POEMS: Haiku (published)

                                   Omnipresent God
                             contained in all His fullness
                                    within this zygote.

Haiku (hah'-ee-koo) n., singular and plural. Thirteenth century Japanese poems which create a sharp, simple, rich image in 17 syllables, arranged in three lines of 5-7-5 syllables. Haiku traditionally are untitled and have a seasonal reference.

A haiku series is haiku grouped together for combined impact or to cover a sequence. Each haiku should be able to stand alone.

The haiku which follow are not a series. They are miscellaneous:

                                    Gusts of swirling birds,
                                  skittering of brittle leaves:
                                     Which the reflection?



                                    Autumn maple, spring
                              crocus--Christmas in Southern
                                            California!



                                     Dim crescent statues
                                    turn to playful sea lions
                                      with the paling sky.

(Published in Pebbles, January 1991)