Fun with Haiku
Thirteen Scenes with the Moon
1.
caress of night’s breeze
as clouds uncover the moon
so the robe your breast
2.
alone in the sky
the moon cannot compare to
these twin orbs, your eyes
3.
a chrysanthemum
more fragrant than the night breeze
naught to your perfume
4.
twin moons: sky and sea
past your robe on mist and sand
pale satin skin glows
5.
your lips, parted, curled
the moon strains her ears to hear
announce, love, our bliss
6.
the moonbeams fall as
delicate arpeggios
radiant skin sings
7.
there are no bodies
but two suns - the moon reflects
our light to the world
8.
sing your hidden song
play the chords of your body
the moon sings nightly
9.
moon seen through the leaves
plum blossoms fall on our quilt
and tumble to snow
10.
the crescent moon cries
the raindrops fallen like tears
pool upon your breasts
11.
this pool of snowmelt
warmed by our passion
reflects the moon’s smile
and yours
12.
harvest moon above
we tumble amid red leaves
rebellious moans
13.
moon-lit mist like gauze
curtains waved by jasmine wind
come, the bed awaits
Note: The poem, overall, owes a certain debt to Wallace Steven’s “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird.” Haiku 1 is based on Jelaluddin Rumi’s “Like This.” Haiku 12 was inspired by a haiku by Hattori Ransetsu: “meigetsu ya / keburi haiyuku / mizu no ue” or “harvest moon… / smoke goes creeping / over the water” from William Higginson’s The Haiku Handbook.