In June, I took a jazz poetry workshop and found out that haiku is a large subset of jazz poetry. I remember haiku being part of the poetry unit in school. I wasn't particularly interested in it then, but I am really enjoying it now. In case you need a refresher, a haiku contains 17 syllables broken into three lines of 5, 7 and 5. The two I am posting today have one similar line, but I think the overall ideas are a little different.

Team Up

Collaboration
Transfer the feeling to sound,
feeding each other


Expression

Master musicians
express their feelings in sound,
the true jazz poets

I wrote the following poem after doing some yardwork. I guess it is my version of "take time to smell the roses." In this case, it's lilacs.

I Never See the Lilacs

I never see the lilacs bloom
though they grow in my backyard.
Orange lilies burst upon the scene
yet they don't catch my eye.
The daffodils can wave and wave,
but they'll get no reply.
All this unfolds so close to me,
it seems impossible to miss.
But it's easy to overlook what's near
when you're focused on what's next.

This poem came from some comments made by a couple of newcasters. They were discussing how time could be both harmful and helpful.

Two Sides of Time

Time takes its toll
but offers its tenderness.
The taking is aggressive,
eroding our skills,
destroying the familiar,
claiming those we love.
The offering is more subtle,
presenting new opportunities,
providing the chance to rebuild,
distancing us from the hurt.
The toll cannot be avoided.
The tender presents a choice.
Both need to be accepted
as integral parts of life.

In May, I participated in an annual reading that is a fundraiser for the Crystal Field Scholarship. This scholarship fund assists creative writing students at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Each year, a theme is chosen for the reading. This year, the theme was 129.

Some of the poems have been published in a chapbook. Go to rustytruck.wordpress.com to find "The Road to 129." You also will find an explanation of how the theme was chosen. Thanks to Scot Young for editing and publishing the chapbook and for being the source of the theme.

Late last year, some things were happening globally and personally that reminded me how quickly life can change. I wrote the following.

Turns

Life can take a full turn
in an instant.
Fortunes change 360 degrees
with dizzying speed.
Success to failure.
Wealth to destitution.
Glory to gutter.
Life to death.
The change takes place so quickly
that all you are left with is whiplash.

Writers are told that listening is a key to finding new ideas. I would add looking to that because I also find interesting phrases or word combinations when I read. I was reading about Lincoln when I saw the words "accidental instrument". Given the context in which I found these words, I started out trying to write a very serious poem. Once again, I was taken in a different direction and ended up with a lighter piece.

Accidental Instruments

This is for all the accidental instruments of kindess

who pass through my life.

The people who let me in

when I need to change lanes around contruction

or because I'm unfamilar with the route I'm traveling.

The individuals who hold the door

when I'm coming or going with my hands full.

Those who say hello when I'm out for a walk

or give directions when I'm out--lost.

For all the accidental acts of kindness I receive each day,

I want to take the time to say thank you--on purpose.

I volunteer with a grief support group and write poems about grief from time to time. I thought this was an appropriate posting in light of the Memorial Day weekend.

I Keep You with Me

I keep you with me
throughout each day.
I seek your counsel often
and share my thoughts with you.
I hear you in music and laughter
and feel your presence
when I need you the most.
I will always keep you with me
because, unlike people,
love never dies.