The
Toast Point
Haiku Contest!

Since 1995!

A Japanese Garden of Verse

Entries from November, 1998

Mélanie Carrier writes 11/30/98

Ruben Meyer writes 11/29/98

Still Winter writes 11/29/98

Christine Hung writes 11/28/98

Uma writes 11/28/98

Marissa Spencer writes 11/28/98

The poet comments, "Greetings from California... it's the cheese.. "

Rumbling sounds beneath
Waterfall tumbling with might
A soaking greeting welcomes

Calling bird seeking
Alight topmost branch to crown
Displays his plumage

Lotus flower rests
Stillness on the water black
Fish nuzzle tall stems

Stuart Reed writes 11/28/98

The poet comments, "The eleven are haiku written before milking cows and are called 'Not Often Force-Ten.'"

Sometimes it's a lot
Less easy to be lazy,
Crazy as it seems.

Internal organs
Play ill-mannered melodies.
Be quiet, belly.

Having a knowledge
Of how we get knowledge is
Not what teachers teach.

The Mountains of Morne
Sweep down to the sea in a
Lilting Irish air.

Bully for concrete.
Poured on reeds it silences
Bullfrogs in rushes.

Watching water flow
Down a drain is, to a child,
Great entertainment.

Parents of tubby
Boys will stub their toes on the
Fat, lazy brat's toys.

Whilst visiting the
Toilet late at night, I have
Often tripped on dogs..

For all their seeming
Innocence, trains of thought can
Be catastrophic.

One over the eight.
Three sheets to the wind. Force-ten
Gales have fortitude.

Pat Grantt writes 11/26/98

Stirred by memories
Of summer's children laughing
Winter swings collide.

Old coyote trots
On the trail of come what may -
Winter in his legs,

The poet comments, "I submitted this last month and it wasn't posted. I'm hoping it was just lost, not rejected."

Toast Point doesn't reject anything (well, almost anything). We're sure it got lost in cyberspace somewhere... sorry...

Yvonne Cabalona writes 11/25/98

Stuart Reed writes 11/25/98

You would think there'd be
A thinking tree. They grow so
Ineluctably.

Sergei Braun writes 11/24/98

Quinton"E"Jordan writes 11/24/98

Gama writes 11/23/98

Autumn in My Heart

Elizabeth A. Phillips writes 11/23/98

Stephen M. Sunshine writes 11/23/98

Justin C. Wilson writes 11/22/98

The poet comments, "Written when I was in the sixth grade"

Anonymous writes 11/22/98

Pat Grantt writes 11/22/98

Tumult reigns again
as emptied horns of plenty
bugle in ill winds.

Cached against the lee
Of a cold and sandy hill
Wind-torn tumbleweeds.

Lost in tangled strands
Of work's unraveled edges
Hunger guides him home.

The poet comments, "My husband arrived at home to tell me that he was so engrossed in going over problems of work that he could not remember driving home."

Stuart Reed writes 11/21/98

The poet comments, "I probably shouldn't be doing this, but what the heck, you only live once. The first thirty three are haiku written before milking cows."

Toast Point sighs and once again only posts the first ten.

Making a living
From doing what you love will
Slowly kill your love.

Flirtation can all
Too easily turn into
Cohabitation.

Rules are designed with
Rulers in mind, not those to
Whom the rules apply.

They'll goad you into
Going for goals that are quite
Unattainable.

I suppose the trick
Is to listen to your own
Silence. Silently.

Impressionable
Peasants bow and scrape to their
Royal flesh and blood.

An aim is drawn by
Arms. Small arms or armoured tanks.
What your right arm's for.

I've a serious
Weakness for playfulness and
Levity. Heavy.

One thing led, as it
Inevitably does, to
Yet another thing.

The Convivial Codfish writes 11/21/98

Celka van Dijk writes 11/20/98

Amanda Riley writes 11/20/98

Mihajlo Mika Pavlovic writes 11/20/98

The Light Wings

Heavy Wings

Sand of doubtfulness.
Above the cactus field, wind
carries scent of rain.

Taste of Fire

The Judge writes 11/19/98

The poet comments, "Inspired by one of my favorite movies, "Meet me in St. Louis.""

Anonymous writes 11/19/98

Joe Gill writes 11/19/98

Laura Dadd writes 11/19/98

Tamra Knox writes 11/19/98

Airana writes 11/19/98

Nature writes 11/19/98

Yvonne Cabalona writes 11/19/98

Penny Merryfield writes 11/18/98

Stuart Reed writes 11/18/98

The poet comments, "The first two are called 'Cutting Corners.'"

And, presumably,
The same applies to far-flung
Corners of the brain.

The poet comments, "The next three are called 'Cashing In Your Chips.'"

A healthy mind in
A healthy body. Doctors
Doctor the data.

Defining health as
The absence of disease, they
Promote remedies.

Unfortunately,
Remedies cost money and
Money's a disease.

The poet comments, "The last are called 'This Is My Thesis.'"

'No one has ever
Written a bible of how
To be a poet.'

Being myself a
Minor practitioner, I
Think of this as odd.

It is, isn't it?
There is no way you can teach
Men to be poets.

And what is doubly
Odd is that true poetry
Is so beautiful.

I mean, you'd think there'd
Be a manual, a guide
To rampant beauty.

Writing poetry
May well be a disease that
Has no remedies.

Micah Sobus writes 11/18/98

Kyle W writes 11/18/98

Joyous Voice of Children

Laura Dadd writes 11/17/98

Although we parted
I remember all the sweetness
Only the pain fades

Tenuous words spark
Long comfortable talk
meeting an old friend

Marquitia L. Brewington writes 11/17/98

Vacation

Philip Welsh writes 11/17/98

The poet comments, "Wonderful site! Fills my billable hours with boundless diversions!"

Oh, boy, another lawyer...

Sergei Braun writes 11/16/98

medley of shrill cries
hawk hangs on to the west wind
low sky howls in rage

This wretched stranger,
who was I ten years ago,
whither has he gone?

Velocity Girl writes 11/16/98

The poet comments, "a first in a series of haiku for my best friend. "

unclothe me sweet slow
make a map of my body
colors blend (you, i)

Iridescent sighs
Come in waves of green and gold
Poseidon's blessing.

deep water beckoned
Poseidon's wrath christened her
daughter of the sea

The poet comments, "which of the two poseiden (sp?!) haikus do you prefer.. if any! :P "

The one with the star!

Joshua writes 11/16/98

Stuart Reed writes 11/16/98

When I say always
I mean approximately
For half of my life.

It's a forbidden
Love. A hidden love. A love
Full of foreboding.

Let me draw you a
Picture. I'm at a party,
Talking to a chap.

We're standing on a
Platform looking down on a
Hall full of dancers.

I say "See that girl?
She's the belle of the ball. So
Beautiful it hurts."

He follows my gaze.
I say "She's the epitome of
Israeli beauty."

We are two English
Males, so he knows what I mean.
I elaborate.

"You know how at the
Age of seventeen these girls
Become beauty queens?

You know how they glow
With a blinding inner light,
How they have a sheen?"

Sus writes 11/15/98

Joe Gill writes 11/14/98

Torn condom wrappers
Cigarette butts and beer cans
The amp plays country

Puretrip writes 11/14/98

Vanessa Avila writes 11/13/98

Rose

Stuart Reed writes 11/12/98

The poet comments, "The first is called 'Haiku Is Tough.' The next is called 'The Scales Will Not Fall From Your Eyes.'"

How much crockery
Is tougher than Tupperware?
Bake to perfection.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Groomed To Perfection.'"

The soon-to-be-wed
Either party like stags would
Or shower like brides.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Natural Selection.'"

I'd hide in my hide
From exotic birds but I'm
Doomed to detection.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Responding To The Expected.'"

It's fairly easy
To be flirtingly breezy
When blessed with good looks.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Let's Sell Propane. What A Gas.'"

If you're up to it,
Let's get down to it. Let's let
Go of what we know.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Sillily.'"

In your villainy
You have thrown ripe tomatoes
At the pillory.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'The Self You Despise.'"

Knowing you're throwing
Vegetables at yourself.
Your pilloried self.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'And Handcuffs.'"

High moral dudgeon
Accompanies policemen's
Truncheons. And cudgels.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Winging It.'"

Freedom's another
Word for anarchy, which is
Left wing malarkey.

Uma writes 11/12/98

Anonymous writes 11/12/98

Lucan writes 11/12/98

Did she have to die?
I was not prepared for this.
The world feels so strange.

I'll cry, laugh, and live
And when my life is over
I won't be ready

Liar's poetry
Ghosts create their illusions
Behind a keyboard

Joe Gill writes 11/12/98

kyle mckeown writes 11/12/98

Arrow

The poet comments, "I noticed you didn't have a place for the title, so I took the liberty of putting the Haiku in your comments box.

Toast Point comments that all the poet need do is write in the Comments box something like "Title: Arrow" and Toast Point will put it in.

Lebop writes 11/12/98

After the wind
The moon is still.......
In the pond.

In the moon's white wind,
A song of pure delight.
The coyote.

Under the maple
The air......is the color
Of its leaves.

The poet comments, "All of these were written over 20 years ago, when I first discovered the wonder of Haiku."

Captain Jean-Luc Picard writes 11/11/98

Tycho writes 11/11/98

Mr. Squiggle writes 11/11/98

The poet comments, ""don't laugh, it's hard to type with your nose.""

Wally writes 11/11/98

Gossy writes 11/11/98

*Macca* writes 11/11/98

Seanalooo writes 11/11/98

Richard Lemessy writes 11/11/98

The poet comments, "Being a pasionate marine scientest, I think this is the most electrifing haiku yet!"

Mc*Solaar writes 11/11/98

Swifty writes 11/11/98

Henry Zhao writes 11/11/98

The Beach

Dave writes 11/11/98

Tony Baloney writes 11/11/98

Billiam writes 11/11/98

Henry Zhao writes 11/11/98

The poet comments, "Sorry, wrong internet address with my other entry. Please forgive me!"

Hooper writes 11/11/98

Cuthy writes 11/11/98

The poet comments, "This is my second ever!! "

Smoke writes 11/11/98

The poet comments, "13 years of it."

Samuel the Poet writes 11/11/98

Gakster writes 11/11/98

The poet comments, "A stunning (not) poem"

Jamie Mellor writes 11/11/98

writes 11/11/98

Cuthy writes 11/11/98

The poet comments, "My first one!!!"

Rick Lemessy writes 11/11/98

The poet comments, "yes, I like it!"

Laura Dadd writes 11/10/98

CJ2 writes 11/10/98

The poet comments, "My poem is prety much straightforward and it may inspire some people."

Stuart Reed writes 11/10/98

The poet comments, "This is called 'He Was, Presumably, Looking For Mice.' "

Laura Dadd writes 11/09/98

Your luminous face
Framed by ebony softness
Colour of moonbeams

The poet comments, "If you ever read, you know who you are, you know how I feel. "

§oshua writes 11/09/98

Stuart Reed writes 11/08/98

The Pull of the Sun

Howard writes 11/08/98

The poet comments, "'strue!"

Cold wind and snowdrifts
I'm tired of this pneumonia
Let's move to Phoenix

The poet comments, "too old for winter"

A. Brown writes 11/07/98

Even with face down,
Shy lily of the valley
Still allured the bees.

Thick trees by sidewalks:
Stands still, waits patiently, for
Tree-trimmers to come.

Dried leaves of the trees
Falling in spots I just raked.
Tree's mischievousness.

§oshua writes 11/07/98

FO-EDP1 writes 11/07/98

Shooting Stars

The poet comments, "can i enter more of my haikus here? please reply asap! "

Um.. yes!

Angels

A Smile...

Mistakes

Friends

Stuart Reed writes 11/07/98

Rodeo Rose writes 11/05/98

Inscriptor writes 11/05/98

A. Brown writes 11/05/98

The poet comments, "I wrote this haiku for my Grandpa, a guerilla who had fought for his country during the World War II. I admire him for his bravery, his commitment to his family and for being a humble man. "

The boy pierced his ear,
To show that he's a man now,
Not a little kid.

The hot sun shone bright,
To dry the tears you have cried.
The sun missed your smile.

The sea danced with lust.
Luring me to her water.
Her empty water.

C. Kevin Woolfolk writes 11/05/98

The poet comments, "There is light at the end of the tunnel!"

The Sidewalker walks!
Side to side in the outside.
The cold kills the pain.

The poet comments, "It is tough being homeless. "

Laura Dadd writes 11/05/98

Wondrous springtime
love blossomed pure and tender
Now that bloom is gone

North wind sings softly
In the distance I can see
Snow that will soon fall

Velocity Girl writes 11/05/98

Winter swept you away
Spring nourished anticipation
Summer burned out your name

The poet comments, "its a 6-8-6 form, but hey, i still think it works . :P"

June swept you away
Under fall's dusty carpet,
Blue thread memories.

The poet comments, "another variation of the seasons idea.. .this time i am following form, though it is painful =)"

Svetlana Mladenovic writes 11/05/98

LaQuan Zinnerman writes 11/05/98

Quiet moon shadow
hanging over the night sky
into the darkness.

Jacqueline G. D'Amato writes 11/04/98

Sergei Braun writes 11/04/98

imaginary
deer flees loosing fragile limbs,
fades into sunset

we dwell on the brink
between fast forgetfulness
and non-existence

Lucan writes 11/04/98

§oshua writes 11/04/98

Josh Gearhart writes 11/04/98

Dead, but still moving
The currents of the sea guide
Thousands of ill souls.

Pat Grantt writes 11/03/98

The poet comments, "November 11th - Remembrance Day."

Eve writes 11/03/98

Whomever, Whatever writes 11/03/98

The poet comments, "I love you , brown eyes..."

Stuart Reed writes 11/03/98

The poet comments, "The first one is called 'Tequila Sunrise.' The next one is called 'Japonica.'"

I love the way some
Japanese say "Huh" at the
End of sentences.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Knees On Toast With The Hairs Left In.'"

Having ordered my
Life to perfection, I seek
No new direction.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Spot The Pot.'"

Having ordered my
Life to perfection, I seek
No new direction.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Spot The Pot.'"

Where is my smoking
Paraphernalia? Jeez.
I long for a bong.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Chips Don't Hack It.'"

Lo-tec low-life. High
On weed. How come hi-tec does
Not fulfill your needs?

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Thirty Years After.'"

Joe Cocker and I
Have Sheffield in common. Man,
You had to be there.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Alacatraz Jazz.'"

Do I believe in
Miracles? Where you from, you
Sexy thing? Sing sing.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Odd To Relate.'"

Do I believe in
Miracles? Where you from, you
Sexy thing? Sing sing.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Odd To Relate.'"

As a matter of
Linguistic record, I have
A Yorkshire accent.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Gee Whizz.'"

I was born as an
Integral part of the Wars
Of the Roses. Jeez.

Laura Dadd writes 11/02/98

Against the azure sky
Leaves float by on Autumn's breath
Trees weep crimson tears

Deep in rich earth
I buried you in the chill
You will rise in spring

The poet comments, "I wrote this after I planted my fall bulbs."

Stuart Reed writes 11/02/98

Drugs work like a charm.
The problem is, grievous is
The bodily harm.

The Haiku Writing Accountant

The poet comments, "The next one is called 'It Said.'"

I read a Hebrew
Definition of haiku.
Haiku doesn't rhyme.

The poet comments, "The next one is called 'Two Against The World.'"

I asked myself what
I thought about that. Two can
Play the thinking game.

The poet comments, "The next one is called 'Hebrew Haiku And The Proof Of The Pudding.'"

I thought 'How many
Haiku has this man written
That he knows so much?'

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Documentary Evidence.'"

What made this man so
Expert were excerpts from the
Kenneth Starr reports.

The poet comments, "The next one is called 'Hey, Let's Ride.'"

Jingle bells, jingle
Bells, jingle all the way. Oh
What fun on the sleigh.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Perseverance Pays.'"

Kenneth Starr. The king
Of the nerds. He's invading
The haiku preserve.

The poet comments, "The next is called 'Starr Is A Star.'"

I bet he doesn't
Know that Haiku's a world where
Rhyming is sinful.

Pat Grantt writes 11/02/98

Every day I lie
My bed is tangled deceit
Soon I'll be the fly.

Dasha writes 11/02/98

The poet comments, "I am just learning English, so forgive the mistakes if there are any. Thanks for the wonderful site! Wish I were there."

Eve writes 11/01/98

Rain falling gently
tries not to wake slumbering
fragile blossoms.