Wade on Birmingham

Wade’s 101: Haiku retrospective 15

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  1. notes from voltaire
    Life is a shipwreck,
    but we must not forget to
    sing in the lifeboats.
  2. relative insignificance
    A man can feel small
    next to a saint, who feels small
    next to a belief.
  3. pick a direction
    Turn left, then right and
    head for daylight. Soon, you will
    see an opening.
  4. the liberal lion sleeps tonight
    Teddy Kennedy
    gave life to public service
    so we don’t have to.
  5. smiling and wagging
    Pet me, says the hound
    on the patio. And we
    oblige the canine.
  6. traffic snarl
    Clogged lanes move inch by
    inch in never-ending race
    between points A, B.
  7. the days are getting shorter
    Impatient autumn,
    wait your turn. The unruly
    summer needs more time.
  8. football season: can you hear the roar?
    Can you hear the roar
    coming from across the quad?
    It’s time for kickoff.
  9. football season: dear coach
    Please take us to the
    national championship
    (or else, you’re fired).
  10. football season: all bets are on
    What’s the line on the
    game? Not that I want to bet
    or call my bookie.
  11. football season: painted chest dudes
    Noble collegians
    preen with school spirit on their
    fermented torsos.
  12. football season: hey ref
    Do you know why you
    suck? I shall tell you why. You
    suck because you suck.
  13. football season: sideline hazard
    When approached by the
    mascot, make no eye contact
    and don’t shake its hand.
  14. football season: yell, then yell some more
    The raging crowd roars
    its lusty approval as
    the team marches in.
  15. the naming of a decade
    The aughts? The naughts? The
    zeros? The oh-ohs? Decade
    ends in just four months.
  16. working world
    Overproductive,
    underpaid, stressed out, under
    deadline, over it.
  17. at the drive-in
    I declared my love
    over shakes and a burger,
    hold the mushiness.
  18. 09-09-09
    Dogs for dogging, hands
    for clapping
    . Birds for birding,
    and fish for fishing.
  19. hip to be unemployed
    Meet you at the bar
    for networking after some
    time at coffee shop.
  20. inconsolable souls
    Did we really just
    leave 9/11 victims
    without true justice?
  21. art in review
    How can so many
    artists spend so much time and
    yet produce such crap?
  22. impromptu sing-along
    We don’t start and end
    each others’ sentences. We
    belt out made-up tunes.
  23. the unhappiest place on earth
    What Walmart offers
    (besides low prices): show of
    human misery.
  24. courtesy of the love bandit
    A mysterious
    note appears: “Meet me in the
    bedroom, without pants.”
  25. kindness
    Look back, and see all
    who treated you with kindness
    when you weren’t looking.
  26. fizz
    The glass bubbles in
    anticipation. Lips to
    devour the drops.
  27. d-i-v-o-r-c-e
    A parting of the
    ways, man the lifeboats, let one
    man put asunder.
  28. wash away your sins
    The clouds formed the new
    sky, a torrential dome of
    unending downpour.
  29. the chosen ones
    Get gussied up, preen
    for the cameras, hear them pick
    other, cry inside.
  30. the fog
    Where is the coffee?
    Why is the alarm blaring?
    Morning comes too soon.
  31. wake up
    Wake up, world. Don’t you
    know there’s injustice and sin?
    (Like there’s always been.)
  32. last edition
    The presses rolled one
    last time, and the very last
    newspaperman left.
  33. poisoned from within
    The municipal
    halls were choked with false leaders
    lining their pockets.
  34. saw it in a movie once
    This dude swooped in and
    knocked out the villain, then made
    out with, like, three chicks.
  35. stale popcorn
    The rattling of the
    tough popped kernels goes well with
    the warm flat soda.
  36. restless audience
    They waited in line,
    they waited in seats. Start the
    movie already!
  37. march of the chairs
    The rolling chairs sped
    down the hallway, while folding
    chairs ambled along.
  38. beyond sleepy
    Eyelids remain at
    attention, desperately
    in need of at ease.
  39. weather that demands specific tops
    Air with a bite, light
    with a waxing crispness, and
    sweaters without holes.
  40. this play is just for us
    If we sit very
    still, the performance will keep
    us gripped in drama.
  41. things you learn
    How to tie your shoes,
    bake a pie, drive a car, kiss
    properly, feel good.
  42. trapped on a shuttle bus
    The route takes us no-
    where, yet it’s where we belong,
    looking out windows.
  43. yard warfare
    The yard next door has
    an abundance of leaves, which
    makes this yard pristine.
  44. mask of uncertainty
    Halloween costume
    rejects: Jacko, birther, swine
    flu, Larry Langford.
  45. the unblogged life
    The unblogged life is
    not worth tweeting, Socrates
    said via Facebook.
  46. in the grip of fall
    Art festivals, cool
    air, an abundance of dead
    leaves and Christmas sales.
  47. nature by night
    Silhouettes of trees
    form towering dancers. Dusk
    settles in for now.
  48. a little bit behind
    Later turns into
    next week, which becomes sometime
    eventually.
  49. the palace gourds
    A pumpkin for each
    table, a dancer for each
    stage. Cue the frolic.
  50. cutting smile
    Eyes of triangles,
    crooked nose, and a toothy
    sad grin carved by hand.
  51. all it takes
    All it takes is a
    look from you, a thoughtful gaze,
    a playful hug … (swoon).
  52. the obvious punchline
    Where is the dislike
    button? That’s what she said. I’m-
    ma let you finish.
  53. bundle of nerves
    Stomach a’quiver.
    Unable to sit or stand
    still. Peace of mind gone.
  54. an empty closet
    Hangers dangle on
    the rod, in a sad closet
    without her effects.
  55. the unfinished haiku
    The grand poet took
    up his quill with a flourish
    but came up short
  56. that was the whole of her sermon
    Only connect the
    prose and the passion, and both
    will be exalted.
  57. the bells have stopped ringing
    The standing army
    of one-armed bandits take cash
    as muted beggars.
  58. introvert’s delight
    Learning to reach out,
    then finding a dark hole to
    climb in and recharge.
  59. last on the tarmac
    Luggage comes spilling
    out from the steel belly, glad
    to be home at last.
  60. timed travel
    Two hours forward,
    90-minute delay. Flight
    breaks late barrier.
  61. fiction-finding mission
    Among the bogs and
    swamps, intrepid children looked
    for minotaur eggs.
  62. feats of moderate human strength
    When it comes to doors —
    elevator, revolving —
    he has leverage.
  63. fortunes on the field
    All eyes from the stands
    and from living rooms were glued
    to the final play.
  64. pick up the pieces
    Love endures, despite
    aches and despair and baggage
    and fear and hardship.
  65. city in two
    City of progress
    or site of urban decay.
    A mayor on trial.
  66. deck the haunted halls
    Any decor plans
    beyond orange/black scheme, fake webs
    and witches and ghosts?
  67. political thievery
    A crook stole more than
    just the county’s wealth. He stole
    our trust and goodwill.
  68. the horizon within reach
    A new day, a new
    chance to clear out old tactics
    and lift Birmingham.
  69. birmingham renewed: baby steps
    Who we are as a
    city comes not from who leads
    but who does the work.
  70. birmingham renewed: exorcising ghosts
    Are we haunted? Must
    we fear those who would corrupt
    this town for their gain?
  71. country song 2009
    She done defriended
    me on Facebook and tweeted
    me for the last time.
  72. all souls’ day
    They came for a stay,
    to check on those not ready
    yet for their last trip.
  73. daylight saving redux
    Would it be OK
    to get an extra hour
    of sleep, clock keepers?
  74. what do you want to hear?
    I’ll tell you what you
    want to hear. But only if
    you listen closely.
  75. birmingham renewed: the reins
    The reins are tattered,
    yet still tethered to horses,
    strong but unguided.
  76. birmingham renewed: let’s undo something
    The mistrust, the lies,
    the hopelessness, the rancor,
    the path to nowhere.
  77. birmingham renewed: smash cynicism
    Begone, cynics and
    sycophants. Let us begin
    with true dialogue.
  78. birmingham renewed: vulcan says
    The god of the forge
    leapt from the mountaintop to
    keep watch from up close.
  79. birmingham renewed: what we have
    Good people, good food,
    stubbornness, sense of humor
    and stories galore.
  80. gobbler holocaust
    Somewhere, in the pens,
    struts a turkey who’ll be my
    Thanksgiving repast.
  81. forgotten wars
    We sometimes forget
    those conflicts that kept us free,
    and those who fought them.
  82. the old-timers
    The old-timers sit
    and chuckle in their booths each
    and every morning.
  83. think bigger
    Do not dwell on what
    has been done, what has “worked,” but
    go forth with gumption.
  84. the saddest pup in the world
    Don’t think you can con
    me out of dinner bites. I
    see your tail wagging.
  85. among the ruins
    Among the ruins
    of the decaying forest
    lurked the rogue possum.
  86. fulfillment
    Fulfillment is warm,
    clean laundry, walking along
    with the one, deep breaths.
  87. brisk
    The wind whips up, as
    if to show who’s in charge while
    autumn takes its hold.
  88. let out a woo hoo
    Let out a “Woo hoo!”
    when something goes right, when you
    feel like making noise.
  89. vampire weekend
    They live off blood and
    apparently fervored teen
    girl adulation.
  90. wish list for mayor
    Good ideas, some
    common sense, vision, fiscal
    stewardship and charm.
  91. home stretched
    Moments of silence
    deafen the fields of high school
    teams out of playoffs.
  92. slowly the leaves turn
    Too much water, not
    enough water, and the leaves
    go pale without fail.
  93. visions of cranberries
    The table is set.
    Soon, Tom Turkey will bring feasts
    to all good children.
  94. you may say
    I’m a dreamer. I’m
    not the only one. I hope
    someday you’ll join us.
  95. the view from the shore
    From rude beginnings,
    a prosperous, kind, violent
    nation came to be.
  96. the iron bowl in 17 syllables
    Tradition, empty
    malls, rivalry, crimson white,
    orange blue, braggin’ rights.
  97. just a little more effort
    Some more writing here,
    some more cleaning all around.
    Who needs any sleep?
  98. unable to escape its melody
    Over and over
    the piano sounds out the
    notes heard just by me.
  99. chat away
    Type your sentiments
    on a tiny window in
    a phosphorous screen.
  100. so much good stuff
    Don’t be surprised by
    so much good stuff. Be alert:
    Catch it in advance.
  101. make the season bright
    Head down the street to
    reward neighbors with an off-
    key Christmas carol.

• • •

Read more Wade’s 101.

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2 Yips for “Wade’s 101: Haiku retrospective 15”

  1. Marie
    Friday, December 4, 2009, 10:41 pm
    1

    That’s a whole lot of haikus. Some fun. Some disturbing. 🙂

  2. Wade
    Saturday, December 5, 2009, 8:59 pm
    2

    Hooray, my art is disturbing. Now I have my book blurb.

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