187 - 189

187
cold winds torture field,
flock huddles in sunshine
seeking warmth and grass

188
three deer cross road,
frozen ground below running
hooves. delight

189
two sheep butt heads,
some sleep on frozen grass,
eyes peer from woods

A Good Haiku

Samuel Lott, the great haikuist and poetry expert said this is a good one. Yes, he really said that. If he denies it, I have photographic evidence from a text message. Consequently, I thought I should include it here all alone so that it can be admired without the distraction of two other kaiku, as I normally post them as a trinity. So here it is for your viewing and reading pleasure.

183

Drizzling rain -

standing in the leaves,

darkness falls

A note on its construction for the future scholars who will no doubt write research papers on this and teach it to their upper level English classes: I wrote this one Sunday night past while standing in the rain on the wet leaf-strewn lawn of Centerville Baptist Church. Rain drops peppered my forehead as I gazed into the dark woods surrounding the church as listened intently for the sounds God's night creation makes. Above, a beautiful sky revealed the handiwork of God. Across the road, lights in the cemetery showed humanity's hope. The need to write bubbled up in my soul. Sam can't touch this.

Church Drives

183
church morning brings joy,
a nice ride to Centerville
we worship with friends

184
we ride, thoughts on God,
preaching over radio,
we pass flock of sheep

185
a few gather in 
His name. Centerville worships,
light floods through windows

Haiku

180
cat purrs and naps close,
man quietly watches game,
warm socks and hot tea

181
birds fly and sing,
small church sits amid trees,
voices rise to God

182
dark sky, cold water
dog follows swimmer and swims
they train together

The Bell Tolls

177
leaves fall, light fades
her eyes glaze, sentences chop,
the bell tolls.

178
sun falls and air chills,
she eats a few bites and rests,
seasons change.

179
afternoon light dims,
she closes eyes and sleeps,
son walks out in tears.

Sam Shames at These

174
broken corn stalks dot
vast field. robins land and peck,
tractors line the road.

175
sheep in a pile,
we stop and look, sweet talking,
they rest beside road.

176
birds land in short grass.
man mows, lifts weights, and gazes,
dogs nap in shade.

Sam Slapping Haikus

171
Sam struggles hard 
trying to write a haiku,
one day I'll teach him.

172
truck stops on bridge,
morning glory grows to edge,
big gator goes down.

173
fresh turned ground 
borders pasture with tall tress,
lambs lie in shade.

Sam Superior Haikus

168
frozen grass lies still
while the flock feeds in the sun
warming the cold ground

169
large dog watches flock
turning aside the coyote.
shepherd sleeps inside.

170
coyotes run the ridge
from dark woods spying the flock.
door slam turns their path.

The Swamp

162
raccoon walks slick log,
coyotes howl as sun sets low,
the swamp comes alive.

163
hill drops to water's
edge where lily pads grow and 
fish turn the water.

164
dark pool surrounded 
by bluffs, towering trees,
birds sing and coons walk.

Haikus?

159
sinners have hunger,
Jesus is the Bread of Life,
feast oh Him today.

160
At Centerville they
partake of Jesus' table,
the Lord is worshiped.

161
dirt road turns muddy,
water drips from barren limbs,
green buds on brown branch.

Sheila Haikus

156
roars from up the road,
dust rises above tall trees,
Sheila comes to church.

157
the road is quiet,
no dust above the tall trees,
Sheila works today.

158
infectious laughter,
a big smile, a happy face,
Sheila's back at church.

Mostly Gooder Haikus

153
tall grass hides big cat,
nervous deer graze open field,
rising sun melts frost.

154
cold wind howls outside,
soft cats nap on tired man's legs,
nature on TV.

155
cold wind blasts window,
snoring cats snuggle up close,
hot coffee in bed.

Catku

150
lonely cat hunts bird 
that sings love for all to hear,
snow flakes lands on nose.

151
small mouse scampers fast,
acorn in his tiny mouth,
hides from falling snow.

152
cats nap without shame,
man enjoys his lazy pets,
sleet pelts house's roof.

More Gooder More Better

145
couple drives to church,
passing pasture full of lambs,
God is their shepherd.

146
leaves blow across road,
limbs hang over gravel path,
deer stands in shadows.

147
sun chases darkness,
two deer raise flags and flee,
hunter stalks the woods.

Child, Boy, Man

143
child looks out window,
boy runs barefoot on clover,
man runs for five days.

144
child runs around yard,
boy runs through the neighborhood,
man does journey runs.

More Gooder Best Haikus

140
boy in woods scans limb
searching for quarry to shoot,
he leaves without score.

141
boy pulls cap over
ears, shotgun cradled in arms.
squirrel runs to hole.

142
boy pulls bogan down,
aims gun high and shoots,
squirrel falls from tree.

Superior to Sam Haikus

137
they look as we stop,
their beauty rules the morning,
the sheep know my voice

138
muddy road slices
crowds of trees bright with color,
windows down while truck rolls

139
sheep sit far from road,
crow caws filter through bare tree,
people file from church

Simru?

134
chilly wind on face,
birds sing about falling leaves,
runner plods along.

135
sky full of feathers,
circling, looking, swooping down,
swimmer braves the cold

136
feathers fill gray sky,
green heads turn while wings circle,
swimmer spoils the plan

Real Haikus

128
suffering Servant,
man despised and rejected,
died for our sins

129
the Word memorized 
flies through the mind like a bird
rejoicing the heart

130
a smile on each face,
a new day for Centerville,
the birds sing with us

Most Bestest Haikus

To the reader: no less of an expert as Samuel Lott has told me it is OK to break the strict 5/7/5 format. So there.

125
her beauty awakes,
the challenger prepares,
their rendezvous comes

126
lengthening days
wake his loving memory,
he seeks her return

127
his lover waits 
while he sits in a classroom,
walls can't hold his mind