Roberta Beary lives in Mayo, Ireland.
Their work appears in Tiny Love Stories: True Tales of Love in 100 Words or Less (New York Times, 2020) and One Breath: Notes from the Reluctant Engagement Project (Doire Press/ Clan Beo, 2021) which pairs their haiku with artwork by families of people with disabilities.
View all posts by Roberta Beary
104 thoughts on “”
I love the haiku (of course), but haven’t events moved on!
Beautiful haiku. First You count something, what is near You, something countable – then You start to count something further – endless and eternal. Great haiku about growing up and seeing more and more together.
Here, here Alan – congratulations Roberta! Your work is consistently distinctive and beautiful – always a joy to read, and well worthy of the recognition.
Many thanks to all for your comments. My son was almost 11 when I wrote this haiku; he will turn 20 later this summer. I am lucky that every so often we still count fireflies.
Alan and Helen, thanks for your congratulations on the PSA’s William Carlos Williams finalist award for “The Unworn Necklace” which I am happy to say includes this haiku.
wink,
your words exposed yatsuka ishihara’s views on the haiku; at least one in particular, “anachronistic”(anachronism). these days, i ponder how many students, even masters of the haiku(hokku) & etc, clearly understand the “anachronistic haiku”….
also, for anyone who might not already know, Roberta’s work is being highlighted on the Mann library’s daily haiku site for July. check it out @ haiku dot mannlib dot cornell dot edu
_Ahhhh yes, Alan and Bob, the -S- just flies to the end of fly, and the missing punctuation is quite simply, missing.
_I am truly honored by your kind comments, and to you both… I offer my appreciation.
_m
Mike, that’s one of the most beautiful collection of words I’ve ever written in my life. The familiarity of ‘dad’, combined with the reference to a favourite food, makes the pivot all the more shocking on line 3. After the shock, though, the first two lines become all the more touching for the sense of familiarity. This one will stay with me. x
Re: Above post – I meant to say that’s one of the most beautiful collections of words I’ve ever *read* in my life. Not written. Haikus I’ve written wouldn’t nearly compare to that. My most recent was:
Vibrant like leaves,
her autumn clothes will warm her,
as she warms my heart.
I love the haiku (of course), but haven’t events moved on!
Roberta’s collection was shortlisted
for the Poetry Society of America’s
“Williams Carlos Williams Award!”
fka link: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2008/04/22/psa-honors-haiku-roberta-bearys-the-unworn-necklace/
Congratulations again Roberta!!! ;-)
fireflies
winking out_
extinguished galaxies
starry night the darkness between fireflies
[Published in Acorn]
I love your stars and fireflies, Roberta.
brown out–
a firefly
gets into our room
Melchor F. Cichon
Beautiful haiku. First You count something, what is near You, something countable – then You start to count something further – endless and eternal. Great haiku about growing up and seeing more and more together.
A moment you’ll both remember…
thanks so much for sharing it with us!
moments that are breeding a constant assurance of counting on each other – whenever, whatever, whereever. Words well-written.
This is a fun haiku that reminded me of a camping trip, long ago. Please excuse my use of your work!
My kids and I count
Fireflies or shooting stars,
We’re not sure which.
my daughter’s late night phone call…
the rumbling of thunder
–
…and over the years, i continue to soothe her fears
I enjoyed it very much to read this haiku!
Here, here Alan – congratulations Roberta! Your work is consistently distinctive and beautiful – always a joy to read, and well worthy of the recognition.
Many thanks to all for your comments. My son was almost 11 when I wrote this haiku; he will turn 20 later this summer. I am lucky that every so often we still count fireflies.
Alan and Helen, thanks for your congratulations on the PSA’s William Carlos Williams finalist award for “The Unworn Necklace” which I am happy to say includes this haiku.
twin girls_
in their crib, telling secrets
out loud!
bare feet patter
across this dampened grass
the child laughs
> and that -child- could be in us -all- < _m
Is tinywords now going away?
tiny words
briefly glimmers bright
stalls in summer’s light
>Continue the renga; the flowers that bloom in the dark.< night blooms these moonflies gather a new day _m
_m, your words remind me of those i’ve shared with that special lady…
pure rose
in full bloom–
rivals this driven snow
&
porcelain flower-
this summer night
your heady fragrance
–
what one does with tiny words, beneath the moonrise in summer(winter, down under)
‘lo Bob; on and on, and on.
first light…
in scents of pine and lilac
this rose awakens
_m
Äî ñâèäàíèÿ, auf wiedersehen, tot ziens, farvel, hejdá, au revoir, adios, arrivederci, lehitraot, adios, kwa heri, adeus, sayonara, itte kimasu, itte irasshai, shubho bidai, nomoskaar, rabb raakhaa, bandagi, salóm, khoda hafez, ta-ta, abar dyakha habe, namasté…
–
magyar, these nights, i simply say “until”…
–
last light…
this half-closed red rose
her silhouette remains
The abundance of ‘so-longs’ seems ominous.
moonlight breeze…
this rose silhouette
in shadow’s dance
> until < _m
For anyone having withdrawal symptoms, there’s another great daily haiku site @ tobaccoroadpoet dot com. Also check out the blog’s “three questions”.
magyar, “so long” does have this inauspicious presage; repressed until the dawning of dusk, once more…
–
this light fades with dawn
beneath the drooping leaf…
firefly in repose
–
ahhh, jennifer c, these are the times within tinywords absence, thoughts become symbiotic to (tiny steps); withdrawal symptoms, far from it.
this scene would make a nice lead in to a country time lemonade commercial, it’s
quaint & anachronistic.
wink,
your words exposed yatsuka ishihara’s views on the haiku; at least one in particular, “anachronistic”(anachronism). these days, i ponder how many students, even masters of the haiku(hokku) & etc, clearly understand the “anachronistic haiku”….
;-)
bob,
good to see you saw the upside of my comment.
was a bit concerned that it might be taken as a closet insult which it was never intended to be.
that being said however, i do find it to be unbelievably quaint that in this age of game boys & i pods a mother & son would actually count fireflies…
satellite dish
we haven’t seen the stars
in months
wink
also, for anyone who might not already know, Roberta’s work is being highlighted on the Mann library’s daily haiku site for July. check it out @ haiku dot mannlib dot cornell dot edu
p.s. nice one wink!
firefly
along my path
alone
–
wink, more of an enlightenment; what many overlooked, or may not have been aware of, you provided this deeper read to roberta’s haiku
cultural & philosophical movements of the 17th & 18th centuries(enlightenment age) sprang to mind
–
cicada
accompanying the star-spangled banner–
directv
for some, dishnet, cable, even rabbit ears…
fireflys
this soft nights rain
pfsst pfsst pfsst
_m
I really like your haiku magyar!
Gorgeous use of sound in the third line which feels like a pivot line as well. Very well crafted.
Just needs ‘de-typoing’
fireflies
this soft night’s rain
pfsst pfsst pfsst
You should send it to Tinywords submissions! ;-)
fireflys
this soft nights rain
pfsst pfsst pfsst
_
magyar, i see the purpose and reasoning behind “fireflys, and nights”.
even:
fireflysss
this soft nightsss rain
pfsst pfsst pfsst
would have worked for me
–
artistic license allowsss one thisss latitude, the ignoring of the conventional; ssspecially in grammar…
_Ahhhh yes, Alan and Bob, the -S- just flies to the end of fly, and the missing punctuation is quite simply, missing.
_I am truly honored by your kind comments, and to you both… I offer my appreciation.
_m
magyar,
yet, another representation of “_m”, modesty; these days, a rare and fleeting attribute. _m, continue your quality writes.
–
fireflies winking
this summer eve…
in the midst of sparkling stars
one more blink *
and then it winks out__
tinywords
Intently hope
No illness is
In tinywords
if this is the end of tinywords, these comments should end as they began with
bob richardson providing the last comment or better yet a eulogy.
popeye without olove oyl, fred without barney, pixie without dixie, in retrospect, that’s what tinywords would have been without bob.
zip collins
Haiku in tiny words brings heartfull of
peaceful atmosphere.
Firefly enchanting me
Like oasis in the desert…
while browsing tiny word!
–ka na kalyanasundaram,cheyyar,tn,india
this can’t be the end_
i’m still here…
and so are you
Haiku U.
snow
cozy
tent
m
Oooo Mike, a preface to… counting snow flakes? _m
_m, reflecting on counting snowflakes, the thought of raindrops came to mind.
–
rainfall pratter-
counting each drop
along with each sheep
.
lovely firefly poem –
hopefully not the last
on tiny words
.
trillions of stars
many have planets
– some host life
lulu.com/USpace
.
daybreak
the dogs chase some mallards
to the pond
mike
dawn
in the drive-thru line
hungry ducks, too
.
five boys on a roof
try to see the UFOs
– only one doesn’t
.
time with dad
potato salad
on the headstone
– 125 –
Rain pounding my car
Reminds me of but lacks the
Popcorn’s aroma.
Lifting an ear
eyeing the door
a visitor arrives
morning love–
quickfooting it
across the cold floor
slow pulse thru the darkness
firefly signal’s season’s end–
blue tooth
.
in the bell jar
flying around a small place
– fireflies trapped
lulu.com/USpace
.
first snow
her ski pants
nicely fit
mother-in-law’s face
on the biggest pumpkin
harvest moon__
fuzzy pumpkin moon
so drunk
I can hardly drive
tiny words
becoming tinier
For many… ’tis a daily disapointment. _m
Her pumpkin orange scarf
Around her Goth made up face
A Halloween moon
key stroke__
closing in on
a health problem
system analysis
autumn check-up__
bare branches
shadows
in the cat scan
unmoved by frost
buddha–
this duck in a tree
Searching on lake’s edge
Hope beneath Fall colored leaves
A two bobber day
“time with dad
potato salad
on the headstone”
Mike, that’s one of the most beautiful collection of words I’ve ever written in my life. The familiarity of ‘dad’, combined with the reference to a favourite food, makes the pivot all the more shocking on line 3. After the shock, though, the first two lines become all the more touching for the sense of familiarity. This one will stay with me. x
Thank you so very much Sylph.
country music
the colt turns his head
toward the radio
mike
Re: Above post – I meant to say that’s one of the most beautiful collections of words I’ve ever *read* in my life. Not written. Haikus I’ve written wouldn’t nearly compare to that. My most recent was:
Vibrant like leaves,
her autumn clothes will warm her,
as she warms my heart.
Sylph
I like it!
Please allow me if I may
vibrant leaves …
the warmth of her outfit
warms me too
Red Mardis Gras beads
Lie on Fall’s orange and red path
Happy trails to you
or . . .
autumn leaves …
the colors of her plaid skirt
warm me
well done mike and sylph
autumn colors
thrilling in the wind
her plaid dress
lunch, in the park
amidst reddish-orange leaves
this crackle–
without a wipe
autumn park
a red and gold surround
arromatic vision
First snowfall of Fall
Sprinkling white, wet, highlights
To the autumn park
falling gently
on the board walk…
winter seclusion
falling
on the board walk
winter concussion
I and my son we count
countless stars
mirroring into
fireflies’ eyes
ground blizzard—
wondering whether to
try for town
countless stars
the toddler’s finger
in the same sky
ground blizzard
we exchange stares
by flashlight
ruby tears
falling in the rain
blanket wet stones
worn banister
woodwork
that loves fingers
Mick . . . are you sure your recovery was complete? I LOVED your haiku !
judith
wood pile
needs replinishing
splitting headache
Thanks, Judith
If it’s not one pain it’s another…!
cold moon
a third glass of wine
before bed
fresh haiku
delivered daily…
a fourth glass
In my humble opinion, these daily haiku/senryu are, fresh. _m
wood pile
still visible in snow
my neighbor’s footsteps
winter concussion
i feel the cold
in all these stars
pile
still visible in the snow
my neighbor’s dog
slow saturday
the dogs fight
the vaccuum
street fair
a scent of apple
on the dogs breath
marketing today’s special…a stay dog
Photographed woodpile
Above the plastic mantle
Mocks my gas fireplace
speechless at sunset
lost
in the vision of it
N-i-i-ce one, Mike Farley!
sunset
a lone silhouette
reflects
mango-licious!
bleak winter counting-
no stars no fireflies
–
cold evening writing
obscure
tinywords responses
winter blast
frost in my garden
southern boy
early morning, first snow
I go back to bed
until April
dusted snow
bird arrows and scattered seed
below the feeder
windy Thanksgiving sky . . .
loosening my belt
under the table
a skiff of snow . . .
the feeling
that I belong here
paces while tiny flakes grow
these quiet words in each step
_m
Snow forces
cancellation at Fair Grounds —
New Orleans
a cottage fire…
but for this hour
only i exist
how artfully…
the empty spaces
between stars
winter chills–
from venus to jupiter
moon’s honey
such lunacy
last in line
getting all the attention
tinywords–
As the Seasons change
Snowflakes replace mosquitoes
Dotting streetlamps glow
winterscape-
dog crap and snowflakes
parking lot attack,
a leaf slaps my face above
the metal chair