The first heavy frost: haiku sequence

by Pat Laster

redbird

rocking the feeder--

first heavy frost

 

first heavy frost--

a lone yellow maple leaf

fluttering downward

 

first heavy frost--

the pinkness of roses

and azaleas

 

first heavy frost--

the burning bush fiery

in morning's sun

 

first heavy frost--

a thin layer of ice

in the bird bath

 

first heavy frost--

inside this old house

all heaters humming

~~~~

 

written November 28, 2012

c 2012 by Pat Laster, Benton AR

 



An extraordinary Thanksgiving weekend

by Pat Laster

         A traditional gathering of family--three generations--boasted several once-in-a-lifetime happenings: a sibling turned 70; another sibling and his wife celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary; a third sibling from Virginia flew in for the occasions; a newly-married, second-generation couple were added to our midst, and a family flew in from Portland, which included the third generation, aged (nearly) two.
          The daughter-in-law of the nearly 70-year-old colluded with the hostess--another sibling--to plan and carry out a surprise birthday party. It worked beautifully.
          Plus, the Thanksgiving table was side-to-side, end-to-end dishes of food--for the meat-eaters AND the vegetarians.
          That night, before retiring, I read two issues of a haiku publication and whenever a thought or image or idea came, I wrote my own. Some of them follow.

HAIKU
morning sun
outline of a maple leaf
on my windshield
~~~~

SENRYU
the Enterprise clerk
rubs something across
the twenty-dollar bills
~~~~

the only one
of our group who likes
flavored coffee
~~~~

TANKA
we sing the blessing
and record it for the one
who is missing
   later, he reports
   that it brought him to tears
~~~~

slow-cooker compote
forgotten during dinner--
an autumn shower
~~~~

Thanksgiving evening
while the dishwasher runs
she solves Sudoku
~~~~

one side of the room
I read and write haiku
sister tries to sleep
~~~~

even asleep
a tune running
through my head
~~~~

c 2012 by Pat Laster, Benton AR USA

Autumn haiku/senryu

by Pat Laster

 

fields now white with frost

soon return to green and brown

with the autumn sun

~~~~

 

hidden

under colored leaves

the last windfall pear

~~~~

 

badminton at dusk

noises from the sweet gum

scare us inside

~~~~

 

from sleeping-bag warmth

your coffee perks me awake

time for the boat ride

~~~~

eyes wide
to take in the dark sky
around Jupiter
~~~~

drifting past
silent cliff and branches
a lone canoeist
~~~~

the sound of rain
but none falling
only the leaves
~~

c 2012 by Pat Laster dba lovepat press

 

 

 

 

 



 

 



Arkansas Highway 23 (Pig Trail): New England and the Carolinas have nothing on the Ozarks in autumn

Preparing to return to the "valley" of Central Arkansas

(cinquain sequence)
by Pat Laster

As on
the first morning,
on this last one, I dress
warmly, but not bundled --like on
that cold

morning
in October.
Now the clocks are turned back
and I sit on the porch once more,
taking

in fall.
There goes a squirrel
across Spring Street. A bird
chitters. Farther up the mountain,
a crow.

Layer
upon layer
of ancient limestone keeps
the mountainside at bay and safe
for our

parking.
Maples, redbuds,
 gums, oaks and hickories--
fiery in fall colors--contrast
with pine,

cedar.
Ivy, clinging
like a needy woman,
will eventually kill its host.
Saplings

will spring
into the space
like children when parents
die. I can imagine being
"owner"

of this
piece of Eden.
Alas, all things must end.
I bid Dairy Hollow goodbye
until

next spring.
Writers who come
after this, treat yourselves;
great heights of creative spirit
await.
#

c 2012 by Pat Laster dba lovepat press, Benton Arkansas

Even writers have fun on Halloween

Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow, Eureka Springs Arkansas. L. to R. Pat L. and Dorothy J., central  Arkansas; Talya B., Dallas and Fayetteville; Tom S., New Hampshire. The photographer was another resident, Joan B. from Ontario.

Cinquains for autumn

Autumn
weekend: Ozarks'
cold snap means bundling up
for outside activities--like
writing.
~~~~
Under-
story maple--
mostly green with yellow--
will soon add its oranges to
autumn.
~~~~
Shutting
out the Ozarks'
brightness--for shame!-- its glare
on my computer distracts from
writing.
~~~~
The first
biker I've heard
during this writing stint--
It's the weekend, so it won't be
the last.
~~~~
I joined
Facebook after
saying I never would.
Does peer pressure exist among
writers?
~~~~

c 2012 by Pat Laster dba lovepat press, Benton Arkansas