Silhouetted Figure

At the edge of night, memories flare like lanterns drifting on a river.

hospice window

morning mist

ghosting the blossoms

Frogpond, 49:1, 2026

Years in Exile Haiku

in sky and sea

whites and blues adrift ...

years in exile

Frogpond, 49:1, 2026

A Passage

a pause

before the doctor's reply ...

my wife's hand in mine

the day she's gone ...

her smile in the wedding photo

with brown edges

sleepless again

I hold her empty pillow

tight ... and tighter

as if my late wife's hand

caressed my wrinkled face ...

first blossom rain

Frogpond, 48:3, 2025

Robin's Song Haiku

awake from dreams ...

a robin's song spreading

with the light

Frogpond, 48:2, 2025

Adrift

the sound of leaves

crunching under my feet ...

laid off

the stop, go, stop

of this gig work life ...

rush hour traffic

last bus ride

office tower shadows drift

across my tired face

long time no see ...

plumes of breath between me

and my former boss

laid off again ...

I gaze at the winter skies

one cloud at a time

Frogpond, 48:1, Winter 2025

Editors' Comments: Nicholas Klacsanzky says the variation “has depth with tones of spirituality and different layers of meaning. And Jacob D. Salzer appreciate your honesty and crisp images, and your emotional vulnerability in this piece. 

Doll Drifting Haiku

moonlight

in wave after wave

a doll drifting

Frogpond, 48:1, Winter 2025

War News on Mute Haiku

war news on mute ...

my wife deadheading tulips

for next year’s garden

Frogpond 47:3 Autumn 2024

Another Pee Senryu

the slant

of moonlight at 3 am . . .

yet another pee

Frogpond, 47:2, Spring/Summer 2024

Statue of Liberty Haiku

Statue of Liberty

the childhood dream

left behind

Frogpond, 46:1, Winter 2023

Complaints Senryu

new snow on old snow

on our way home, she repeats

last night's complaints

Frogpond, 45:3, Autumn 2022

Breathing Space Haiku

musk thistles ...

less and less breathing space

between us 

Frogpond ,46:3, Autumn 2023

Moon Glow Haiku

moon glow ...

could-haves slip to the back

of my mind

Frogpond, 46:2, Spring/Summer, 2023

Chinatown Stroll Haiku

Chinatown stroll ...

my memories 

of life elsewhere

Frogpond, 46:1, Winter 2023

Midnight Scream Haiku Noir

the sound of rain

on the sound

of a midnight scream

Frogpond, 45:2, Spring/Summer 2022

For further discussion, see my "To the Lighthouse" post, Haiku Noir

Fiftieth Birthday Senryu

the knife

cutting through Happy

fiftieth birthday

Frogpond, 45:1, winter 2021

Winter Solstice Haiku

winter solstice

I curl

into a dream

Frogpond, 44:3 Autumn 2021

River Stroll Haiku

river stroll ...

the clouds tinged
with salmon

Frogpond, 44:2, Spring/Summer 2021

Sultry Night and Blonde Hair Haiku

sultry night

a strand of her blonde hair
between my teeth

Frogpond, 44:1, winter 2021

I don't see race Haiku

I don't see race

in the scorching heat

a blackbird

Frogpond, 43:3, Fall 2020

Selected Haiku: Gunshots and Shooting Star Haiku

between gunshots a shooting star

Frogpond, 40:1, Winter 2017