f/k/a archives . . . real opinions & real haiku

My haiku were first accepted for publication in haiku journals in early 2005. This page is for anyone interested in following my “progress” in this poetic genre. I’ve compiled each of the poems — over 100 haiku and senryu — which were selected by journal or anthology editors for publication from 2005 through 2009.  They are presented below, in chronological order of their publication. Hyperlinks are provided to all of the pieces available online.  You can share this posting using the short URL: http://tinyurl.com/Dagosan

Rather than clutter this page with my personal reaction to the process of reviewing my “published haiku oeuvre,” I’ve offered a few inanities and banalities in a simultaneous posting here. If you insist on seeing more of my work, check out the dagosan haikai archives, or go to my ongoing (but sporadic) weblogs dagosan’s haiku diary and simply senryu.

2005

alone —
hugging
warm laundry

new paperback —
the sun sets
without me

– from The Heron’s Nest (March 2005); “alone” & “new paperback“

frozen river–
snow hides
the elm’s reflection

– Mainichi Daily News Haiku Column No. 669 (March 5, 2005)

 

to-read list
and summer corn
growing, growing

old dog and master
jostling
for the tiny spot of shade

 

storm alert
every kind of cloud
in one sky

blue sky
behind bare branches
year-end bonus

– Legal Studies Forum XXIX:1 (2005; pages 275 – 276)

it’s pink! it’s purple!
sunset inspires
more bickering

– Frogpond — the journal of the Haiku Society of America, (Vol. XXVIII: 2, 2005) – click to see a subsequent haiga incorporating this poem –

that little grunt
dad always made —
putting on my socks

– Frogpond (XXVIII: 2, 2005); repub. in inside the mirror: Red Moon Anthology 2005; used in a memorial haiga, here.

Adirondack chair
upholstered
with snow

Spring arrives —
peeps
melting on the dashboard

first scull of the year
my arms ache
just waving

 

cherry tomatoes
on toothpicks — a vapor trail
spears the midday moon

her chocolate breath
mingles with mine —
easter sunset

– – Simply Haiku (Vol. 3, No. 4, Winter 2005)

fallen blossoms —
soon
just another tree

mom’s arthritis
acting up again–
I take two Advil

squinting to see him —
another generation
sent to right field

– Roadrunner Haiku Journal (V:4, Nov. 2005; image: by Aurora Antonovic); “squinting to see him” – Tie, The Scorpion Prize for Best Haiku/Senryu of ISSUE V:4; repub. in Baseball Haiku (Ed. Cor van den Heuvel and Nanae Tamura; W.W. Norton Press 2007)

winding road —
under the influence
of a strawberry moon

………………. in The Heron’s Nest(VII: 4, Winter 2005)

2006

last week of the year
ice floes rush
to the waterfall

january thaw
motionless trees
tremble in the river

hazy winter moon
the face I met
when our skin was smooth

….. Roadrunner Haiku Journal Issue VI: 1 (Feb. 2006)

Indian Summer —
a squirrel tips over
the bag of rock salt

– The Heron’s Nest VIII:I, March 2006

falling blossoms —
soon
just another tree

Adirondack chair
upholstered
with snow

frozen river —
snow hides
the elm’s reflection

– Legal Studies Forum XXX (March 2006)

last day of winter —
ice smothers
the early buds

c’mon, equinox —
anxious to plant
impatiens

storm windows off:
the old man curses
the noisy neighbors

– Nisqually Delta Review (Winter-Spring, 2006; errata page)

farewell picnic —
wind blows the blossoms
off the dogwoods

waking
to dogwood blossoms —
the boys like pink today

april showers!
trudging back
to fetch a snow brush

almost april —
baked apple season
lingers

spring arrives —
new snow bleaches
old snowbanks

the smile that humbles
the cherry blossoms –
too far to see her

rain
on my bald spot —
recalling dry-scalp Aprils

coldest day this winter —
the early buds
miscarry

brushing off the snow –
warm enough today
for a park bench moment

– Haiku Harvest (Spring & Summer 2006, Vol. 6 No. 1)

low gray sky —
an afghan warming
on the radiator

– The Heron’s Nest (VIII: 2, 12 #5, June 2006)

sculpting cloud peaks
from shampoo suds —
crooked fingers

muddy bootprints
in the kitchen –
spring follows us home

U-Haul tires
spin on the ice —
windchimes packed in a box

wintry mix
a snow buddha
and a mud buddha

mid-March winds –
a too-warm coat
suddenly too thin

hardboiled eggs –
the first one
peels easily

– ………………… in Clouds Peak #1 (July 2006)

at the crosswalk –
leaves and a garbage can
hurry past

autumn equinox —
awakening to
summer’s last cricket

rattle, whir, hum —
three-fan
august night

Columbus Day rain—
first cozy evening
since spring

too cold for fireflies—
campfire sparks
float past the rocks

perched on
the sumo’s belly–
one large pumpkin

– – Nisqually Delta Review (summer/fall issue 2006)
“too cold for fireflies—” & “autumn equinox –” – Editor’s Choice Selections

almost sunset
the weekend dad
drags a sled up the hill

hard-to-peel
tangerine —
her citrus-scented fingers

…………………. in Frogpond XXIX: 2 (2006)

sudden downpour —
no one wins
the wet-t-shirt contest

…………… tinywords Aug. 12, 2006

the pond ices over –
impressionist to
cubist overnight

early March —
the weather vane goose
still heading south

winter gale —
the crows fly farther
than the crow flies

small sad face
in the puddle —
last weekend’s snowman

a warm yule . . .
the ice-fishing hole
mostly hole

…….. Simply Haiku (Autumn 2006, Vol. 4 no. 3); “small sad face” – repub. a procession of ripples anthology (p. 18)

morning shadows –
the gunslingers wait
for high noon

the view
from the sofa –
April madness

– HaigaOnline Issue 7-2 (Autumn-Winter 2006)
Click to see the original photo-poem haiga combinations –
“morning shadows” & “view from the sofa“

her words sting —
the mosquitos take me
just as I am

– Frogpond, XXIX: 3 Fall 2006

Mother’s Day–
admiring lilacs
just past their peak

— The Heron’s Nest (VIII: 4, December 2006) –

rubbernecking
the sunset geese —
our tailgater honks

– tinywords – December 12, 2006

2007

curtain time:
the stage crew as silent
as the props

snowmelt
sunset
comes too soon

the lawn crunches
Spring’s first bocce match
postponed

april storm —
borrowing the neighbor’s
rock salt

a foot of snow
a month too soon
candles for nightlights

his face frozen —
just like mama
always said

– Simply Haiku Journal, Modern Haiga, Vol. 5 no. 1 (Spring 2007); photos by Arthur Giacalone; see the original photo-poem haiga by clicking on these links:
“curtain time:” – “snow melt” – “the lawn crunches” –
“april storm —” – “a foot of snow” – “his face frozen –”

alone at dusk
footsteps approach
from behind

– from World Haiku Association 44th Haiga Contest (April 2007)

squinting to see him
another generation
sent to right field

law office picnic
the ump consults
his Blackberry

– in Baseball Haiku (Cor van den Heuvel and Nanae Tamura, eds., W.W. Norton Press, April 2007) “squinting” – org. pub. Roadrunner Haiku Journal (V:4, Nov. 2005; tie Scorpion Prize)

lull in the parade
small hands reach
for the same balloon

– orig. version of poem in a haiga, 45th WHA Haiga Contest (May 2007)
– above haiga, with poem slightly revised (thanks AA), first at MagnaPoetsJF in b&w version (June 1, 2007)

*

*

three feet of snow
the firehouse dog
follows the hose

early thaw
she serves the canard
a l’orange

drawn butter
and chardonnay –
he sets the trap

ladybug
in the spider’s web –
yesterday’s horoscope

catnap onshore –
a wake sinks
the dream flotilla

on the novice trail –
climbers wave
from the peak

….. in HaigaOnline Spring/Summer 2007 Vol. 8-1
– see the original photo-poem haiga by clicking on these links:
“three feet of snow” – “early thaw” – “drawn butter” –
“ladybug” – “catnap onshore —” – “on the novice trail –-”

mommy, look!
an early moon floats
above the setting sun

…. The 49th. WHA Haiga Contest (10/2007)

first the scent –
lilac bushes
’round the corner

blustery day
one tulip
keeps his head

blossoms on the breeze —
the tilt
of illegible gravestones

full morning moon —
the working girl’s
gauzy blouse

fireworks finale!
her eyes return
to the fireflies

— – Simply Haiku, Autumn 2007, vol 5 no 3 –

“full morning moon” – repub. in dust of summers: The Red Moon Anthology of English-Language Haiku 2007 (Red Moon Press, 2008)

first snowfall –
a city-full
of student drivers

………. in tinywords November 23, 2007

cloud-covered night–
no moon, no fireflies,
no goodnight kiss

… . . . in “Lanterns: a firefly anthology” (Edited by Stanford M. Forrester, Bottle Rockets Press, 2007}

hazy harvest moon
the face I met
when our skin was smooth

…….. The Heron’s Nest (Vol. IX: 4, Dec. 2007)
[Note: This poem was re-written to commemorate the 60th Wedding Anniversary of Arthur & Connie Giacalone; the original version appeared in Roadrunner Haiku Journal Issue VI: 1 (Feb. 2006)]

2008

morning shadows—
the gunslingers wait
for high noon

alone at sunset
i pick a pair
of faded daylilies

summer solstice
the insomniac
waits for dawn

before
the morning rush—
the whiteness of last night’s snow

….. Legal Studies Forum (Vol. XXXII, No. 1. 2008)
“morning shadows” – orig. pub. in HaigaOnline Issue 7-2 (2006)

All Saint’s Day –
under the sheets
a ghost hides her stash

… The Heron’s Nest – March 2008 Vol. 10:1

a blue tongue
and a red mustache –
we trade snow cones

Frogpond (Winter 2008, Vol. 31:1; related haiga)

full morning moon —
the working girl’s
gauzy blouse

… selected for “dust of summer: The Red Moon Anthology of English-Language Haiku 2007″ (Red Moon Press, 2008); originally published in Simply Haiku 5:3

startled rabbit —
easter snow slips
from a telephone wire

funeral dirge –
we bury the one
who could carry a tune

….. Frogpond – Spring 2008 (Vol. 31: 2)
“funeral dirge” – selected for “white lies: Red Moon Anthology 2008“

equinox
the insomniac
waits for dawn

bickering over
the headstone’s size
the last leaf falls

naked scarecrow
birds of prey
circle above

mourners
in sunglasses —
no one casts a shadow

movement
behind the tree
conversation stops

……. Simply Haiku (Modern Haiga Section, Vol. 6 no. 3, Fall 2008)
Poems: David Giacalone; Photos: Arthur Giacalone
“equinox” – click for orig. haiga
“bickering over” – orig. haiga
“naked scarecrow” – orig. haiga
“mourners” – orig. haiga
“movement” – orig. haiga

first warm day
i reach for her
gloveless hand

a broken heart carved
on the frozen pond —
fish bucket empty

windy day
more blossoms at the curb
than on the tree

harvest moon —
our windshield fogging
as we argue

summer solstice:*
no shade on either
side of the street

….. Simply Haiku (Haiku Section, vol. 6 no. 3, Fall 2008)

*See my weblog “Preserve Our Stockade Trees” for my crusade to save shade trees in my neighborhood.

Memorial Day
a man from Japan
steals second base

….. Frogpond (31:3, Fall 2008)

you and me
and a million mosquitoes
calamine sunset

……. haiga orig. pub. 60th WHA Haiga Contest (Oct. 2008); poem pub.  A Travel-Worn Satchel: The Haiku Society of America Members’ Anthology 2009 (Eds. Joseph Kirschner, Lidia Rozmus, and Charles Trumbull; Deep North Press, July 2009)

first date
a stroll
in a fog

…. orig. pub. 61st WHA Haiga Contest (Nov. 2008)

breakfast alone 
except for that cricket
behind the fridge

.. The Heron’s Nest (Vol. X, No. 4, December 2008)

golden 
anniversary
a new path home

. . HaigaOnline Issue 9-2 (Winter 2008)

2009

the bridge to
mom’s house –
dad speeds up

holiday table
the gravy boat stops
at the empty chair

first impressions
she pencils in
another date

waltzing cross
the esplanade
each step backwards

stuffed
into swing seats
twenty toes touch the clouds

. . . . Simply Haiku (Modern Haiga Section, Summer 2009, vol 7 no 2)

Click to see the original photo haiga: “the bridge to” ; “holiday table” ; “first impressions”
“waltzing across” ; “stuffed“

Christmas Eve
cracking walnuts for his son
and his dad

… The Heron’s Nest XI:1 (Spring 2009)

our long bathtub soak —
a ring around
the moon

… Frogpond 32:1 (Winter 2009)

In 2006, I began to dabble in a number of other “haikai” — haiku-related literary forms. In addition to spending a significant amount of time creating photography-based “modern haiga” (which combine a graphic image with a subtly-linked haiku or senryu), I’ve written a few haibun (short prose with a linked poem), and co-authored one renku and one rengay. Links to the haiga can be found throughout this page. You can see some of the other pieces at the following publications:

• The haibun “Silly Woman” at Contemporary Haibun Online Vol. 3 #3 (September 2007); also selected for the anthology Contemporary Haibun #9 (Red Moon Press 2008)
• “The Unmade Bed,” a rengay by David Giacalone & CarrieAnn Thunell, in Lynx XXII:3 (October 2007
• The three-person, 12-verse (jûnichô) renku titled “Chinese New Year,” by Yu Chang, David Giacalone, and John Stevenson (1st Place in HSA Bernard Lionel Einbond Renku Competition for 2006; announced in Frogpond Vol. XXX:2, June 2007)

Finally, here are poems published in the Haiku Society of America annual Members’ Anthology, which promises to publish one poem out of five submitted by each member.

silently
she lures me to the kitchen
peeled tangerine

– Walking the Same Path (HSA, 2004 Members’ Anthology

big thaw overnight —
reflections
on the river

–loose change: HSA, 2005 Members’ Anthology

the sway
of platinum blondes –
cattails in the snow

– fish in love: HSA, 2006 Members’ Anthology

eyeing
that mosquito —
frog and I

– flower of another country: HSA, 2007 Members’ Anthology [also used in this haiga, which appeared at: MagnaPoets Japanese Form weblog, May 24, 2007]

back from the wake 
his lawn invaded
by dandelion clocks

– title poem, “dandelion clocks: HSA 2008 Members’ Anthology“(Roberta Beary and Ellen Compton, Editors, 2008; cover)

you and me
and a million mosquitoes
calamine sunset

…….  A Travel-Worn Satchel: The Haiku Society of America Members’ Anthology 2009 (Eds. Joseph Kirschner, Lidia Rozmus, and Charles Trumbull; Deep North Press, July 2009); originally used in a haiga for in the 60th WHA Haiga Contest (October 2008).