New Jaguar Haiku

harvest moon rising ...
the smell
of his new Jaguar

The Heron's Nest, 15:2, June 2015
The Wonder Code: Discover the Way of Haiku and See the World with New Eyes, 2017

Independence Day Senryu

Independence Day
I talk big to a boy
taller than me

Cattails, May, 2015

Love and Lust Senryu

his daughter's smile ...
the pastor gives a sermon
on love and lust

Cattails, May, 2015

Goodwill Store Senryu

brand new copies
of my book in the window
Goodwill store at dusk

Cattails, May, 2015

Alley Dog Tanka

an alley dog
stops barking at midnight ...
the silence
of my winter dream
becoming darker

Cattails, May, 2015

Tenth Winter Tanka

the tenth winter ...
my attic room filled
with a bed,
a desk, rows of books
and snowy loneliness

Cattails, May, 2015

ESL Class Tanka

ESL class at dusk:
white flight
from my Chinese mouth
to her Canadian ears
white fright

American Tanka, 25, June 2015

Note: ESL stands for English as a Second Language

Rail Tracks Haiku

the rail tracks
toward a harvest moon
thoughts of home

Cattails, May, 2015

Lamppost Haiku

long way home ...
measuring this winter night
lamppost by lamppost

Cattails, May, 2015

Sultry Night Haiku

sultry night
a dog licking the face
of a drunk

Cattails, May, 2015

What’s Past Is Prologue, A Haibun

Sitting alone by the window, I look out at the maple branches swaying in the breeze. Out of nowhere, I feel the stab of a memory -- she waving me goodbye at the airport. I hold on to that memory, the universe hanging on the branches.

spring sunlight

breaking between branches

the sound of my voice

Cattails, May, 2015

An Unofficial Story, A Haibun

for Oskar

ink-black:

smoke trails a life

from the north tower

Another sleepless night. Winter moonlight on the empty side of her bed. From the bedside table, she picks up A Place of Remembrance: The Official Photo Book of 9/11. She stares at the book for a moment. The tears roll down her face as she rips out some of the pages. With a sigh, she puts the torn-out pages in reverse order. When she flips through them, dozens of people are flying through the windows back into the building.

Editor's Choice Haibun, Cattails, May, 2015

Comment by cattails Haibun Editor Sonam Chhoki: The power of Chen-ou Liu’s haibun, An Unofficial Story for Oskar lies in its closing sentence: “When she flips through them, dozens of people are flying through the windows back into the building.” It is amazingly evocative image that has echoes of redemption and freedom from the tyranny of time.

Confederate Flag Tanka

gunshots
bloodstained the peace
of a black church ...
the Confederate flag high
above the state house dome

NeverEnding Story, June 21 2015

A Haiku Set about My Ex

the zigzag flight
of a red butterfly …
thoughts of my ex

the faucet dripping ...
my ex three time zones
ahead of me

NeverEnding Story, May 26, 2015

Fingerprinting Stars Tanka

first winter night
side by side we lie
on the floor
her hand fingerprinting
the stars on my chest

Frameless Sky, 2, 2015

Snowy Silence Haiku

snow on snow ...
listening to the silence
between us

Frameless Sky, 2, 2015

Divorce Haiku

I want a divorce...
the snap, snap, snap
of bean pods

Frameless Sky, 2, 2015

Gap-Toothed Smile Tanka

high noon sunlight
beats down on this rooming house...
the migrant
with a gap-toothed smile
says, I'm learning Inglish

NeverEnding Story, May 9, 2015

Tongues Tanka

the tongues
of a maple tree
are bare ...
my loss of home
speaks in Chinglish

NeverEnding Story, May 9, 2015

Life and Death, A Haiku Set

hospice verandah ...
a girl opens her mouth
to spring rain

(French Translation by Serge Tome:

véranda des spoins palliatifs ...
une jeune fille ouvre sa bouche
à la pluie de printemps
)

her black hair
veils our praying hands ...
hospice church at dusk 

(French Translation by Serge Tome:

ses cheveux noirs
voilent ses mains qui preint ...
église de l'hospice au crépuscule
)

NeverEnding Story, May 4, 2015