welcome to the haikutimes
Issue #117, Heil Ranch, Boulder, Colorado, August 28, 2005. August haiku and photographs from the dry grass-crackle of Colorado's front range open space. Haiku by Patrick Lynn, Krista Morien, Sara Benson, Jonathan Machen, David Harper and Deborah Russell. Images and layout by Jonathan Machen.
wilderness path
she stops to check
text messages
petal-less flowers
stretch above the grass, unaware
their days of glory have past
Common Horehound, Marrubium Vulgare
grasshoppers and sparrows
scatter into the heat
as i pass
the dry trail, the dry
voices of grasshoppers
almost september
on her last birthday
each exhalation briefly
parts her lips
snapdragons-
not as loud
as my celery sticks
sweet sex in the sticky
yellow grindelia flowers -
and a lonely grasshopper
scalded mountainside
dotted by blackened spires
refusing to die
house project looming
finding carpet metaphor
in soft forest floor
wandering cactus -
my shadow deepens
the green
horse whinny
beehive bramble pile
buckshot hot sun
bluejay cocksure feather sound
old ponderosas
twisted, bare branches bound
to a healthy trunk
leaving behind
the clamor of horses
dried grass boot-crackle
blades tickled ankles
pungent pines tickled my nose
the mountain lion watched
mainly silent
except when disgruntled
horses, not people
just before the orange butterfly
crashes into the pine tree
i hear a child's voice
the hillside crunches
beneath my feet, grasshoppers
explode around me
hiking path
my cellphone
changes signals
Curlycup Gumweed, Grindelia Squarrosa
insect sex
on a platform of
soothing expectorant
summer storm
ran the trail into the grass
nature's mind of it's own
field melted to forest
desert mixed itelf
into the fray
Curlycup Gumweed, Grindelia Squarrosa
setting my sights
on the perfect pee spot
oops - there's patrick!
again and again
the woodpecker swings his dense head
into the pine tree
watching the clouds
and the occasional dragonfly
swollen with mosquitoes
a pony neighed
at the weight on his spine
no more donuts
withered
even this cactus -
thirsty on dry slope
two butterflies
on the same path
afternoon sun
hectic schedule
interrupted by aimless ramble
for exactly one hour
monochrome fields
with one last burst of
green before the fall
"hiker poems?"
he asks me over and over
"hiker poems?"
slow plodding horses
meet slick quick mountain bikes
i just sit and watch
reminding me
of medieval display
spiky mullen
Snow on the Mountain, Agaloma Marginata
trying to get
meditative, yesterday's
latte still jabbering
last days of august
mint green lichen makes
an awfully thin mattress
Prickly Poppy, Argemone Polyanthemos
our laughter
momentarily calls the attention
of solo biker
Rocky Mountain Bee Plant, Cleome Serrulata
sipping sweet nectar
on top of each other
in the sticky flowers
grasshopper symphony
who determines the pitch
and the rhythm?
i wonder if
these two bugs appreciate
patrick playing matchmaker
unprepared
for equestrian onslaught
august open space
little skull with
little teeth and a little fur
coming out of one eye
haiku-photo by Geert Verbeke, Flanders
frenzy of yard-sale mind
slows as soft clouds quietly
consume the moon
haiku-photo by Geert Verbeke, Flanders
Kukai, Colorado Style, A Haibun
By Deborah E Russell
If you encounter a mountain lion, fight back…
Kukai, Colorado Style, A Haibun
On August 28th, I traveled to meet with a group of haiku poets from Boulder. This was my first experience with a Colorado Kukai.
I contacted Jonathan Machen, following a conversation with Michael Dylan Welch, who informed me, he (Michael) was aware of a group of haiku poets, in Boulder. Jonathan invited me, to join his group, for ginko and kukai at Heil Valley Park. I arrived nearly an hour late, being unfamiliar with the roads and having to bypass the annual Corn Festival, in Loveland. I stopped, along the way, to inquire about directions.
Heil Ranch is one of Colorado’s well-known, Front Range open spaces. The land has remained relatively undeveloped and provides an exceptional wildlife habitat.
As I drove up the main entry, I noticed a large number of people on horseback, several hiking and many biking.
hiking path
my cellphone
changes signals
Jonathan was kind enough to greet me, at my car and took several minutes to explain the procedure of their ginko and kukai.
two butterflies
on the same path
afternoon sun
The members, of the haiku group are; Patrick Lynn, Sara Benson, Krista Morien, David Harper, and Jonathan. (There are other members that were unable to attend.)
wandering cactus -
my shadow deepens
the green
Each member went in their own direction, to write haiku. Jonathan said we would meet after an hour or so, to share our work. He pointed to a table, where we would meet. As we approached, I saw the note they had left, with instructions.
wilderness path -
she stops to check
text messages
I started up the mountain, toward jutting rocks, passing a sign with the words:
If you encounter a mountain lion, fight back…
fight back?
only a grasshopper
crosses my path
I enjoyed meeting the group and the opportunity to share our work. It was interesting to hear the range of thoughts and relationships expressed by such a small number of poets.
snapdragons -
not as loud
as my celery sticks
Before leaving, I took time to make a quick sketch of the majestic, bare rocks, the aspens and pines of the mountainside.
white sage
among the pines
distant laughter
Deborah Russell © 2005
All images Copyright © Jonathan Machen except where noted. All rights reserved.
wilderness path
she stops to check
text messages
petal-less flowers
stretch above the grass, unaware
their days of glory have past
Common Horehound, Marrubium Vulgare
grasshoppers and sparrows
scatter into the heat
as i pass
the dry trail, the dry
voices of grasshoppers
almost september
on her last birthday
each exhalation briefly
parts her lips
snapdragons-
not as loud
as my celery sticks
sweet sex in the sticky
yellow grindelia flowers -
and a lonely grasshopper
scalded mountainside
dotted by blackened spires
refusing to die
house project looming
finding carpet metaphor
in soft forest floor
wandering cactus -
my shadow deepens
the green
horse whinny
beehive bramble pile
buckshot hot sun
bluejay cocksure feather sound
old ponderosas
twisted, bare branches bound
to a healthy trunk
leaving behind
the clamor of horses
dried grass boot-crackle
blades tickled ankles
pungent pines tickled my nose
the mountain lion watched
mainly silent
except when disgruntled
horses, not people
just before the orange butterfly
crashes into the pine tree
i hear a child's voice
the hillside crunches
beneath my feet, grasshoppers
explode around me
hiking path
my cellphone
changes signals
Curlycup Gumweed, Grindelia Squarrosa
insect sex
on a platform of
soothing expectorant
summer storm
ran the trail into the grass
nature's mind of it's own
field melted to forest
desert mixed itelf
into the fray
Curlycup Gumweed, Grindelia Squarrosa
setting my sights
on the perfect pee spot
oops - there's patrick!
again and again
the woodpecker swings his dense head
into the pine tree
watching the clouds
and the occasional dragonfly
swollen with mosquitoes
a pony neighed
at the weight on his spine
no more donuts
withered
even this cactus -
thirsty on dry slope
two butterflies
on the same path
afternoon sun
hectic schedule
interrupted by aimless ramble
for exactly one hour
monochrome fields
with one last burst of
green before the fall
"hiker poems?"
he asks me over and over
"hiker poems?"
slow plodding horses
meet slick quick mountain bikes
i just sit and watch
reminding me
of medieval display
spiky mullen
Snow on the Mountain, Agaloma Marginata
trying to get
meditative, yesterday's
latte still jabbering
last days of august
mint green lichen makes
an awfully thin mattress
Prickly Poppy, Argemone Polyanthemos
our laughter
momentarily calls the attention
of solo biker
Rocky Mountain Bee Plant, Cleome Serrulata
sipping sweet nectar
on top of each other
in the sticky flowers
grasshopper symphony
who determines the pitch
and the rhythm?
i wonder if
these two bugs appreciate
patrick playing matchmaker
unprepared
for equestrian onslaught
august open space
little skull with
little teeth and a little fur
coming out of one eye
haiku-photo by Geert Verbeke, Flanders
frenzy of yard-sale mind
slows as soft clouds quietly
consume the moon
haiku-photo by Geert Verbeke, Flanders
Kukai, Colorado Style, A Haibun
By Deborah E Russell
If you encounter a mountain lion, fight back…
Kukai, Colorado Style, A Haibun
On August 28th, I traveled to meet with a group of haiku poets from Boulder. This was my first experience with a Colorado Kukai.
I contacted Jonathan Machen, following a conversation with Michael Dylan Welch, who informed me, he (Michael) was aware of a group of haiku poets, in Boulder. Jonathan invited me, to join his group, for ginko and kukai at Heil Valley Park. I arrived nearly an hour late, being unfamiliar with the roads and having to bypass the annual Corn Festival, in Loveland. I stopped, along the way, to inquire about directions.
Heil Ranch is one of Colorado’s well-known, Front Range open spaces. The land has remained relatively undeveloped and provides an exceptional wildlife habitat.
As I drove up the main entry, I noticed a large number of people on horseback, several hiking and many biking.
hiking path
my cellphone
changes signals
Jonathan was kind enough to greet me, at my car and took several minutes to explain the procedure of their ginko and kukai.
two butterflies
on the same path
afternoon sun
The members, of the haiku group are; Patrick Lynn, Sara Benson, Krista Morien, David Harper, and Jonathan. (There are other members that were unable to attend.)
wandering cactus -
my shadow deepens
the green
Each member went in their own direction, to write haiku. Jonathan said we would meet after an hour or so, to share our work. He pointed to a table, where we would meet. As we approached, I saw the note they had left, with instructions.
wilderness path -
she stops to check
text messages
I started up the mountain, toward jutting rocks, passing a sign with the words:
If you encounter a mountain lion, fight back…
fight back?
only a grasshopper
crosses my path
I enjoyed meeting the group and the opportunity to share our work. It was interesting to hear the range of thoughts and relationships expressed by such a small number of poets.
snapdragons -
not as loud
as my celery sticks
Before leaving, I took time to make a quick sketch of the majestic, bare rocks, the aspens and pines of the mountainside.
white sage
among the pines
distant laughter
Deborah Russell © 2005
All images Copyright © Jonathan Machen except where noted. All rights reserved.
solo/group kukai
drawing/writing/photography
jonathan machen
drawing/writing/photography
jonathan machen