National Poetry Writing Month - April 3, 2014

It's already tough, and it's only day three! Sometimes the words flow, and sometimes they are stuck. When that happens I just relax and see what happens.

Day Three Haikus

The words come and go

My ideas ebb and flow

Oceans of poems

To the end of this

I will see it all the way

April is not long

A pinpoint of light

The tunnel is not so long

Thirty days of art

September 16, 2011 - 0430

I took the last night of my shift off last week, because I worked 13.5 hours out of an 8.5 hour shift. And since I'd already put in a couple of 10 and 11 hour days last pay period, I decided to get some of that time back.

Tonight was a slow, chilly fall-like night. There were only a few people around, and they were not an issue. So to honor a slow, seemingly short night, I have Haiku.

Cold Night Haiku


My peer left early
Leaving me to drive the town
There was no one out

I gave out awards
Arresters of drunk drivers
All five were night shift

Inbox was quite full
Requests and follow-ups due
Surprised me for sure

We have some ammo
Not enough to qualify
No money for more

June 25, 2011 - 0500

What a night. It started off slowly, and built up into a crescendo of drunken boobery. Well, not too bad really. But there were lots of drunks around tonight. I saw a lot of people as I drove in, mainly sitting on the sidewalks. Something about it seemed...not right. And after a couple of minor contacts we had ourselves a full on rockin' good time at the end.

Tonight's form is the Japanese style known as senryu. Similar to haiku, but more concerned with humans and their nature, rather than nature itself. It's supposed to run about 17 syllables total in the three lines, but I know I fudged a couple of them. And I wrapped up with a haiku.

(with apologies to Elton John)


Saturday Nights All Right


People are fragile
I almost hit two crossing
Made one cry

Giant truck hits a curb
Eight girls inside, seven are drunk
It's not her real car

I saw him stumbling
Then I saw him peeing
I saw ALL of him for Pride

More fragile people
Crossing the tracks where others died
Be careful this night, and later

Fight at a bar
We're there within moments
One taken away

Down with the one, another
Second fight, same bar
I begin to hate that place

Suspect released, no charge
The "victim" started it all
Trampy sister was the source

The sky is clearing
Today should be a nice day
And yet, I must sleep

June 2, 2011 - 0510

It was another long, slow night in town. I started with about 20 miles on the trip odometer from the previous two days, and ended with almost 50. There were no calls for service until around 0430, when a local resident who can be described as "mentally interesting" decided that it would be a good idea to annoy the upstairs neighbors. I brought this all together with a series of haikus.

Wacky Neighbor Haikus

1) The night seemed too long

Even though it was eight hours

It lasted all night

2) Radio was dead

All night I drove and waited

Nothing. Until late

3) Neighbors in dispute

Are they noisy or quiet?

I know they are quiet

4) Meanings of dizzy

Going round in circles

Or acting crazy

5) Constant bell ringing

Drives good people to call us

Please, don't act crazy

6) Soon, we will catch her

We've all had more than enough

She will be locked up

May 9, 2011 - 0510

I was surprised when I went to tag this post and Haiku didn't auto fill. I was sure that I'd written at least one before. A widely known and easily recognized form of Japanese poetry, the five/seven/five meter is easy to write. No rhyme structure means the writer doesn't have to labor over what may or may not rhyme or come close.

On Sunday, it was empty in the town. When it's like this, the most difficult thing to do is not crash the car while driving. I do that by getting out of the car and walking around, looking for something to get into.

A Series of Slow Sunday Haikus


1) 
Cold night on Sunday
I have to wear my coat still
I thought it was May

2)
No cars out tonight
We were driving north and south
And still there were none

3)
I walk to wake up
I spoke to no one. Not one
Person on the sidewalks here

4)
Doors unlocked. I'm in
Doctors office is at risk
Patient files to take

5)
The town is not big
Less than one mile end to end
I made several laps

6)
City and union
We don't see eye to eye now
I'll lose sleep for this