A Floridian Sketchbook: 50 Haiku

Haiku
by Karen Gladys Henry
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1
She sets out flowers–
gracious southern belle welcomes
with a sunny face.

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2
Blushing rose princess–

Diana, in her glory,
did not outdress you.

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3
Exotic namesakes,
a crazy quilt of saris–
Uncle Dave’s lilies.

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4
Flaming azaleas,
robin’s egg sky– you and I
under the dogwood.


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5
Sunrise in your arms–
honeymoon at ocean’s edge,
sandpipers jogging.

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6
Tidal lullaby,
rocking me like a hammock,
sea oats whispering.

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7
Love has found you here–
full moon rise in black and white,
ocean laughing clear.

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8
Two birds on the beach,
shivering in fur coats, watch
the Leonids fall.

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9
Bird’s-eye view of legs
dangling down from the surfboards,
sharks swim all around.

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10
Anastasia wins:
two pairs of sunglasses now,
taken by the waves!

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11
Up and down the beach–
where are all the sanddollars?
Must have gone shopping.

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12
Beachcombers flying
back and forth-- five pelicans
searching for supper.

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13
Flashy flamingos’
fickle feathered finery
favors fuchsia feasts.

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14
Blue heron fishing–
silver spear head turns slowly,
disappears like mist.


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15
Mourning dove wakes us;
mockingbird keeps company–
soothe us, whippoorwill!

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16
Martha Hummingbird,
busier than Butterfly–
stay a little while!


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17
Mimosa party:
six designer butterflies
sip pink lemonade.


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18
Crimson cardinal
in a lacy white dogwood–
Valentine from God.

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19
Growing side by side,
palm fronds and cherry blossoms–
artistic license.

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20
Graceful gray branches,
blooms like Japanese teacups–
pink kimono tree.

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21
Southern magnolia:
fashion queen in green leather,
corsage of cream silk.


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22
At the Live Oak Club,
the wrinkled old gad-abouts
all wear the same hair.

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23
Like giant bonsai,
coastal live oaks are shaped by
patient, unseen hands.

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24
White shower curtains
soggy feet of cypress trees
bathing in the swamp.


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25
Opalescent cloud
strolling on the waterway–
a ghost or the Sun?

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26
Sailboat with the wind,
pushes away the water;
the water follows.

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27
Boats on the river,
at leisure: here comes a squall–
watch them all race home!

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28
Savage tornado–
what black thought would turn your head
to do such damage?

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29
Lightning bolt zagging,
zapping down electric lines.
Who’s got the power?


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30
A cool day at school!
Lightning ball rolls down the hall,
pop quiz forgotten.

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31
Luminous rainbow
dips its feet in the water
on such a hot day.

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32
Double rainbows bridge
the busy, sun-bathed Buckman–
a smile, three miles long.


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33
Coral red blaze, ruched
canopy with gilded seams–
why does no one gaze?


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34
He paints with feathers–
salmon, gold, aquamarine–
then signs with a sigh. . .



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35
Little brown bunny,
hopping across the asphalt–
look out for the hawk!

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36
Armadillo, sir–
please, help yourself to insects,
just not my daisies!

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37
Unison chorus–
crickets in the Zoysia
laughing at the frogs.

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38
Litterbug squirrel!
He drops his finished pinecones
like picnic corncobs.


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39
"Walk the plank!" hiss the
racoon pirates: "Yo-ho-ho,
or give us dinner!"

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40
On the garden path,
baby alligators sun.
Where is your mother?


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41
Cold Ichetucknee,
I can swim faster than the
water moccasin!

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42
Timucuan natives
dipped into the moon– their boats
on Black Creek, silent.


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43
Fourth, on the St. John’s–
quiet manatees swim in
reflections of fire.

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44
Still men in still boats,
on a morning still and gray,
make fish go in seine.



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45
She built a birdhouse,
and got a sunflower patch!
(The birds were pleased, too.)

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46
Detest the mildew–
how it spreads like the black plague;
love the fairy rings!

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47
These are strange gardens–
undulating surfaces,
sand, and eighteen holes!

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48
Daily the workers
empty the cat’s water bowl–
thirsty honey bees.

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49
Disney’s dream gardens:
the only parks on Earth where
magic grows on trees.


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50
Sapphire, sun-swept day!
You take me to Narnia,
land where children reign.



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by Karen Gladys Henry ©2004/ 2009

image: Surreal Reflections (montage with watercolour effect)