The
Toast Point
Haiku Contest!
Since 1995!
A Japanese Garden of Verse
Entries from January, 1999
W. John (Allen) writes 01/30/99
Solitude
In a billion starsAre we all alone ask those
of Galapagos
Joyna writes 01/30/99
I have never knownSo why should I find out now?
I will only die
Pat Grantt writes 01/30/99
Desolate the moorwhere, outside my solitude,
wild things sometimes die.
Blackbirds pace the fence
while their yellowed eyes pursue
seeds of discontent.
The poet comments, "For the two neighbourhood gossips who cornered me last week."
Flickers in the frost
To the music of starlight -
Phantoms of the dance.
And from nighttime prayers
Through the whispers of a child
They begin their flight.
Stuart Reed writes 01/30/99
Distant shotgun killsA pheasant. Hunter gets a
Present of feathers.
A rapid tattoo
Signals the arrival of
Woody Woodpecker.
Litter on the lawn.
Passers-by think that someone
Ought to pick it up.
Heated argument
Early in the morning. A
Marriage breaking up.
Satellite dish on
Every second roof. Inner
Space from outer space.
Pomegranate tree,
Home to two humming birds. It's
A family tree.
Small, black, ugly pug
Comes to visit Bubbles. She's
Asking for trouble.
The poet comments, "Bubbles is the name of my dog, so called because she dreams of being a gangster's moll."
Pristine clean winter
Morning nonetheless teems with
The litter of life.
Rainbows writes 01/29/99
Rainbows in the sky,Colors shining down on me,
In this field of dreams.
The poet comments, "hope you enjoy!"
Stuart Reed writes 01/29/99
"Golden Slumbers" hummedThe Beatles. This is the church
And here's the steeple.
A guard of honour
Feels to the couple like one
More gauntlet to run.
Exact existence,
A product of persistence,
Terminates in death.
Time marches sideways,
Always moving on, never
Going anywhere.
A brand new bracket
Adorns the wall. Iron for
A hanging basket.
Itchy and Scratchy
Are violent versions of
Thomas and Jerry.
To come home to warmth
On a winter's night is a
Tropical delight.
Wading Wellingtons
Squelch in mud, protect feet from
Blood-sucking leeches.
Winged Mercury had
Feathers on his ankles and
A hero's halo.
Blessed are the bored
For they shall inherit the
Love of peace award.
Standing ovation.
Sitting duck. Grin and bear it.
Curse your fucking luck.
Danger's lurking in
The thinking hurtling through the
Circles of your mind.
Drack von Falco writes 01/29/99
on the Open roadthe Highway littered like leaves
Speed-traps, Everywhere
Vid Vukasovic writes 01/29/99
In the snow fielda lonely raven - the only
disturbance of whiteness.
Mihajlo Mika Pavlovic writes 01/29/99
The garden of new scents:dubious gamble flower
of the old bees hope.
The poet comments, "The title of this poem is "The Old Bees Hope""
Breath of hungry ants
by dry grass of oblivion
at earth - the sky bottom.
The poet comments, "The title of this poem is "Breath of Hungry Ants""
By lime -tree branches
wind dissipates colours
of the late spring.
The poet comments, "The title of this poem is "Second Spring""
In the crow’s eye
from chance meeting field,
mud and some smoke.
The poet comments, "The title of this poem is "To the End""
Jaded writes 01/28/99
Withering flowerShys away from prying eyes
The bee can't come in
Laura Dadd writes 01/28/99
Memoir exposeureMy life on parade for all
Most can't understand
Blind Dog Moss writes 01/28/99
Dancing in flowerstoenails scrape earth's face
a warm wind tonight
River like black glass
clouds hugging the warm air
seagull swoops again
Tenderstorm writes 01/28/99
a feathered rocketexploding from a meadow
bursting into song
Inkstone Photowriter writes 01/28/99
a good hand, good eye,rock to rock, paint-hole mountains
with brushes well wound.
The poet comments, "copyright B. Buettner 1/99"
Haikusmith writes 01/28/99
silk sky, cotton cloudsmemories fly to canvas
I awake from dream
memory's longings
old script ruins fresh moments
new kid on the block
Lynn writes 01/27/99
Blue porcelain dishwarm with fresh gingerbread men
near frosty windows
Joyna Heinz writes 01/27/99
In your memoryall the changes in the world
are never erased
Yvonne Cabalona writes 01/27/99
even in Winter,bare limbs of the willow
weeps
in the distance,
a train whistles its way
through a sleeping town
lining antenna
improving reception
neckless pigeons
Inkstone Photowriter writes 01/26/99
crooked spine hunchback,there under the masking cloth,
a photo not eyed.
The poet comments, "photographers haiku copyright B. Buettner 1999"
seized day, gabardine;
scant honest act to conceal,
winds efface cloaked time.
The poet comments, "written while reading "The Tempest" copyright B. Buettner 1999"
fat indica leaves
piquant brain-skunk smell, perhaps
undulating we.
The poet comments, "favor'd haiku copyright B. Buettner 1996"
Stuart Reed writes 01/26/99
Doctors of despair,Hold me tight while I seek for
Doses of delight.
The poet comments, "These are called 'Spandex. Like Rolex.'"
Manicured fingers,
Plucking at catgut, strike a
Chord, strike up the band.
Rhythm and booze. Mind
In a rut. Nothing to choose
Between creeps and sluts.
Dressed to the nines. Cats
And dogs do the Friday night
Deodorant strut.
It's the mating game,
A dating game rating's war.
The aim is to score.
Nine times out of ten
Been there, done that, wouldn't want
To go there again.
Once in a blue moon,
June, spoon, everything sounds like
A rocking new tune.
Over the hills and
Far away, the Pied Piper
Persuasively plays.
In for a penny.
Listen to the hearts of the
Hopeful lovelorn pound.
A token gesture.
A stylish lecher lights a
Lady's cigarette.
Keeper Johnny writes 01/26/99
certainty finds yourubbing a divining stone
cannot change outcome
Cam writes 01/26/99
Blind old bitch dog deafCrosses through heavy traffic
Heartbreak Miracled
Hemahead writes 01/25/99
Japanese Flowersare pretty neat and so sweet
So import em' now!
Gloria Dindyal writes 01/25/99
Glistening dewdrops Resting easy, lacing lawns
Spring is upon us
R. Nandkumar. writes 01/25/99
On a sweatysummer night
A sudden cool breeze.
The poet comments, "This is my first haiku poem.I'm thankful to this web site hosters for letting me share my haikus and read others."
On a power-cut night
Only the sound of
rain.
The poet comments, "This is another one of my several haikus.Thanks again."
Tenderstorm writes 01/24/99
Yes, I am intriguedOh Yvonne Cabalona
Please answer my poem
The poet comments, "This is for one of your regular contributors, Yvonne Cabalona."
Courting via haiku! How interesting!
Loisseau writes 01/24/99
Shards of winter cutyour cheeks. Season kisses from
your northern lover.
The poet comments, "For Roberta Taussig, my first commenter."
Julz writes 01/23/99
Dazzling Tempest"
A flash of lightningDeafening roar of thunder
The beauty of storms
Old Pajamas writes 01/23/99
two trains screeching bytwo men exchanging glances...
one full, one empty.
The poet comments, "hi, for what it's worth i recently mailed two haiku leaving out my nom de plume...'professor backwards' and 'alive! it's alive!'. thanks. "
Hmmm, they haven't shown up here...
Stuart Reed writes 01/22/99
How boring we are,Insisting on making love
To a formula.
The poet comments, "These are haiku written whilst milking cows and are called 'Intransigent'"
I'm intransigent,
Determined to always fly
Off at a tangent.
Inescapably
Complicated, married life
Is overrated.
Lacking the substance
For substance abuse is a
Creative excuse.
Locking horns with pawns
Is not a king's job. How are
The mighty fallen.
Dallying scholars
See term time expand to the
Point of no return.
Imminent chaos
Circles like vultures chasing
Ominous futures.
Preliminary
Findings establish footholds
In current thinking.
Where did the yellow
Go? Under the bridges and
Over the rainbow.
Timed to perfection
Every roaming pathway has
One destination.
The poet comments, "It's a pun on 'All roads lead to Rome.'"
Damurian writes 01/22/99
An oceanside hillLined with decidious trees-
Who will rake the leaves?
The poet comments, "So hard to reach the unifying moment with nature in front of a computer screen; I had to use an older piece."
Tenderstorm writes 01/21/99
the current is strongand yet the little fish swims
gallantly upstream
Anonymous writes 01/21/99
looking out I seemountains, valleys, and oceans
it looks wonderful
Yvonne Cabalona writes 01/21/99
even in winterin a slant of sunlight,
the dandelion
as sunset fades,
its orange flickers in the
bonfire's embers
kissing the maple
here and there,
mistletoe
Ed Shustack writes 01/19/99
Package from HeavenHandiwork of the Master
Gift for Mom and Dad
Iye Matsu-san writes 01/19/99
Far from this small hutSnow, falling deep on mountains.
My small creek shivers.
Loisseau writes 01/19/99
Six keys away, shytilde waits. A keyboard dona
in ampersand dreams.
Ah Viagra, sweet drug!
Tumescence, phoenix from ashes.
Trojans rejoicing.
Harlequin romance.
Cut muscles, moist blondes, empty
love on printed pages.
Chris writes 01/19/99
fat angry midgetwaits in the leaves to test me
with his golden tongue
I stand up and walk
Nothing seems right in this place
I smell death coming
red mutant midget
dancing in the morning sun
polishes my skull
Yvonne Cabalona writes 01/19/99
eavesdropper:watching him listen to them
with his eyes
Drack von Falco writes 01/19/99
Want faster access?Virtual memory, wow!
Real big RAM disk, now!
Dancer writes 01/18/99
Fogged-up window paneCrystalline icicles hang
From the eaves, melting
Roberta Taussig writes 01/18/99
Rain on car windowsFlame-shaped water furies dance
To the wind's music
Bill "Ugli Coyote" Davis writes 01/17/99
bass thumps loudly bylow-riders roll on asphalt
summer night-dreams play
The poet comments, "I have my own haiku page where your readers could submit their work,too."
cut any old way,
seventeen limits poet's
verbiosity
The poet comments, "peace"
canoe rocks gently
silver fish dart through water
I sigh, contentment
The poet comments, "I love haiku...Ugli Coyote"
T writes 01/17/99
setting down the dogs' bowls at dawn;at my hem and bare ankles
new snow
The poet comments, "again, an unusual format but haiku nonetheless! "
Segals writes 01/16/99
haiku unnerves us.frogs drinking wine disturb us.
orange universe.
T writes 01/16/99
sick in bedhe suddenly jumps up
runs downstairs to write a haiku
The poet comments, "I'm not a 5-7-5 conformist but i hope you'll still consider my haiku "
wind and pines and chimes
melting ice dripping
the cat purring in my lap
in her milky gown
mist and shadow under sun
the forest delicate
Stuart Reed writes 01/15/99
Cock up a doodle.He runs a tight ship. He is
Feudal and frugal.
So what's your story?
Half-witted particulars
Not hunky dory?
A badge of honour
Worn on your epaulettes? A
Chip on your shoulder.
Pitch black, ditch dark, ball
Park figure, looming large in
A trivia quiz.
I am the walrus
Watching the time bomb of your
Will to self-destruct.
Inner energy,
Batteries not included,
Burns an effigy.
A dime a dozen.
A distant cousin left us
A pretty penny.
Whiskey in the jar.
Red hot Russian tea in the
Czarist samovar.
Phone is off the hook,
So with any luck, we won't
Be coming unstuck.
The poet comments, "If the milk reaches nine degrees centigrade, the cowshed phone goes dead. I kid you not."
Tolerant tutors
Don't abuse either us or
Their authority.
Nicole Valentine writes 01/15/99
A still quiet pond.A lily opens its petals.
Silence comes with night.
Yvonne Cabalona writes 01/15/99
supplicants:skeletal gingkos reaching
for the sun
Purple Pride writes 01/15/99
Yo Yo feel the flowThe spirit and of the wrath
Falcons take a bath
The poet comments,
"Flow of Victory
Minnesota Vikings wrath
Dome being the bath
"
PattyP writes 01/14/99
A single teardropfell on the newly dug grave
of her dead husband
Stuart Reed writes 01/14/99
Most of existenceIs better at a distance.
Take love for instance.
The poet comments, "These are called 'Half Of Europe'"
What I have in mind
Is how love is best defined
By a broken heart.
Having more than your
Share of problems and despair?
Spare a thought for Cher.
Chronic monologues
Clogging up your synapses?
Reach for the remote.
Crackerjack pundits
Nibbling at your neuroses?
Send them explosives.
Cataclysmic blasts
Atomizing estuaries?
Shoot all the sentries.
Sanitary pads
Being sold to you in ads?
Salute the red flag.
General alert?
World War Three on the radar
Screen? Don a hair shirt.
A cast of thousands
Chewing up the scenery?
Shoot Charlton Heston.
Bad luck and trouble
Your only friend? Are the Blues
A means to an end?
Anonymous writes 01/14/99
a speed limit signin the middle of a forest says...
don't exceed 10mph
Tim Wee writes 01/14/99
Tim taking a weestanding next to me
lifting his right knee
The poet comments, "there are real deap felling in this poem its just bacause I hadf to think of somthing for school "
Kaili J. writes 01/14/99
A trail hardened by footprintscurves around school
trees sway in wind.
The poet comments, "This is a trail that leads behind my school that caught my attention one day. "
CC writes 01/14/99
bland gray skymoist rain
a day in Sitka
Tree writes 01/14/99
no colorthe lone tree
sits by the bank
Tybone writes 01/14/99
I look at the discoloredblock in the cold parking lot.
it sparkles in the dim light.
Chartier writes 01/14/99
a chain of lifethe bark on the tree
the moss on the roots
Tyler Orbison writes 01/14/99
The bleak grey skyStretches on to the horizon
rain spatters against the pavement
Ender Derkin writes 01/14/99
Rain drops fall ona barren world, melt the snow
bring forth life
Roman C. Judy writes 01/14/99
Sky parallels groundLight pillars tower over trees
Shed light onto cars
Sheena Vaughn writes 01/14/99
The light of the sunThe light that broke through darkness
the sun warms the earth
Alone in a world so big
Darkness with no hope of light
you will never feel love
Candice Reid writes 01/14/99
Trees high as the skygreen beautiful and hopeful
white covers the top
Daniella writes 01/14/99
fuzzy wuzzys sighssmiles on the lips,hugs on the hips
a boyfriend near by...
The poet comments, "hugs are better than drugs
luv,daniella"
Guy Simmons writes 01/14/99
Hostage
Army Down BelowTrying to stop me
Time to Kill
William Warden writes 01/14/99
so much depends upona one-legged cat, trying to bury turds
on a frozen lake
The poet comments, "this poem was easy and effortless. poetry is dumb"
Gaven writes 01/14/99
green wet and white,the top snowcapped in snow
the bottom wet and rainy
The poet comments, "It's a haiku describing a mountain in my area called Gaven Hill."
Brian Hames writes 01/14/99
Dusted with white snowengulfed in thick clouds and fog
cold and damp and dark
Brian Vincent writes 01/14/99
A face of a poemVoice that cries of music
A touch like satin
Oh Susanna writes 01/14/99
The sun drifts awaywith it my heart goes also
how could she leave me
Yvonne Cabalona writes 01/13/99
mid-Winter andthoughts already turning to
almond blossoms
Drack von Falco writes 01/13/99
top down, ice formingconvertible sure is fun
cannot find my gloves
Amanda writes 01/12/99
Just so we will notpart on truly awful terms
you stop by my house
The poet comments, "This haiku is about a guy named Shawne"
Paul T. Conneally writes 01/12/99
They fought toe to toeAlhough winter's chill bit hard
They felt only heat.
Drack von Falco writes 01/12/99
the season is donechildren playing in the surf
water chills my flesh
The poet comments, "a remembrance of a picnic on the coast ..."
Sketchley writes 01/12/99
all around his bedthe grandchildren laughed and danced
to his accordion
Roberta Taussig writes 01/12/99
Rain on still waterPerfect circles expanding
Into everything
Ed Shustack writes 01/12/99
Major League FranchisesWith Minor League Management
Today's School Systems
Facts versus fiction
Interpretation decides
Guilt or innocence
Haikusmith writes 01/12/99
haikus like applesextra care brings sweet rewards
beneath winter snows
history's wisdom
in Mayan ruins
writ upon stelli
winter-touched trail
of craggy rock, trees like stick forms
sky is closing in
I found the moment
uniformly black and white
coloring edges
stare at monitor
blank but anticipating
waiting for next line
Paul T. Conneally writes 01/11/99
A marmalade traceIn the midsummer morning
Loughbrohemia
The poet comments, "Loughbrohemia (luffbrohemia) is an art related ideal town - how loughborough (england) would be if it was parfect!"
Caitlin writes 01/11/99
Jesus is God's sonHe was born on Christmas day
in Jerusalem
The poet comments, "I am 11 yrs old and this is my first attempt at Haiku."
it's snowing again
what a beautiful picture
a very white picture
Drack von Falco writes 01/13/99
The poet comments, "In the process of posting a recently submitted poem, a few words were changed, so that my original intent was altered. Could you repost the poem as originally submitted. Here it is, play on words intended. Thanks!
Winter! char cold grill
Skillet sizzle sear my meat
Diner smell, lets eat.
Toast Point apologizes for meddling.
N. Wilcox writes 01/10/99
time walks eternalfollows sky's ceaseless marching
has patience for none
Kent Fielding writes 01/10/99
Alone on mountainSnow melts, water flows like sky
The wolf's eye opens.
The poet comments, "This poem is about mediating on Mt. Pawnee in Boulder during early summer."
Stuart Reed writes 01/10/99
At some stage you mustPut your trust in the workings
Of your unknown brain.
The poet comments, "These are haiku written whilst milking cows, with the radio playing softly."
Praise was showered on
The haunting cornet of the
Young Bix Beiderbecke.
Kismet and karma
Are permanent players in
The human drama.
The poet wants to
Think every thought only once.
Unlike elephants.
Is your mind finely
Attuned to the much maligned
Easy listening?
Times without number
One has heard Cindy Lauper
Sing 'Time After Time.'
Memories of Miles
Float down the aisles like a bride
With long train running.
At the cutting edge,
Every thought will be sharper
Than an archer's quill.
An oblique sense of
Humour will only serve to
Further confuse her.
"Charmed, I'm sure. At least
At last I know the score. Which
I didn't before."
The foreseeable
Future will leave few of us
Any the wiser.
Chantal writes 01/10/99
Looking to the darkFinding meaning in the night
Emboding all
The poet comments, "I am 13 years old. I really love to write poetry. I have just begun to experiment with haiku"
Lauralee Johnston writes 01/08/99
Taken from this world.Held in death's strangling arms.
Being left alone.
Choked by death's cold hand.
Gasping your last breath of life.
Gone! Your life is over.
Death, a dark shadow.
Bringing questions and sadness.
Why does it haunt us?
Nature writes 01/08/99
The wind Blows very softly.Then you say life is full of happiness.
You see nature then you ask yourself one question. When am I going to wake up?
The poet comments, "I wrote this when I was 11 years old. Now I'm 18."
Willow writes 01/08/99
Sunflowers in snowPapers sitting on my desk
I make a hard choice.
Lotus writes 01/08/99
my bonsai dyingalone in a room too hot
eight years end like this
Stuart Reed writes 01/07/99
Working man, smellingOf steel, a factory hand
Breaking on the wheel.
The poet comments, "These are called 'A Chain Factory' and are imaginary haiku written by my father whilst walking home from work, sometime in the sixties."
This is why we fought
Them in the trenches. We now
Wield British wrenches.
Beneath the bridges,
Puddles of oily water
Escape drying winds.
Turtle-neck sweaters
On today's polished youngsters
Mock my blue collar.
England is swinging.
Not like a cadaver but
With joie de vivre.
The chip shop is run
By a Greek. Would I go and
Sell olives in Greece?
Women in saris,
Smelling of ghee. They avert
Their doe eyes from me.
I fought for the right
To be free to end up in
A chain factory.
Willow writes 01/07/99
Christmas ornamentsslowly unwrapped to decay
season gone away.
The softly glowing
midnight moon stains the thin leaves
swaying in the breeze.
The creaking swing moves
whispered weeping in the wind
watch as dreams dissolve.
Yvonne Cabalona writes 01/07/99
from Winter's treeSpring awaits its turn
--- abandoned swing
winter grips returned
employment applications;
they are cold, too!!
Rohnnda Sayri Benavente writes 01/07/99
Sunflower's petalsone by one begin to fall
love me, love me not
The poet comments, "thank you for your consideration. This is a new form for me. I hope you like it. Sincerely, Rohnnda"
Butterfly flutters
silently, caressing my
lips. Butterfly's kiss
Lotus writes 01/06/99
television screensmirroring the world we know
show us knowing all
january snow
memories of years gone by
rain and warm winds blow
Mark 'n' Marie write 1/5/99
at EpiphanyRejoice; so thankful at last
to take down the tree
I liked all the gifts
That my true love gave to me
Except those damn birds
The three kings gave us
Gold and frankincense and myrrh;
What about diapers?
According to a Christmas card that Wumpus and Toast Point got, the three wise women came later, bringing the diapers, rattles and carseat.
Veronica writes 01/05/99
Need to surf the worldInternet, oh internet
Click here to receive
Kristin Waller writes 01/05/99
The lone king surveysHis vanquished, vanishing realm--
Africa's pride lost.
Lonely gray eyes search--
Slate skipping across a sea
Of soulless faces.
A perfect portrait
Of dew-kissed delicacy
In the single rose.
Sunset gilded pools
Of clear, Caribbean blue
Reflect back my love.
Yvonne Cabalona writes 01/05/99
weak through the fogfirst sun
of the New Year
J.S. Bradley writes 01/04/99
Stepping away froma flowing winter river
silence brings remorse
breath and mind are one
flowing like a water-wheel
peace and strength combine
Candice Pennefather writes 01/03/99
I've seen it allI've dreamt that dream before
I still don't believe
Dymitr Mozdyniewicz writes 01/03/99
Tickle on the neck.I gently touched- in my hand,
Little spider- dead.
Time wields a broadsword.
The sharp edge is the setting
To bump into bliss.
Charming the seconds,
Committed my days, years,
I walk the circle.
Anamika Patwa writes 01/02/99
love is butterfliesemerging from their cocoons
in silent beauty
furry ugliness
hides away, then emerges
in winged pureness
eyes infused on wings
delicate, paper-thin hearts
broken with one touch
Linda Bratton writes 01/02/99
Tiny raindrops danceon concrete stages aware
the sun performs next
The poet comments, "Well, I like it... it breaks rules left and left.. but.... "
Stuart Reed writes 01/01/99
Scudding clouds acrossA silver moon. All we lack
Is a witch's broom.
If only what took
Place were as plain as the nose
On a Roman face.
In a state of grace
Every seed would get to plead
Its genetic case.
The human bond to
Communicative power
Is both sweet and sour.
As anyone can
Tell you, just because one can,
Not anyone can.
Most of us are sealed
Against good vibrations in
Our energy field.
Philosophers stress -
The best way to suffer is
To seek happiness.
Funny. We've turned our
World into a greenhouse and
This will kill us all.
Scudding clouds across
A silver moon. We sure don't
Lack a sense of doom.
Sing your song. Give me
Some small understanding of
Where you're coming from.
Haiku Greeting Page
December's | February's
Back to Toast Point Page.
