Discovering America

In the adult world, feelings of patriotism can be complex but in kindergarten half a century ago such feelings were simple and spontaneous. One day, as the teacher led the class in singing “America,” it occurred to me like a revelation that the United States was my country, too — that even though I was little, I had a personal right to be here and that no one, not even a bully, could take that away from me. I felt a swelling in my chest — I literally puffed up with pride — as I sang along, my voice growing stronger with each note.

In a slightly embarrassing postscript to my epiphany, the teacher asked me to not sing so loudly in the future. She didn’t perceive that I had just undergone a subtle life-changing experience — that I had made my first discovery of what it means, in part, to be a citizen.

rattle of muskets
and peals of victory
echoing in my ears

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Published in Haibun Today: A Haibun and Tanka-Prose Journal (http://haibuntoday.com/ht94/H_Waters_Discovering.html), 11/28/15.

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Remorse

New “found poetry” at Bill Waters ~~ NOT Haiku: another remix created from first lines of Emily Dickinson’s poetry. Her poems are a deep, deep well of found-verse material!

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Breathing November

scuffing through

fallen leaves

breathing November

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Bam!

The mourning dove slammed into the glass patio door hard enough to leave a ghostly imprint of its body and wings. Those birds may act the buffoon strutting around the bird feeder, but they’re tough as an old army boot! This one shook the impact right off and flew away while I stared in amazement.

who has the
nine lives now?
cats in the window

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Published in Prune Juice #17, page 98 (https://prunejuice.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/prune-juice-nov-15-rev-4.pdf), 11/8/15.

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How much time?

it ticks by

in the sound

of the oxygen machine . . .

how much time

remains?

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Published in the fall 2015 edition of Ribbons, the journal of the Tanka Society of America.

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Morning haiku

leaves and rain

fall together

this dim autumn morning

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Published in Brass Bell: A Haiku Journal (http://brassbellhaiku.blogspot.com/2015/11/morning-haiku.html), 11/1/15.

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