robin tracks in the depth of winter

 echo chamber each lie gets repeated

   snowy conclusion there's not enough shovels

     icicles jagged in the failing light

   star cold night our mind's clear

 the silent steps of empty boots

The 2026 Planner

a winter's belligerence the wind roars because it can

tumble down barn nothing's the same since yesterday

January narrative the perspective changes with the forecast

war of words and then some there's no unsaying what's been said

facebook rants how many people were unfriended today

AI and poll numbers who knows who's responding

pair of cardinals one keeps an eye on the other

"survive" the first entry in the 2026 planner 

THERE WILL BE CLOUDS

waterfall a stone stops the green leaf from moving on

broken swing the seat lower than the stock market

calendar of unfortunate events today's just a repeat

summer distress the brown petals of a daylily

tired of reading newspaper print on the light switch

rush hour dinner the dishes pile up

rumor mill grinding away at the Epstein files

meteor shower forecast there will be clouds

late night comedy the jokes are never far from the truth

angry climate the dragon bravo fire rages on

 

ON THE EVE OF THE SOLSTICE

(a haiku triad)

changing real estate cedars must learn to compete with the mimosas

clouds of stinging wasps the front door is no longer a welcoming space

summer solstice blues can we delay the heat for another two weeks

The Fortune Teller's Crystal Ball

road closure the detour sign in the ditch

toppled walnut tree the once green leaves turn brown overnight

be careful he says the eggshell art of not saying anything

ukrainian immigrants the promise of fertile fields, the reality of thin topsoil

airport delays at least the fly on the window makes its connection

fortune teller’s crystal ball walmart shoppers will eat the tariffs

old movie the song about a rainbow in black and white

for a day of sunshine we’ll take the wind that goes with it

april fools month just drinking the kool-aid and taking my medicine

hey, hey, D & J, how many stocks did you kill today

welcome to AI It's the newest way to put U and I out of b s ness

Coffee & Chaos

coffee and chaos it's what america has for breakfast

hiking mantra just one more step

spotted beetle the window's warmth a temporary haven

decluttering politics delete and repeat

power point presentation dissenting voices must leave the room

mardi gras beads given away the party's over

march bird count fewer songs this year

last journal entry only the clock springs forward

Hiking Journal October 21, 2022

Elephant Rocks State Park a chipmunk darts from one leaf to the next

Hiking Journal October 20, 2022 continued

Taum Sauk Mountain at sunset I wish I had more time

Hiking Journal, October 20, 2022.

Johnson Shut-Ins the stairs are easier to climb than the rocks

In the Year 2025 (A Haiku Triad)

sunshine peeking through the clouds pond melt we're down to the ice layer now

inauguration day chills I'm thankful for the freedom to stay home

new buds on the saucer magnolia no matter how bad the winter

SO THIS IS NEW YEARS

watch face I wanted this time to be different

2025 the year of the snake and its new party

southern border talks the monarchs just chillin'

fireworks display one neighbor louder than the other

future cast the snowstorm prelude

panic in the streets toilet paper and milk fly off the shelves

stock market volatility as though they expect an earthquake

at the feeder the eastern towhee you thought was a robin 

mexico invasion careful they might be tourists

crescent moon a rare sliver of sanity in a troubled world

Found Haiku from 4-5-2016

spring training I brush the maple seeds off my coat

redbud walk from blooms to leaves

picnic I find my place among the dandelions

early risers the magnolias already dressed and out the door 

The Bellwether State 

(A haiku triad)

I missed the comet and northern lights and almost missed the falling star

Tower Rock crossing I hopscotch over the Mississippi River

from droughts to floods the swings of Mother Nature voting against herself

Under the Shadows

under the shadows of tall pines my footsteps soften to a whisper

expired milk what else have I forgotten

road construction a new bridge where the sycamore fell

election fears the pumpkin's grin looking more and more ominous

halloween decorations I borrow the witch's broom

old reading glasses the red marks on my nose have gotten deeper

uneven lines of handwriting except for this square of sunlight

farmer's market the glow of sunlit apples

Haiku Triad--A narrative form I've invented where each line of three lines is approximately 17 syllables. The lines are linked by a theme and/or tell a story.

tonight's stormy weather I rediscover the tear in my raincoat

notebook poem soaked by water waves and smudges of unreadable ink

a sunken boat those forgotten lines all that is lost and cannot be saved

tonight's news or twilight zone reruns it's hard to tell one from the other

fallen leaf politics which tree shall we blame today

summer complaint my back pain rises with the humidity