Home haiku
three generations
watch him try ill-fitting shirts
only grandma smiles
reaching pine shadows
stripe the park with light and dark
toddler jumps the gaps
finger-paint flowers
taped to living room windows
raindrops splash on sill
teen girl softly sings
as she braids her sister’s hair
row after perfect row
arms loaded with books
teen trails dad to checkout,
irrepressible grin
awkward photograph
another random landmark
fatigued family
one enormous bite
cupcake’s frosting disappears
ravenous toddler
“I have to study”
she lied into the phone,
movie tickets in hand
cheer practice just out
timid teen at bus stop
pretends not to notice
leather leash grows stiff
too long hanging on this hook
weighted with memory
front porch, root beer floats
clinking of spoons on glassware
savor this moment
dusk, backyard is filled
cars, trains, dogs barking, wind chimes
symphony of life
thud of leaping cat
frantic shriek of toddler:
kitchen, dragonfly
sleep seeps in slowly
ushered by the hushed chaos
of nearby t.v.
white wool mittens
sculpting sand-castle igloo
off-season seashore
six a.m. silence
savored, like a flavor
I rarely get to taste
singing to the dog
so softly that words are lost
to the thumping tail
supine on the dock
staring into the green murk
she whispers, “hi fish”
at last, baby sleeps
and for a few minutes, Mom
goes by her first name
toddler stomps her foot
puddle explodes everywhere
her power revealed
refrigerator
red bowl of pale apricots,
fresh asparagus
this persistent cat
leaps again for the keyboard
amn grft edwathn
the last ripe red plum
prey to “you first” courtesies
fades to crimson
hippopotamus
the child intones, owning it:
hippopotamus
we can’t count the stars,
I insist, but she defies me:
one, two, three, four, five…
in housecat disguise
prowling, slowly, belly low
behold the lion
she grins sheepishly
brushing cookie crumbs from her lips
as if she had sinned
heavy long-sleeved shirts
reach longingly for the ground
rainy day clothesline
the ripple effect
of barking dogs, expanding
through the neighbrohood
sad goodbye to guests
but later, in the darkness
we’ll savor the space
gray, sunless sunrise
dog’s head rises, considers,
settles back to sleep
revolving glass door
toddler spins again, again
tired mom relents
child’s blue rubber ball
stranded on empty sidewalk
patient by default
he holds the leash, ready
I’m sorry, Boo. Today we learn
disappointment
this brief solitude
free to ponder, my mind goes
to grocery lists
the keys to the car
idle on kitchen formica
seem to luxuriate
the vent blows slowly
paralyzed in icy sheets
shiver patiently