2013 May Haiku/Senryu

Chess tournament-
my son moves
from my shadow

Morning fog-

The furious roar 

of the ocean

Memorial Day-

She googles a knot

for her hanging chair

Following the path

I stumble on a Ku

Obscure Landmark-

Jazz pianist modulates

to a higher key

Divine Comedy-

Dante walks a mile

for a camel

Two bathers

on the beach puffing-

Cumulus clouds

No toilet paper-

Behind the wrong eye

an itch

Caught between

the couch and the wall-

Her laughter

Back porch

just after the last puff-

First cicada

Taking a cue

from the mottled ball-

His bald spot

Cherry blossoms

glistening with dew-

Her new lipstick

February dawn-

Shoveling a path to

the grill

Asleep in the car-

a seagull on the hood

cocks his head

Atop a pole

hot wiring the cable box-

A squirrel blinks

My father

dominates the room

from his urn

Memorial Day-

A neighbor salutes

with tongs

Above the grill

so many crows on the line

counting briquettes 

Back turned

bowed head searching-

Miles smiles

This dealer's mustache • caterpillar on a branch

Standing

in a long line for work-

Black ants

Soaring over

the beach volleyball net-

Seagulls

Summer sunset-

The shadows of her dreadlocks

grow longer

Summer glare-

The sarcasm

in her tone

On the river-

A boat sunk by

Quad Kings

First and U Streets-

Between these fat raindrops

gunshots

After our fight-

Finding the peanut butter

in the fridge again

Camp bonfire-

The fluttering wings

of a giant moth

August heat-

My son brushes the bare

bottom of the grill

August heat-

The drunk drinks

an empty bottle

Labor Day-

Sweat beads the neck

Daddy's beer

Slapping her

bare bottom-

Old pond

Bright welts racing

down the back of my legs-

Hot Wheel tracks

Purring in the bed-

A cat that is not

my cat

His words 

wrapped around six croakers-

Muhammad Speaks

After church

on the old tube radio-

Immaculate Reception

Red eyes-

Clemente's plane

unfound

New Year's Day-

Right Field in Three Rivers

unoccupied

Empty Boardwalk-

The silent journey 

towards yourself

Evening thunder-

Daddy's drunken voice through

the bedroom door

Speeding cars-

The stillness of a tern

in the road

Traffic

congests

arteries

Brown

banana

boy

Go-Go
Godfather
gone

Four AM-
Even the crack zombies
tire

Crack of dawn-
Thin woman scours the spaces
in the sidewalk

Her new tattoos-
Arched eyebrows

Thunderheads
parting
lips

Afternoon sun
shiny and unblinking
Nephew's glass eye

Pointing towards 

the abandoned house- 

Used needles

Scabs 

on a junkies' forearm- 

New neighborhood maps

Soggy Marine 

holds umbrella over Prez- 

Afternoon shower

Old Kentucky Home-

Even the Marriage Records

are segregated

August heat-

The kink in the rope 

between her teeth

Summer heat-

A parted head under

a hot comb's glow

Saturday sunlight-

Orange flames devour 

mother's hair

Wisp of smoke- 

Newports and hot combs glow 

between teeth

Crescent moon-

Midnight light treat
Orange slices

Afternoon sun-
Daddy's smile through double
Plexiglass

"You Are My Starship"-
The shape of William's
casket

These metal bars-
The creases in Daddy's 

orange jumpsuit

Her fingertips
on the back of my neck-
What lies unsaid

And until next we meet, may all your potatoes be sweet (and dusted with cinnamon.)