Kasen-no-renga & Renku 1

Global Haiku Tradition--Kasen-no-renga, Spring 2006

 

Smoke Screen

by

Brian Blankenship, Adam Stefo, Brian Rohde, Jamie Devitt, Pat Steadman, Rik Bearce, and Stephanie Dietrich


 

Smoke Screen

early spring evening—
a roar of laughter
rises from our circle

waving the smoke
away from our faces

choking on sarcasm
I leave the group
to clear my lungs

in the meadow—the deer
roasting on the spit

full moon
mosquito bites
on Jerry’s ass

turning away
bile in my throat

the fire
extinguishes beneath
my sopping vomit

from across the smoke
a scavenging bear

tearing into flesh
white teeth
tipped in copper

Jerry dies after eating
112 pennies on a dare

bathing with the television
flickering lights
--abandoned kitten

adventurous pet
bloody, matted fur
on my bumper

china cracks
milk escapes
thin layer of curd

cat hunting in groups
full moon
pressed to the glass

plastic place mat--
spilt milk
on kittens and flowers

the last straw
Mommy starts to scream

the daughter wails
like her mother
--blossomed cherry

sprawled across the bed
he watches her leave
and her zipper close

the sound of denim
tingles up her spine

candles lit
lights turned low
sleeping with a cigarette

siren!
setting the atmosphere
of the smoky bedroom

running back into the flame
for her dolly

impassioned fire
sings me to sleep
as the smoke darkens my lungs

the glowing embers
of my lucid self

as the campfire
dies so do
my imaginary friends

I suddenly realize
I’m talking to nothing

in the open meadow
the vast sky
open to me

gathering his things
the storyteller
tips his hat

moonlit silhouette
a lonely tap-dance
down the river Styx

I throw away
my last empty bottle

garbage on the street
piling up next to
the cherry blossoms

pigeons on the fence
disturbed
—now flapping

stilettos
and sneakers
each finding their own way

hermaphrodite snail
is indifferent to
shoe shopping

the last street lamp
with a breeze
falls silent

empty road
full
of nothing particular

• • •

Brian Blankenship, Adam Stefo, Brian Rohde, Jamie Devitt, Pat Steadman, Rik Bearce, and Stephanie Dietrich

 

   

© 2006, Randy Brooks • Millikin University • last updated: April 7, 2006
All rights returned to authors upon publication.