HAIKU

Source: Miles Johnson

The Lover’s Lament

At first I did not understand The roots you planted

Grew Through Me

Leaving me Pinned to The ground.

-Skye

Photo Credit: “Eyes as Big as Dinner Plates” Photo series by Riitta Ikonen & Karolyn Hjorth

Jord

Fecund life Comes through me Covers my back and lines my Throat Holding me silent

Tell your tales On the long night ‘round bonfires Wild pagan gestures

Appease The demands of lessor gods Looking down from the great hall

Then press your feet into my ample back I am the Mother I will carry you.

Source: meryweird77

Hysteria

Straight Narrow Laced Up Tight

Bound by Respectability, domesticity, Mild virtuous Wife, mother, nothing more

Reflect, reflect Only wholesome Womanly airs

Do only proper Womanly things

Calling cards Genteel teas Birthing children Serving your Husband Father Brother

Reflect, reflect Only what is desired By others

But when you look in The mirror You see Your eternity and begin To scream

-Skye

Image Source: leben-bleibt-wirr

Seeping Through

Parts of me The form and shape Of things

Once lost emerge

The soft belly exposed One arm coming free

Fleshy plaster Flakes and crumbles

You my dear, Are disgusted

The plaster on the floor The dust on my mouth The damp spreading stain Coating your fingers.

-Skye

Ordinary

It’s the common things The row of milk Whole Skim Even Almond

It’s the cart with the Wonky Grumbly wheel

It’s holding hands While hunting   Creamed corn

(Who buys creamed corn anymore, anyways?)

It’s standing in line Watching apples Roll along the belt Knowing with certainty There will be pie.

- Skye 

Tom Mannion

Source: magnificent-winged-beast

Nyx

Look at you carrying around night in jar Daughter of Chaos

Empty your vessel as the sun retreats And let me sleep under the liquid deep

Endless Ocean Of universe Sprinkled With stars.

-Skye

Image information: Noonday Rest, 1877 by Rosa Bonheur

Midday

The midday sun breaks over the oak four cows and one black horse doze lightly in dappled hides

The crickets are quiet the breeze is drowsy leaving each cloud in its place

Everything waiting for the slipping sun to fall

A little

For the breeze to freshen

A little

Then farmer will emerge sleepy eyed from the cool root cellar and call his cows (and the one black horse) home for dinner.

-Skye

On the American Gun

Bullets Chambered Rolling down barrels

Mowed down At desks covered in Transformer and Hello Kitty pencils Mowed down Behind the counter of a corner store Mowed down In the living room TV a flicker   Mowed down At a traffic stop bathed in blue lights

Everyone packing violence and old glory Red on White and blue

Our thoughts and prayers Raised up Respects paid in full

On the altar of the American gun

Broken dead Are everywhere Tangling on the On the wind Like flags at half mast Splashed in bright paint on grimy bricks Piled among wilted flowers and teddy bears Wet with rain

Unalienable rights Ravenous appetites Arms raised to the sky

Sacrifice Thoughts and prayers Sacrifice Thoughts and prayers Sacrifice

Bullets Chambered Rolling down barrels

-Skye

Photographer: Jamie Cuen Source: angiefalanji

HAIKU-River Children

Children splash and swim, heedless of the dangers found in deeper water.