Author: kimhaynesjohnson

 

A Lover’s 5W and 1 H Terza Rima

why should we worry about what isn’t said? 

why do we lie awake, unasleep in bed? 

why do word ghosts creep through shadows of our heads?

who am I to him, and who is he to me?

who are we as one, together who are we? 

who have we both been, who do we wish to be? 

where is one and where are two in wedding vows?

where does trust live in all we must allow?

where are we in life -yesterday and now?

what is commitment, and what is its price?

what is love, and what must we sacrifice?

what is all hope but a roll of the dice? 

when disappointment disheartens both or one 

when we wonder should we stay? …..should we run? 

when does a rain storm not give up on the sun?

how do lovers ever not give up on love? 

how do we forgive another’s sideward shove? 

how do inward eyes return their gaze above? 

 

Arctic Air Haiku

cooling Arctic Air

aimed at my face as I sleep 

my hot flash savior 

ice water fill-up

freeze the gray spongy filter 

turn it on: comfort! 

the house can be cold 

the husband can be freezing

I still need this blast! 

 

Old Hound Haiku

Dirt road pick-up truck

Old hound mutt riding shotgun 

through the countryside 

Windows down, nose out

Muzzlecheeks flapping in breeze

Living his best life 

He was abandoned

Rescued from the county dump

Taken in and fed

A recycled life – 

Dewormed, flea dipped, unticked and 

proudly named Buckshot

He feels his worth now

Chases critters, patrols home,

Eats the table scraps

All he needed was

someone to care about him

Oh, the difference! 

May 20, 2021 #nationalrescuedogday

 

Worker’s Haiku 2

Virtual visit

to discuss all my symptoms 

diagnosis made! 

Prescriptions called in

Steroid, antibiotic –

Glass of water: gulp! 

On my way back to 

feeling better once again 

All I want is sleep! 

I have to get up.

I have to go in to work.

My eyes won’t budge. 

I hit snooze again.

And again, knowing work is 

Inevitable.

 

Worker’s Haiku 

No time to be sick.

There’s too much work to be done. 

Will I ever learn?

 

Niceties

a mirroring Nonet 

Nope.

Not one

“Nicety”

Throughout these years.

No hurricane prep?

No utility bills?

No exorbitant taxes?

No yard and debris maintenance?

Not even any toilet paper?

And who was responsible for these?

A false-hope investor misled

By a negligible heir

Is a criminal act.

Whose receipts mattered?

Your parents would

Be ashamed 

Of you

Now.

 NyQuil Haiku

Thank God for NyQjuil

It was my sleep’s saving grace

Now to face the day…..

 

Bird Rhapsody Haiku 

Tower of Babel

in the forest this morning 

blissful bird babble 

all different calls 

chirps, tweets, chitters and chatters diverse winged chorus

birds of a feather 

birds of another feather 

sing in one accord 

an off-key whistle 

joins in this festive glee club 

a Barney Fife bird! 

“Peter, Peter,” from

Tufted Titmouse sopranos 

fully robed in joy 

“Pretty Bird,” trill the 

cardinal tenors singing 

praises to the King

alto mockingbirds 

impersonate all species 

universal chords  

one bass frog croaks out 

clearly too early for him 

his disdain is heard

morning rhapsody

performed from overhead pines 

free back porch ticket 

if birds can figure 

out how to sing with all kinds 

why, oh why can’t we?

Regrets

its idyllic charm 

lures spellbound landseekers 

with lush flora 

and trickling creeks 

like a siren enchants sailors, 

her long hair 

distracting 

with her 

naked beauty 

   the maelstrom 

              churning 

                      beyond 

then when beauty transforms 

as Scylla

and Charybdis

daughters who sought what wasn’t theirs

the ugly truth springs forth:

a father regrets a farm

there is such a thing 

as cursed land 

where the ghosts of soldiers 

still battle 

just as those 

who still dwell there

 

Wrestling Writing Haiku 

I’m not feeling it

  so I’m not writing today!

Back to bed I go.

No inspiration – 

  my fairy lights don’t sparkle.

My prompt well ran dry. 

No motivation – 

  my brain feels tired and lazy.

I’d rather not think.

I’m not feeling it

  so I’m not writing today!

Back to bed I go.

I’m capping my pen –

  no need to waste any ink

when words just won’t come.

I’m closing my book – 

  keeping journal pages blank

for another day.

I’m not feeling it

  so I’m not writing today!

Back to bed I go.

I pull back the sheets

  to settle back in the warmth

and turn off my thoughts.

But they’re not water.

  They don’t stop with a knob twist.

They keep on flowing.

I’m feeling awake.

  I can’t go back to sleep now.

I need to get up. 

Leaky thought plumber?

  There’s no such miracle fix –

My brain mouth won’t hush. 

A conversation

  between me, myself, and I 

is unstoppable.

I’m feeling awake.

  I can’t go back to sleep now.

I need to get up. 

The struggle is real.

  Inspiration comes in the 

unlikeliest ways. 

….uncapping my pen 

  ….opening my journal page

and the ink now flows……

I’m writing today.

  I tried to wrestle writing

…it unrested me.