in the sunshine
snatches of conversation
lowing of cows
Published by
Patricia Prime
Patricia has recently retired from teaching after 30 years, and now devotes some time to the reading recovery programme at her local school. She is the co-editor of the New Zealand haiku magazine Kokako and reviews editor of the online magazine Stylus. She writes short stories, poetry, reviews and articles, and likes to write collaborative poems with other poets.
Contact Patricia: pprime at ihug.co.nz.
View all posts by Patricia Prime
afternoon nap
interrupted
misty’s barking
time to feed cows
time to inseminate cows
… no time for selves
weather forecast–
cows laying in pasture
rain
After the breakfast
behind the herd of cows
dust up to the sky
some peace and quiet
among the spring rains —
caged parakeet chirps
–
joys of love in spring
makes one human …
the agony destroys
–
day’s end
mourning dove’s coo –
life’s so short
morning moon
at the edge of the field
a spotted cow
wilderness
wolves open the dying buffalo’s belly
no rain on my birthday!
… the cow
jumped over the moon
in the cow pasture–
lady slippers and
black eye susans
insemmination
the town girl’s arm
up to the elbow
two cows
kissing
mother and child
boy grooming
for first dance–
stubborn cowlick
tropical sun
morning bike ride
gallinule, monotonous kek kek …
2nd gold medal
the cyclist beats her own
world record
half-dazed, on the couch
flashback
when medal was mine
kindergarten children
their olympic medals
only cardboard
holiday at disney
cardboard cut out —
her face next to mine
a parcel arrives –
early Christmas present
from overseas
late celebration –
predawn
scuba dive
over the horizon
instead of going out
an evening spending time
writing haiku
haiku
nature’s beauty, undressing …
my memory in winter
spring morning . . .
my daughter buys
a winter coat
salmon upstream struggle
blueberries along the shore …
bear’s winter coat
–
teddy bears picnic –
inside as it’s raining
the toys bright coats
play dough cookies
empty tea cups —
my daughter pats my lips
–
tree leaves turning orange –
demitasse
solemn dinner conversation
birthday dinner –
the vegetarian makes
the salsa
salsa dancing …
she’s firmly in my embrace
till dawn
flamenco dancer-
the whip of her scarlet skirts
around her partner
approaching twilight –
scarlet dress
across her bed
breakfast alone –
squeezing a grapefruit
to test its ripeness
alone –
hearing the silence
hurricane anticipated
the last car
leaves the area –
night chill
an utterance, breaks the silence
a burning chill
in the midnight air
night-time music
a fine patter of rain
on the oak trees
sixties music —
the patter of my heart
beneath a star-filled sky
the evening star
appears on the horizon –
I plan a meal
long night, do’s and (don’t)s
on the horizon
the morning sun
on my way to work –
a pink cloud in the blue sky
morning mist
sun climbs over the pines
pleasant start to a new day —
good morning, miss
tangled in the branches
of the Norfolk pine
the setting sun
brush my face
on the spider’s web …
insects snarled during the night
–
Spiderman video –
my grandson asks me to paint
a web on his face
bad weather
difficult times —
on the television screen
anniversary of 9/11
I read victim profiles
in the newspaper
to and fro, ants
crossing the lichen wall
my shadow
random street –
an illusion of dread
a newpaper flutters
comforting —
familiar street
predawn jog
family dinner –
on the TV news
the latest carnage
evening visit
kitchen’s aroma —
on tv, chicken farm
chicken satay –
before a meeting I heat
the leftovers
salty peanuts in hand —
thai, satay kai
comes to mind
peanut butter –
he spreads it liberally
his only treat
street corner
treat, seer’s warning
spreads it liberally
corner of the street –
I follow the green tea scent
to the Subway cafe
over green tea
so heady
jasmine, she wears …
granddaughter chooses
a male deoderant –
‘more sexy’, she says
stiff tail, wagging
lion savors the air —
more sex
after its dinner
the sexless dog
naps all afternoon
long
afternoon nap
cheesecake dream
–
haha
spring in the air
dusting off the barbecue
for long hot days
spring’s in the air
dove’s dusting —
dusk approaches
lighting the way
for a little while
fireflies
nightfall –
still curtains
keep out the darkness
–
high noon –
remembering the old film
I fold the washing
hearing an old song —
smooths out the wrinkles
in my day
writing a haibun –
I contemplate a visit
to my friend’s town
midnight awakening
i contemplate crossing
a friend’s mind
my friend’s mind
taken up with a hundred haiku
how can I compete?
compete, not in my eyes
each haiku’s reflection —
you
my haiku thoughts bare –
their shapes to be revealed
under the spring sky
beneath autumn skies
shadows …
of their former selves
myself when young –
looking at the photo album
with my granddaughter
myself, feeling young
tackle new day —
sleep late, anyway
rain drips silently
on the festival tent
end of the day
in the darkness
torrential rainfall
the rooster’s crow
–
blusterous morning winds —
lame blue jay,
we’re eye to eye