The week before last, Rick enthusiastically announced that THIS was the week he would go to to attend his FIRST Haiku Northwest Society monthly meeting on Mercer Island. For four or five years now, writing Haiku has become a way of life for Rick. Writing Haiku is a way for Rick to pay attention to nature-nature, as well as to human-nature. He was personally invited to join the Haiku Northwest Society by the president of the circle! He has been wanting to go for months now, but it seems that every time the meeting date comes along, something interferes with Rick’s plan of attending.
The evening arrived! He left in a rush, all excited to finally be going to one of the meetings! Less than an hour later, he came home.
“Wrong night,” he explained to my quizzical expression at seeing him home so soon. He went all the way to the Mercer Island meeting point, only to find no one there! “It’s next Thursday.”
“But you can’t go next Thursday! We have plans to go to Kelley and Jack’s for dinner! We told Don and Simone we’d pick them up and carpool together.”
“Well, I am committed to attending the Haiku Northwest Society meeting and that’s what I’m doing!”
“But, you’re committed to the evening at Kelley and Jack’s! We made this plan a while ago!”
“I’M GOING TO THE HAIKU NORTHWEST SOCIETY MEETING NEXT WEEK! I’M NOT MISSING IT AGAIN!”
So, that’s what happened. On Thursday, I went to Kelley and Jack’s for a fabulous dinner evening, along with Don and Simone, and had a fantastic time. I met Terri and enjoyed her company and conversation immensely. And Rick went to the Haiku Northwest Society and had a great time meeting other Haiku writers!
Rick sends out a beautiful collection of his Haiku to friends every first of the year. Here are some of his Haiku which were not sent out in this current New Year’s Greeting. Enjoy!
ancient bickering
of crows—both clans flying off
triumphantlyflicks her pert white tail
then trots just out of reach
of her horned suitorguarding the women
peeing off the trail—he’s ambushed
by mosquitoesharvest moon—
came home with chanterelles
to bowl of squash soupimpatient birds—
complaining to the sky
to let there be lightlate summer’s bliss—
my wife and a hummingbird
taking turns singingno fools the robins—
built their nest right under
the crows’ nosesslipping off a log
bumps and splashes his way down
head under waterout on the deck—
his head turns with the cat’s
at spring’s first frog-croakhovering dragonfly—
carefully studying
the sleeping catthe wren’s brave new world—
a stump stuck in the river
collecting debristoo bad! too bad! croaks
the toad to the empty-handed
mushroom pickertook to playing violin
to the stone where he spread
his mother’s ashestwo ducks winging
out of mist back into mist—
which way’s spring?walking forward
or backward on the beach
the photo doesn’t showwhat pleasure he takes
in the pleasure the bee takes
in the rosemarywhat strange neighbors
you spiders in your mazes make
strung between cedars
waking to cooing
pigeons roosting under eaves
of Colombo hotel
Playing with marykay’s high cooing…
Rick
Diction impeccable
Friction immeasurable
Biring forth “hi-cooing”
Re-reading Rick’s work
After Bird/Word Retreat
poet seeing red
aimless mercer island drive
lovely compromise!
Steve! This is great! Rick just read it and says,”Tell Steve I am a big supporter of all Haiku production in the world.” That’s his way of greatly complimenting you! Fran