midnight
a dog barks
the freight train’s length

 

 

 

Published by

Michael Baeyens

Born in Belgium in 1982, Michael Baeyens works as an English teacher in a secondary school. Originally a writer of dark fiction, his journey into Japanese-style short poetry started in 2018. He has been published in various magazines such as Frogpond, Modern Haiku, Presence and Acorn.

8 thoughts on “”

  1. Such a lovely drawn out feel to this as the train passes and the dog's bark fades, as we leave the haiku. and we're left alone in the dark and silence with the memory, and probably more memories. So rich. Really beautiful.

  2. .

    midnight
    a dog barks
    the freight train’s length

    —MICHAEL BAEYENS

    I am a sucker for train haiku, and I rarely hear or see dogs at the moment, but two rescued Lurchers are heading over for a quick visit over Christmas, for a winter walk. They will have me on a leash, of course.

    The last line is incredibly atmospheric, capturing both film and television experiences of iconic train adventures to my own travelling through Europe during and post-Cold War!

    The word midnight always conjures up multiple images, thoughts, senses, and feelings, and a dog in the night, plus the freight train, makes for an incredible adventure of a haiku, thank you!

    I can't manage trains and dogs but what about Paris, snow, and a really good 'long' cup of coffee?

    café longueur
    a Parisian train station
    invents snow

    Alan Summers
    Presence #68 (November 2020)

    and

    a dog all smiles
    can't wait to say hello
    we talk secretly

    Alan Summers
    Weird Laburnum ed. Michael O’Brien (September 2019)
    From "The Letter D is Missing" (a muri-bun)
    From the “Surrealism as Truth series” in association with “the dogs of name.”

    1. Thank you very much for your thoughts and your own train haiku, Alan. As a life-long train commuter I have to say they hold a special place in my heart as well.

Respond here