January 8: The idea of disorder at Key West

Many well-known literary figures lived in or visited Key West, including the poet Wallace Stevens, who wrote a poem titled "The Idea of Order at Key West" that explores, as many of his poems do, the conflict between reality and perception.

 

Over the bar noise

crows of the junglecock

roosting in the banyan.

 

 

 

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January 7: On the bay

We went fishing today on Florida Bay, heading out from Islamorada and ending up in a channel just off Flamingo in the Everglades. The morning began with fog and chop, but within a few hours the water was smooth and clear, enabling us to see how shallow it was. The flats teemed with birds, from sandpipers and egrets to pelicans and the deliciously hot pink Roseate Spoonbills.

 

Tropical mirage:

fishing in a glassy sea,

pink birds flying past.

 

 

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January 6: On the other end of Route One

Traveling in the Floriday Keys, checking out the range of tourist attractions at the opposite end of Route One from Maine.

 

Mangroves, marinas,

shell shacks, tackle shops, dive shops,

sea a different blue.

 

 

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January 5: In the airport

This is what forever feels like:

full sun streaming in,

plane delayed yet again.

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January 4: What we make of it

Some relief from cold:
a man's warm handshake,
painting of a polar bear.

January 3: Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None"

Cozy winter evening,
murder mystery on...
life's strange comforts.

January 2: Post-holiday

Crusty snow, leftovers--

no longer auspicious

the world relaxes.

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January 1, 2016: Featuring "guest writer" Buson

The 18th century Japanese poet Buson was one of the "Three Tenors" of classical haiku (along with Basho and Issa). His New Year's poem here, translated by Sam Hamill, highlights his sense of humor. It also seemed a fun way to kick off a new year of my daily haiku blog, because I can so relate to that smug sense of self-satisfaction.

 

New Year's first poem

written, now self-satisfied,

O haiku poet!

 

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