Japanese

The
Toast Point
Haiku Contest!

Since 1995!

A Japanese Garden of Verse

Entries from January, 1998


Jeff writes 01/31/98

In my loneliness
Our apartment is quiet
Only the rain speaks

Robyn Harold writes 01/30/98

My anguish and pain
I now hear my child's first cry
At last! She is born!

Emily Rose Barth writes 01/30/98

Heat strikes the earth's back
Beside the lazy porch swing
With a dry, cracked face

Gold Star! Arms shaking wildly
The first breaths of life rush in
Cold, bright confusion

Aaron E writes 01/30/98

Pressure falling fast
Clouds leave you alone at home
The sun pounds hard bods'

Missy C writes 01/30/98

Lying of the ground
Thinking on my one true love
I miss Anthony!!

Krista C. writes 01/30/98

The light blue warm sky
Filled with cold droplets of rain
Shivers down my back

Franky O'Hara writes 01/30/98

frigid air bites my arms
birch tree clings to her last leaf
faint chimney smoke reaches my nose

fire dances in its place
blankets cover my body
warmth fills my limbs

Nicki P. writes 01/30/98

Radiant flowers
Clouods rolling gently along
Eerie silences.

Gold Star! El oceano
Olas bucan para playas
Pajaros llaman.

Nathan S. writes 01/30/98

red blood from no pain
horrible warm tears from no pain
powerful loneliness

John Mulder,the Netherlands writes 01/30/98

A gripping ballet
a fighting pack herring-gulls
around one dead fish

Indian Star writes 01/29/98

Gold Star! coughing coughing blood
Marlboro Man feels his
inevitable end

the first daffodil
opens to the face of God
resurrection day

hunger of strangers
feeding my endless need
cold heat of the night

John Mulder,the Netherlands writes 01/29/98

Drakes-society
awaiting the busy spring
now old-boys family

fanciful pattern
from the black-headed footprints
Dutch cuneiforming writing

Gold Star! A gull still dancing
in a small beam of sunlight
while the moon rises

Lostloon writes 01/28/98

Warmth directed wings
Punctuate the sapphire skies
Instigate escape

Dance on mirrored glaze
Blinking season's arbored eyes
Pulse the latent heart

Caedmon writes 01/28/98

Gold Star! I tried, but I failed
All I touch melts like warmed snow
. . . I must try again

The poet comments, "A new year is upon us. Let us forsake our pained pasts and look forward to the future with a new found hope."

Agustin Eastwood De Mello writes 01/27/98

Gold Star! This new tiger year
seems more like an old dragon
trying to expire

The poet comments, "Following a lapse of four months of creative effort, I return on the embers of a flamed-out dragon."

Bravo, Agustin and welcome back!

Sergei Braun writes 01/27/98

Gold Star! distinctly feline,
moon plays with passing shadows
catching..., letting go...

The poet comments, "inspired by Jeanne Cooper’s haiku"

Bear time seeps through.
Gone are all needs and sorrows.
Warm hibernation.

DeVar writes 01/27/98

Gold Star! Warmth of a shared bed
Overcomes chill in the room
A winter's morning

Loathing cold wet feet
Tiptoes over the snowdrift
Dainty pampered cat

Water in basement
Defective technology
Malodorous fumes

The poet comments, "Don't you hate it when the washing machine runs over? Oh well, at least it can stimulate a little poetic comment."

JERRY ROCKETT writes 01/27/98

Gold Star! WHATEVER THE SEASON
YOUR VOICE, YOUR EYES, AND YOUR SMILE
WOULD BE GOOD TO SHARE

The poet comments, "NEW TO HAIKU, I WILL BE BACK"

Welcome, but stop SCREAMING at us!

NE Jordan writes 01/27/98

Gold Star! Freshly washed Black hair
Seated by the kitchen stove
Straightening comb blues

The poet comments, "(An Afro haiku) "

Lostloon writes 01/26/98

Gold Star! Paddles plow wave rows
Dawn ignites waterdrop pearls
Bright boat drinks distance

Kelli McLean writes 01/25/98

Gold Star! I see the bright light
hands open for me to come
so I rest in peace

The poet comments, " This is actually only one verse in a larger poem I wrote. Each verse was a haiku, this is just the verse I liked most."

Parmenides writes 01/24/98

Sun's unseen shadow
Tide curling up at your feet
You're the bird's essence

The poet comments, "Tell Heraclitus that being, not becoming, is the thing."

Clark Fishback writes 01/23/98

Snow melts on Mt. Hood
Rhododendron blossoms fall
Life begins again

The Willow Tree writes 01/22/98

I love to climb up
The trunk holds up the branches
All day long I play

The poet comments, "I like this web page"

Thank you! Welcome aboard!

Penny Merryfield writes 01/21/98

Gold Star! Superbowl chipmix
Touchdown taco dip and chips
No fruitcake passes

Kimberly Ramsey writes 01/21/98

A child plays hopscotch
On a street with a small house
It has a red roof

Romo writes 01/21/98

A blanket of wind
Elevated dreams of snow
Chicago now sleeps

The poet comments, "Who says windchill is a factor?"

Heraclitus writes 01/20/98

A hard bright sun, a
tide that ramps up the shore like
a flood -- you're the bird.

The poet comments, "I don't like self-contained lines or neatness. My world is a world of becoming, where one thing spills over into the next. Deal with it."

Just clean up when you're done.

Christopher Smith writes 01/20/98

freezing winter nights
dark skies,lonely stars and hearts
long miserable nights

to show me the truth
coming deep within your soul
to lie is to kill

The poet comments, "honesty"

Indian Star writes 01/19/98

frosted window watch
cataract clouded waiting
your blinding beauty

Gold Star! pierced purple tongue
calling me from the mosh pit
my once baby boy

bend reach row by row
bitter sweet harvest of years
Grandma oh Grandma

The poet comments, "I am a mother of grown and growing children, with many glorious pictures in my head. Haiku celebrates life for me."

Debby Culotta writes 01/18/98

Gold Star! Foul acid rain falls
Leaching idealist passion
Withering a soul.

Romo writes 01/18/98

Approaching morning,
drenched in waterfall smiles,
you embrace the sea.

The poet comments, "To L.A.F."

Michele Schwab writes 01/17/98

Gold Star! Why is it that moths
beat themselves furtively at
a glowing lantern?

To heaven or hell?
Each path sheds a different light.
Which road shall we choose?

The poet comments, "I am a grade 4/5 teacher and have been writing for many years. I enjoy all forms of poetry, but find haikus to be a beautiful expression of feelings, emotions and sensations."

Sergei Braun writes 01/17/98

At the song of cock,
we forsake the truth of night
for our daily lies.

Low clouds stream eastwards.
A sad street lantern watches
swinging spot below

Lostloon writes 01/17/98

Gently quilted dream
Downy fliers brush the ears
Cleanse tortured landscape

Lone bare hilltop tree
Seeks an unobtrusiveness
Pending equinox

A. E. Poynor writes 01/17/98

spruce seedling's greatness
held back by by reality
sleeping in the snow

Gold Star! fodder for the owl
a dark spot on moonlit crust
scampers to its death

motionless movement
black streams of translucent blue
glacial paradox

Mac writes 01/16/98

Gold Star! Welcome back, fat moon...
Lonely, this old madwoman
Without her shadow!

What demons wake me?
Ha!...just cats proclaiming love
This winter midnight

Unfortunate cat,
Dead this icy silver dawn...
O, fortunate crow!

Chintz writes 01/16/98

Icy nails run in.
Queued, unnoticed, by your side.
"Get off my foot, please."

Nausicaa writes 01/16/98

Haiku for an Ex-Girlfriend

To silence you I
would put you in a box with
no air, leave you there

The poet comments, "No, I don't have any real homocidal intent."

Homo-cidal. Hee hee hee!

Ryan Moore writes 01/15/98

Leave Now! sharp lightning
Why do you want to shock me
can't you see it hurts?

Sketchly writes 01/15/98

ice and sleet
emergency whistles, sirens blow -
where's Patsy?

D.J. Vanden Langenberg writes 01/15/98

Resolutions made
to bring in the New Year right
quickly forgotten

Jeanne Cooper writes 01/14/98

Feline statue stares
Frozen in egyptian time
My cat leaps through space

Sun behind my back
Sends racing shadows of me
Ahead of myself

Gold Star! At the whim of light
My shadow image changes
Disappearing me

The poet comments, "I am new to Haiku and would appreciate any comments and critiques. Am I in the right place? Please contact me through my e-mail address Thank you...Jeanne Cooper "

Thomas Lanier writes 01/14/98

I am the last leaf
Left hanging on this tree branch;
I will fall when Hell...

The poet comments, "We give up so...reluctantly."

Ron Lawrence writes 01/14/98

Men with "Grays" printed
across the front of flannels
barnstorm in the sky.

The poet comments, "The haiku...as elegy."

Sketchly writes 01/14/98

bustling fire ants
flames on a summer sidewalk-
a laughing boy

pristine sunlit field-
star sparkling snow
bows at my feet

Sergei Braun writes 01/13/98

Morning has opened
a new blue sheet for us...
to write a Haiku.

Is there world outside,
or only great musician
playing cords of soul?

lostloon writes 01/13/98

Waves are bright powdered
Clear water wears its armour
Fish flee underfoot

I worship idles
Solo tracks in virgin snow
Lips on sleeping brows

Bonnnie writes 01/13/98

A leaf falls slowly
It hits the ground in silence
And the woods are still

Master Doug writes 01/13/98

no hungry in eden
no suffering angels live
no one in garden

The poet comments, "PAIN
there are no hungry people in heaven
no one is being hurt where angels live
families stay together in God's garden "

Sketchly writes 01/13/98

Gold Star! a praying mantis
stares into the black heaven
a size twelve boot

Boxer writes 01/13/98

Rook moves left, takes knight.
Queen moves diagonally.
Rook moves right. Check-mate.

B writes 01/13/98

Gold Star! devilishly cool
I sit lazily and eat
your forbidden fruit

The Granddaddy writes 01/12/98

Full lips speak passion
Moisture brews each time we kiss
Pucker up baby!

I kiss on a frog
No prince lives inside this one
In fact there's just warts.

Gold Star! Tension haunts the face
Liquid runs with freeing flow
I flush the toilet

We ride the ferry
Across a river of fog
Home is an island.

The poet comments, "and another...
Gold Star! Just foolin' around
My first time, how does it sound?
Haikus for Toast Point."

Sketchly writes 01/11/98

the sun is down deep-
his feet are (k)neading my chest
pr-rr-rr-rr-rr

Richard Capella writes 01/10/98

Sun kisses snowman
holds him in fiery embrace
melts him with passion

wind softly moves through
stands of ice-coated aspens
nature's own wind chimes

Snow hare stares at me
Frozen. Statue in the snow.
Eyes give him away

coruscating fire
vibrant bands, shifting colors
Northern Lights on high

Once so green--now brown
Christmas tree lies in the snow
dead and discarded

IggySuePea writes 01/10/98

ghosts of parched red feet
scent the air with dust and clay
just before the rains

Gold Star! wooden chair sleeps
undisturbed on sun-baked porch
while insects rehearse.

Grep writes 01/08/98

Gold Star! Toast, Brown White or Burnt
Slop on some jam and butter
How I love thee so

The poet comments, "Wow. Almost as silly as Spamku..."

Considering that this is the Toast Point Haiku Contest, the Sage, amazedly, cannot remember any previous haiku about toast...

Zoe Khaw Joo Ee writes 01/08/98

Gold Star! Heart pounding
in desolate forest
thunder in quivering ears

The poet comments, "First and foremost, I beg your forgiveness if it seems that I have masscred the art of writing haiku. I'm only 13 years old and still very new to this so if anyone wants to give any pointers, advice or even critisim.. PLEASE, please, PLEASE e-mail me!"

The Sage liked yours a lot! However, as a youngster, you may want to try conforming to the 5-7-5 syllables, just to get into practice. We must first learn the rules before we break them.

Richard Capella writes 01/08/98

Rain comes tumbling down
patters on my bedroom roof
oh how hypnotic

Somnolent fly stirs
sun's heat has made it take wing
all too soon, sleep again

Gold Star! Warm wind kisses snow
fog flows into my valley
January thaw

Candice Clark writes 01/08/98

Gold Star! Stand next to a curb
After an April shower...
Watch out for the splash!

Kristin M. Williams writes 01/08/98

Gold Star! The storm is coming.
Wind blows, clouds growl with fury.
Feel it in the air.

Bea C. Rodriguez writes 01/08/98

Forget the old rose
That wouldn't let you bloom, but --
Remember the love.

Free your heart from thorns
That punctured your tears to bleed --
Forgive friends and self.

Remember the air
That fresh-breathed happy triumphs --
Be ready to fly!

Mary M. Munro writes 01/07/98

Moon - a silver coin
In the gutter of the wind -
Child begging for food.

The poet comments, "The human race can sometimes disregard the beauty of nature and forget the sufferings of the needy. "

Kevin Drizen writes 01/07/98

Counting counting time
tick-tock our lives pass by us
the end is so near

Once the moon seemed close
the sky infinitely close
I reach for you now

My life was so dim
the sun's light unknown to me
you are my sunrise

Ron Lawrence writes 01/07/98

Pumpkin carving time:
wet pulp and seeds scooped out;
the candle set down.

The poet comments, "Actually a variation of a longer poem I once wrote... longer...as in 35 words...and carved into the side of a pumpkin. It won a contest. Alas...a pumpkin carving contest!"

See now, isn't this easier?

Sketchly writes 01/07/98

Closing Time Blues

Gold Star! she sips her seabreeze-
speaks the wisdom of Melrose
as she twirls her hair

Dr. Prozac writes 01/07/98

What is the best sense?
Are we unaware of it?
Love a splendid thing!

Ron Lawrence writes 01/06/98

Orange basketball.
On a roof in the schoolyard.
Over the summer.

The poet comments, "Didn't note any specific requirements or what this contest is ultimately about or open too, but here is one haiku."

Toast Point suggests you look over the whole Haiku Greeting Page for a discussion of what we're about. Welcome aboard!

Gold Star! One hundred degrees.
In short skirt, she walks away.
I hope for a breeze.

The poet comments, "Or...100...with the little "o" symbol for degrees."

At this hour in the morning, Toast Point has no idea how to force special characters.

Cavac Kolok writes 01/06/98

metaphors can spare
reality's cruel twists
clay in trade for flesh

The poet comments, "alas, the bible do tell of such."

Gold Star! i watch, not speaking
new day replacing old
sun-lit land in frost

pass up river road?
the old sage keeps flowing on
water grounds my life

in spring season
sweet bloom predicts the harvest
strength of life behold

i must write them down
fleeting thoughts spring forth from me
can i catch the breeze?

hands loose feet the same
breathing deeply sitting straight
everything nothing

Gold Star! kettle spouts promise
green tea gracing a bowl
woman bows to guests

oh sprouting legume
winter's spell on the garden
will pea blossom spring?

juvenile or old
in life their tales can be held
be they bloom or wreck

gathering roses
change my home by sight and smell
embracing nature

Candice writes 01/06/98

The sun is resting
The moon is now visible
And all is quiet

The poet comments, "First one since elementary school, I'll keep practicing."

Kim Sue writes 01/05/98

Unmeaningful bliss
Captured deep within my soul
As the sweet rose dies

A hidden jungle
So peaceful & beautiful
A monkey swings by

The poet comments, "This one always makes me smile. I hope you also find it humorous. "

Sarah writes 01/05/98

grey sky morning walk
warmer air does not fool me
i know it's winter

Sara Kay writes 01/05/98

The gentle breezes
Blow through the blue summer sky,
Cooling my hot face

Leech Crich writes 01/05/98

Ecstacy flowing
music sings with my heartbeat
in light like diamonds

The poet comments, "This is what my new year's eve was like until it all went horribly wrong..."

Now bad coke morning
sanity is shattering
in light like knife thrusts

The poet comments, "This is how i felt after everything went horribly wrong. Why was I so surprised, that's what concerns me. Of course everthing was going to go horribly wrong. i should have expected it. Oh well. "

Kim Sue writes 01/05/98

Gold Star! I waited for you
While the snow melted away
but you never came

Sergei Braun writes 01/04/98

Gold Star! Feet on frozen field,
can you feel seedlings turning
in the womb of earth?

English horn. Few notes.
Fox hunt? A distant thunderstorm...?
Black rider, keep away!

Alison writes 01/04/98

A childs tear's are like
A mothers milk - she feels it
in her chest when they flow

The poet comments, "This is a 6, 7, 6 Haiku, an accepted Japanese form. The word child's in the first line is counted as two syllables."

Upon a breast of
New fallen snow a little
Bird walks onward still

Richard CAPELLA writes 01/04/98

Behold the new year
how many resolutions
still left unbroken?

Shirts, socks, pants,boots, gloves
Christmas gifts which say out loud
"You got the wrong size"!

Mary M. Munro writes 01/04/98

This season is rough;
Wind, rain, storm, snow, volcanoes--
Look at these tax sheets!

The poet comments, "Tax season is the worst season, it is a sly dig at the income tax system."

Michael Kluk writes 01/03/98

first light of morning
sparkles off white freshly set
frost work miracles

LOWCOO writes 01/02/98

Gold Star! Resolutions
Made for the new year
Again and again

Maureen writes 01/02/98

Gold Star! Bark-clad and leafless
forest sentries huddle in
tattered coats of frost


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