Feeding the Ducks at Meridian Park

Quacking and waddling
hurriedly in our direction,
the ducks seem to intuit
that the containers we cradle
contain cat food meant for them –
though cats they are not.

They don't care what the food is called,
or what animal is depicted
eating it on the bag,
or about the therapeutic value
we find in feeding them.
They gobble down
the food we toss out
and waddle away when it is clear
the containers are empty.

I doubt they think about us
at all when we are not there.
But I – I have pictures
and this poem.

Pollen Tanka

At this time of year
Pollen collects in our lakes
– and on our cars, and
on our sidewalks, and even
on us if we remain still!

A Morning Lantern Poem

A morning lantern poem:

         Mug:
        Coffee,
     Not too hot,
Cream and sugar–
       Mmmm!

(With thanks – or maybe blame; I'm not sure yet – to Brian P. Cleary, whose book If It Rains Pancakes: Haiku and Lantern Poems inspired me to write a short poem of my own. I apologize in advance if others follow.)

Having Breakfast with the Birds

The tufted titmouse
Doesn't flee when I step out--
But she looks my way
And the scolding she gives me
Is quite unmistakable.

After a short while
None of the birds seem to care
That I am out here.
There are no more screeching scolds
Aimed at me. Just the flutter

Of dozens of wings
And the hammering of beaks
On sunflower seeds.

Four Morning Poems: Two Tanka and Two Haiku

This morning, before everyone else got out of bed, I sat outside on the back deck and took these pictures and wrote these poems:

I see you up there,
Visible half of the moon,
Just over my head
And thousands of miles away--
But where is your other half?

Coffee, notebook, pen,
Birds and squirrels and a light breeze,
The deck to myself,
Everyone else still asleep--
This is a perfect morning.

Half green, half orange,
The leaves are in transition--
Beautiful changes

"Squirrel proof" it may be,
But "chipmunk proof" it is not--
Eat well, little guy!

On our garage wall: A Tanka

On our garage wall,

Rackets are waiting for Spring.

Evening approaches.

The rain continues to fall,

And soon it will be Autumn.

Lines on brick and glass: A Haiku

Lines on brick and glass;

Angles, sunlight and shadow.

Behind, noon traffic.

Pumpkin spice creamer?: A Tanka

"Pumpkin spice creamer?

But it's not even fall yet!"

That's true, I know, but--

let me enjoy my coffee,

my first pleasure of the day.

Rain in the distance: A Haiku

Rain in the distance

Thunder, wind--but no lightning!

Disappointing storm.

Wishes, just ten cents: A Haiku

Wishes, just ten cents

But to have your wish granted--

That's a whole quarter!

(I don't know if all of these little poems I've been posting here lately really count as haiku--they don't all strongly engage nature, there's not necessarily a seasonal reference, and they sometimes work too hard to achieve a specific line and syllable count, which is not actually what haiku is all about--but I have fun creating them, and that counts for a lot! I'm going to keep calling them haiku, however, for lack of a better term.)

I know this door leads: A Tanka

I know this door leads

Someplace wonderful, joyful--

Where light does not blind,

Nor do differences divide--

If only we had the key.

When I notice them: A Haiku

When I notice them

I'm delighted they're up there--

When I notice them.

Walking 'round the lake: A Haiku

Walking 'round the lake

Avoiding other walkers

Walking 'round the lake

Haiku and tanka: A Tanka

Haiku and tanka

Give us peeks into nature,

And I think this counts:

Since the dang lawn mower quit,

The grass can be wild a while.

New games at the park: A Haiku

New games at the park:

Hopscotch court; tic-tac-toe board--

But no one to play! 

Ten degrees cooler: A Haiku

Ten degrees cooler

In the shade: the humble tree, 

Just doing its job. 

Across the park's lake: A Tanka

Across the park's lake

The dinosaur is drinking

Until a twig snaps

Prompting her to turn and flee

Leaving me to stare in awe. 

Yellow-fringed flowers: A Tanka

Yellow-fringed flowers:

Continue looking skyward,

And pay me no mind.

(I need not have told them that;

It's what they do anyway.)

Sure sign of Summer: A Tanka

Sure sign of Summer:
Christmas at Hobby Lobby!
Tacky? Sure. But I
Prize this confidence we'll still
Be around come December.

(I hope that months or years from now when I re-read this, COVID-19 will be so far behind us that I have to put in a special effort to remember, "Now, why was it again I wrote that stuff about still being around in December?")

Modest pumpkin patch: A Tanka

Modest pumpkin patch:
It pleases us so to see
Your first summer blooms!
We pray you survive the heat
From now until Halloween.