Hillybilly Haiku

rain

2009-01-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

To the rhythm
of chattering teeth, he whistles
a tune in one note.

Office Party

2008-12-15T18:41:00.001-07:00

in the copy room--
her panties on the xerox
his tie on the floor

portable

2008-01-11T14:01:00.000-07:00

in the pocket
of his flannel shirt --
sleeping mice

urban renewal

2007-12-05T22:07:00.000-07:00

sprouting
from the snowbank --
a stop sign

stiff

2007-11-30T11:39:00.001-07:00

mom's facial
whipped meringue --
an egg cracks

Eight Maids a Milking?

2007-11-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

Does this mean they were
all lactating, or did each
come with her own cow?

Ah. True Love...

2007-11-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

No matter how small
the mirror, she can always
find her reflection.

Hey, you!

2007-11-05T16:02:00.000-07:00

a squirrel
at the roof's edge,
complaining.

Sunday Morning

2007-11-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

Through tangles,
cold winds comb the leaves
from sleeping elms.

Northern Lights

2007-10-26T11:54:00.001-06:00

Aurora sashays
across the northern sky,
petticoats swaying.

preserves

2007-10-24T10:10:00.000-06:00

on the windowsill --
mason jars brimming
with sunlight

Elevator

2007-10-18T10:32:00.000-06:00

From the ceiling
of a small box,
music falls.

Say it with Garden Tools

2007-10-17T15:02:00.000-06:00

grey

2007-10-05T09:59:00.000-06:00

from the fog.
the incessant chatter
of canada geese

montana football

2007-09-29T16:24:00.000-06:00

twentytwo
muddy faces --
bliss

september morning

2007-09-07T15:31:00.000-06:00

tickling
the shingles on my roof --
a morning breeze

Anticipaton

2007-08-11T13:59:00.000-06:00

bare ass
on wrinkled paper
stirrups sparkle

I was inspired by this poem written by Ted Burke.

Waiting room

I hang up my hat
and sit where they tell me

a white room filled with
rolls of white tissue

sleek instruments
in glass jars

the door is closed
the room has no clock

I fold my hands,
read the diplomas and charts

learn the names
of body parts

that are acting up
or getting rowdy

or bring me pains
that signal that it’s time
to go home,

several phones ring at once,
every nerve sobs as one,

there is no clock,
no telling what time it is
or how much I’ll take home with me,

I recite bus schedules
until the door knob twists

and air rushes into the
room in a gasp

like someone finally
taking a breath
just before they black out.

© 2007 Ted Burke
reprinted with permission

mile marker 124

2007-08-08T12:34:00.001-06:00

drifting smoke
sooted rabbits --
grey hawks circle

But, mom!

2007-07-28T14:02:00.000-06:00

Arms crossed,
a woman scowls
at her muddy son.

Refreshing

2007-07-07T20:57:00.000-06:00

Wearing bluebonnets,
sitting with her legs open,
Texas greets the wind.

10 more weeks of this...

2007-06-21T14:48:00.000-06:00

Summer's palm
pushes bare feet
into soft tar.

mud

2007-03-14T21:31:00.000-06:00

Is it March, already?

2007-03-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

Tossing aside
February's blanket,
March opens one eye

urge

2007-02-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

Doing the two-step
in the ladies' bathroom.
Standing room only.

Psychic Penis Prognosticator

2007-02-10T20:34:00.000-07:00

With only a touch,
what a penis is thinking,
I can determine.

the tease

2007-02-05T08:00:00.001-07:00

Tiptoes on treetops,
lifting her skirt for a peek,
Spring comes to play.

nextdoor neighbor

2007-01-22T17:50:00.000-07:00

sitting quietly
by the kitchen window,
curlers and a robe.

mustard, too.

2007-01-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

bologna sandwiches
in a folded paper sack,
ready at the door.

good to be home...

2007-01-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

winter’s lips
on my shoulders.
goosebumps.

Bring a Spoon

2006-12-03T21:49:00.000-07:00

Glittering sugar
Velvety meringue whips up
to trim my front door.

Sugar-frosted peaks
trim a big bowl of smooth,
white sweet creamy icing.

Summer Romance

2006-07-23T12:07:00.000-06:00

His tiptoes tickling,
bumblebee leaves a soft kiss,
then dances away.

he-in' and she-in'

2006-06-28T14:31:00.000-06:00

skin lubricates skin
our horizontal struggle
makes me slippery

origami

2006-05-21T10:06:00.000-06:00

imagination
between my thumb and finger.
pretty paper folds

This one's an owie.

2006-04-19T15:13:00.000-06:00

Dedicated to Marcia:

This little piggy
leads all the other piggies
into something hard.

what hath fuzzy bunny done?

2006-04-16T08:40:00.000-06:00

making a nest
in strands of green cellophane ---
purple peeps

Early Morning on Hwy 2

2006-04-08T11:46:00.000-06:00

crystal beads
strung on singing wire
cast rainbows below

patience

2006-04-07T20:25:00.000-06:00

thirty-five pennies
tiny clinks in a glass jar
saving for new shoes

Anniversary

2006-03-19T02:20:00.000-07:00

Mars drinks
from the hollow
of a young man’s life.

mother's promise

2006-03-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

A breeze bends over,
kissing the cheeks of young grass,
and whispers of rain.

Creamy

2006-03-15T22:46:00.000-07:00

I dream of kisses
melting on my tongue.
Sex like chocolate.

39¢ a pound

2006-03-14T12:06:00.000-07:00

Perched on the porch rail,
anticipating peanuts.
Little brown birds.

the zen of folding diapers

2006-03-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

mother’s hands
smoothing snowy brilliance
worries dissolve

watching

2006-02-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

restless for spring
one thought chases another
squirrels across the lawn

Four Seasons of Bush

2006-02-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Bush knows what to do
Win terrible things happen.
He sucks on a beer

The crack of a bat
Springs Bush into action.
But he drops the ball

Sum mer tickled that
Pavement gave Dubya the smack
that his dad should have

His dogs watch idly,
as Bush inhales a pretzel,
and Falls to the floor.

shelter

2006-02-16T12:55:00.000-07:00

tucked in old rags
under a wooden porch …
4 sleeping kittens

inversion low

2006-02-15T06:01:00.000-07:00

An early morning
dressed in grey flannel
follows me to work.

danger

2006-02-13T17:33:00.000-07:00

Hide in the basement
wearing your brightest orange.
Cheney has a gun.

touch

2006-02-06T02:18:00.000-07:00

my fingers remember
creases in your laughing face
brillo-padded beard

two every four

2006-02-05T23:59:00.000-07:00

waiting to swallow,
eyes on the pendulum,
aspirins on my tongue

in missoula

2006-02-02T13:11:00.000-07:00

groundhogs bathe
in february’s shadow.
does winter notice?

comfort

2006-02-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

I bury my face
in the luxuriant coat
of your memory.

frozen in time

2006-01-30T23:00:00.000-07:00

So you won't evolve,
he houses your soul
under a bell jar.

aftermath

2006-01-20T22:24:00.000-07:00

moving quietly
so he’ll forget she's alive,
she sweeps up the glass.

road kill

2006-01-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

shiny predators
have broken mother's body
who will feed me now?

nipping

2006-01-08T21:09:00.000-07:00

in january,
from under a short blanket,
blue toes peeking out

packing up

2005-12-31T02:09:00.000-07:00

garland and tinsel
cushions a cardboard box
ornaments nestle

flying

2005-12-28T07:07:00.000-07:00

sailing through the air
his reflection in the ice
no cleats on his boots

supper

2005-12-27T08:16:00.000-07:00

in our warm kitchen
my husband concentrating
on a juicy steak.