EDITOR’S NOTE: One of our regular contributors, Michael Randall, had been writing haiku to scratch his creative itch instead of diatribes about the deranged dictator, which lead to many other sharing their haikus. Barbara McLaughlin shared Chuck McLaughlins seasonal series of haiku, and as we’re several weeks into summer – here’s Chuck’s Haikuing in Oregon – continued.
HAIKUING IN OREGON – PREFACE
Haiku to me is a verbal portrait of a non-verbal moment in time … a moment on occasion evoking an intuitive response transcending the obvious and, on occasion, providing a non-dualistic oneness with what is seen. The latter is exemplified by Soseki’s famous Haiku “The White Chrysanthemum:”
“The white Chrysanthenum
Not a speck of dust to meet the eye”
However, often the seeming mundane scene may evoke a hearty laugh or silent smile of awareness of its humorous synchronicity.
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Having lived in the Pacific Northwest for forty seven years, most of my Haiku were inspired by the region’s diverse flora and fauna. In writing them I have chosen the common three line 5-7-5 syllable form and no other formal restriction or customs are necessarily applied.
Chuck McLaughlin
August, 2023
SUMMER
A PIERCING WHISTLE!
THE SUMMER WARNING TO PREY:
RED-TAIL HAWKS ABROAD
NEARLY HALF UNDRESSED
THE IMMODEST SNAIL MODELS
SUMMER’S NEW FASHION
MARBLED MURRELET’S
SOOTY-BROWN SUMMER PLUMAGE
CLEAR TO EYE TODAY!
IN TWILIGHT’S PINK GLOW
A FLOCK OF SWALLOWS SWOOPING
AS BUT ONE THEY FLOW
GARDEN SPIDER WAITS
READY IN ITS’ SILKEN WEB
BUZZ….A MEAL IS SERVED
FLEET-FOOTED PLOVERS
SCURRY O’ER THE MIRRORED SAND
UPSIDE-DOWN BIRDS, TOO!
ON WET RIVER ROCK
A WATER OUZEL DIPPING
DIPPING, DIPPING…SPLASH!
