turkey
nap
more turkey

Starr Dawkins

I didn't get a chance to say this was one of my favorites, but it definitely was. It is very true and typical of a family Thanksgiving. When I was a little girl, my family would all gather at my grandmother's house. Aunts, uncles, cousins; they all would be there for the Thanksgiving feast. We would have a big dinner at 1:00. The adults would be in the dining room and the kids in the living room at the "children's table." After dinner, the men would all go down the basement and play poker into the evening. The children were only allowed downstairs if you were bringing them a beer or more pretzels. The women would congregate in the kitchen, talking and drinking endless cups of coffee and washing mounds of dishes. The children, well, we would go outside and play if it was nice outside, and if it wasn't, we would play in the dining room and the living room. Around 5 or 6pm, the women would set out the leftovers and we would have turkey sandwiches and whatever else was left over from dinner. My family is all scattered now, and this haiku brought back some very good memories for me. Jenny

after turkey
we talk
about the past

Marlene Gardner

This haiku really hit home. This is something that takes place with my family every Thanksgiving. Actually, it is most holidays for that matter. After dinner, the women sit around the kitchen and talk about anything and everything that comes to mind. The men will join in every once in awhile but are usually either glued to the football game on T.V. or asleep in the recliner after getting their bellies full. It is something that I look forward to on the holidays. It is always nice to hear what has been going on in everyone else's lives. Brooke

turkey in the oven
football on the T.V.
so much to be thankful for

hot rolls
family gathers
Grace

Starr Dawkins (2)

chitterlings to be cleaned
…greens to be cooked
Thanksgiving at Grandma's

Thanksgiving dinner
the children already
humming Christmas songs

Maria Clark (4)

This represents the holidays from a child's point of view. Holidays are meant for the children. As adults we can re-experience them from a child's eyes. They have such excitement and anticipation. You can tell they can't wait for Thanksgiving to be over with so they can start celebrating Christmas. I can just imagine a mother being busy trying to make it through the Thanksgiving cooking and her child comes bopping by singing a Christmas tune. Then the mother would remember all of the shopping and things to do for Christmas. I think this has a universal element, something we have all seen. I also think it is something we all have done as a child, and maybe if we are lucky, we catch ourselves doing it every once in awhile. Great haiku; gets me in the Christmas spirit. Jamie

This haiku reminds me of how magical this time of year seemed was when I was a child. Thanksgiving always felt like the official kickoff for the whole holiday season. Although we were never allowed to decorate for Christmas or to sing carols until Thanksgiving was over. I can remember my sister and I singing Christmas songs on the way home from Thanksgiving dinner at the grandmother's house. We would climb into the back of the station wagon and wail away with every Christmas song we could think of. Starr

sun rays dance upon her face
surrounded by flowers
butterfly house

simmering black-eyed peas
…homemade cornbread
Granny prepares New Year’s dinner

all my favorite foods
waiting for a burp
to make more room

Maria Clark (5)

sunny winter day
my snowman’s
first diet

tiny foot prints in the snow
a lop sided snowman
wears one pink glove

Megan Alwardt (7)

From the tiny footprints, you imagine that there is a small child playing in the snow. While playing a snowman is built and is not perfect in anyway. The snowman is loved because of his special qualities that have been put in place by this small child. Wearing one pink glove gives you the feeling that she shared her warmth with the snowman or maybe the weather has taken its toll on the snowman. Missy

first snow
children’s faces
glued to the classroom window

Missy Goad (7)

spring thaw
the babbling brook
comes alive

I lift my head up, close my eyes
breathe deeply
Spring is here.

Jenny Munro (3)

I love the spring and summer months, and unfortunately I am not thrilled with the cold weather that accompanies winter. Every winter it occurs to me that there are many more months of cold temperatures than warm. I get Spring fever about December and then, impatiently wait for the first "Spring" day the remainder of the winter. When that day finally comes, I can barely contain myself. I start imagining the warmth of the sun on my face, the smell of cookouts and flowers, children playing outside till dark, long walks, and most of all just the relaxation that summer brings. Megan

spring sunshine
a lone Dogwood tree
with no blossoms

howling winter winds
snoring family dog
in front of the fireplace

Starr Dawkins (2)

winter night
blistered fingers
pick out a new tune

raaaaaake…..plink
raaaaaake…..tink
teasing me as I work

gentle snow falling
outside the window
the old record plays

huddled against the biting wind
we say our final goodbyes
silent tombstones cloaked in snow

Donna Hyland (3)

I realize that this is about Donna's dad but this is almost exactly how my Grandma's funeral went. This particular year though it was rain and not snow. There was so much rain that we had to use someone else's plot for the service and then when they could they moved her. It was still very cold since it was in December. Mickey

For me, Donna's haiku paints a very vivid picture of one of the saddest days in my life, the day that we buried my best friend. It was on a blustery winter day when we, the clique, as we were known, stood around her gravesite and mourned our loss of a devoted, cherished friend. For most of us, I do not think a day goes by that we are not reminded of her, although now, they are happy memories instead of sad sorrows. Susan Love

our snowplow escort
clears the country road ahead
the hearse slips and slides

Donna Hyland (4)

beside the curb
the old man stoops
to pile the dead leaves

Marlene Gardner (2)

orange, red, yellow
leaves in a pile
burning bright

Mickey Hvrol (4)

Visually stunning! This haiku is filled with rich colors and strong feelings. Orange, the color of energy, ambition, and strength, red, the color of passion, intensity, and love, and yellow the color of creativity, imagination and optimism. All these colors piled on top of each other whether literally burning or not, create such power that their image is burnt into your mind and heart. I love this haiku! It fuels my spirit and makes me want to seize the day. Maria

seasalt in my eyes
i give in
to the sand below me

icy steps await
their next unwitting victim
bushes catch the baby

a single fur tree branch
saves the angel
from falling

Marlene Gardner

winter morning
coffee and sugar
coated trees

Maria Clark (2)

baking, baking
flip over
summer tanning

Jenny Munro (2)

This haiku takes me back to summer-time tanning during my high school years. The baking reference really hit home, since we would sometimes set a timer so that we were tanning evenly on both sides. When the time went off, we would “baste” ourselves with more tanning oil and flip! We truly were baking in the sun. Donna

hot sun
in the backyard
a cookout

strapless white gown
feet in sandals
summer “I do’s”

Brooke Weemer (2)

the street is hushed
by a blanket of white
first snowfall

Jenny Munro (3)

leaves still falling
from the near bare tree
sounds of motors from afar

shorts folded neatly
in a Rubbermaid bin
Summer is over.

Jenny Munro (2)

cold and numb
the children
warm their toes by the fire

Brooke Weemer (4)

flowers blooming
smell the rain
tag you're it!

third baseman
with a wooden bat
home run

Mickey Hvrol

sunshine hiding
behind the clouds
she tiptoes into the waves

angels appear
. . . in the snow
of my Grandma’s yard

Charla Bond (5)

To grandma her angels are her grandchildren. It's the first heavy snow and the children are visiting Grandma. A tradition to many is to make snow angels. Grandma's special little angels create these snow angels. As she peers out the window as they leave, the angels they left upon the yard leave behind memories. Missy

blankets in the grass
tightly holding daddy’s hand
grand finale

Megan Alwardt (5)

cold and waiting
balloons and bands
kids chant as the parade passes by

first dusting of snow
paw prints
across the front porch

Starr Dawkins (3)

cautious paws
tred new ground
to pee in the snow

Marlene Gardner (5)

naughty or nice?
fighting
over the new toy

windy winter day
a plastic Santa
rolling down the street

children peek outside the door
of the old trailer
anonymous Santa

Marlene Gardner (4)

This haiku embodies the spirit of Christmas. To think of all the children who without anonymous Santa’s would go without a single Christmas gift makes me sad. I picture several children in layers of worn out clothing looking out the window of their rundown trailer. I can hear the excitement in their voices when they realize they weren’t forgotten and there are wrapped gifts for them just sitting outside their trailer door. Maria

one more gift . . .
and another . . .
maybe one more . . .

Missy Goad (2)

hide-and-go-seek
behind the barn
watermelon smiles

Donna Hyland (5)

full moon looming low
the pontoon boat
glides over it

Marlene Gardner (4)