp contrasts.
Fall meadow's splendor.

Eric Sapp writes 11/15/96

Gold Star! Wolves moan the distance
as winter sunset hovers
in white crested sky

rippled glistening
water of the autumn lake
so soon to be still

Brian Dunphy writes 11/14/96

Gold Star! Snow on fallen leaves,
autumn pushed coldly aside
by hasty winter.

Sim writes 11/13/96

Gold Star! Beautiful ocean
with clear crystal hues of blue,
through a dolphin's eye

Note to the poet - the Sage would have removed the "with" anyway. Maybe a two-syllable word for clear?

jkc..k writes 11/13/96

Gold Star! Sweet smile, coy glances
Candle's glow through wine goblet
Glinting in your eyes.

Mary Ellen Walsh writes 11/13/96

Gold Star! The future has ghosts
awakening luminaries
of promise and hope

The poet comments, "This is just a optimistic poem about the future. It was part of a poem, and the first part is about how I have no regrets in the past"

Munen Muso writes 11/10/96

even with the ants
the beauty of the yellow
lily, unspoiled

Gold Star! winter twigs
drenched in white
until noon

Simone Hughes writes 11/09/96

Ornate, yet so dull
access to the other side
blocking free flow paths

The poet comments, "It's about the front door by the way. Any comments would be appreciated."
The Sage likes it, except he feels the reader should be at least able to guess what the subject is (if you hadn't told us, we wouldn't have a clue).

Kicker writes 11/09/96

The Bonsai Monster (Horace A. Vallas, Jr., 1996)

one swollen with age,
the other dried with knowledge
still seeks the other.

The Bonsai (Horace A. Vallas, Jr., 1996)

Gold Star! hands now removed,
a distant giant beckons,
and spring's watch begins.

Dave von Clef writes 11/08/96

Gold Star! Tom, oh joyful Tom
running in the summer sun
right into a fence

Oo, that hurts...

wallis writes 11/08/96

Love unrequited
A truffle spit back to brown
Crinkle wrap paper

Gold Star! Men dressed in suits with
August demeanors sometimes
Clothe December hearts

Scott Hall writes 11/07/96

Warm May rain
nurtures the flowers
beside the rusting car

Gold Star! First cold winter day
church bell's pitch
just a bit higher

Cold October
my father's heart attack
the beating rain

Jim writes 11/07/96

Wonderful God's works
Only look all around you
Even blind can see.

The poet comments, "If evil, we see evil; if good, we see good. Both exist in fair measure, but the soul behind the eye is the filter. "

Moose writes 11/04/96

Gold Star! Like crumpled brown leaves
The laundry litters the floor
I'd rather wash leaves

J. Allen Moats, God of Chaos & Insanity writes 11/03/96

Web address have I
Come visit me and say hi
Or I might just cry...

OK!

Me-ow Me-ow Purrrr
Cuddle me and pet my fur
That's what I prefer...

Sir Robert of Rocher writes 11/04/96

Twilight's fading light
As sorrow, heavy, solemn
Filled a lonely man.

Moonchilde writes 11/6

Gold Star! Fall breezes frolic
In the trees like a kitten
Chasing its own tail.

The poet comments:

Please tell your readers
that I'd love to get feedback
on how to improve.

Toast Point reponds, "Done! and thank you!"

jkc..k writes 11/04/96

Gold Star! Her heart's inner light
Emanating from within
Like opal's warm glow.

Moose writes 11/02/96

Gold Star! Re-seeded my lawn
Hibernating grass kernels
And I await spring


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