The Kyoto garden

frogs, still on lilies
robins wheel, flit overhead
life's range of motion

solace 1.0

cool evening clouds, dusk
summer's heat in brief retreat
drowsy leaves, relieved

Such a summer's day

low clouds trap the heat
the sultry earth's oven bakes
leaving all inflamed

green leaves cup the rain
earth's open palms, reaching up
blessing grateful earth

gusty winds pluck leaves
unsettling the once-settled
our sure, random lives

rattling window frames
the tics of wood's fragile barrier
life's shell, tender strength

a summer's light rain
fine drops on skin turn to mist
clearing skies chase clouds

Photo via Edal Anton Lefterov (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0]

redblue

poverty poisoned
isolation by sirens
futureless children

dawn, displacing the dark

the earth wakes, sunlit
fresh bird song mirrors the pulse
dark shards of night fade

autumn massacre

green artery; life
pulsing through graveyard of leaves
trees shed for new birth

Autumn

Deep breath, eyes closing
The sweet smell of dying leaves
Autumn, my dear friend

beginning of the end

autumn leaves tumble
life crumbling beneath our feet
turning to ashes.

fall leaves

once verdant, now brown
fallen leaves blanket the trees
carpet of stilled life

 

fall leaves

autumn leaves cover
the hidden castle reveals
a sight to behold

fall leaves

the heart of colour
the feel of leaves underneath
magical journeys

Smile

Sparks enkindle flames,
Just as your beauteous smile
Lights my amour for you

hard stone wears with age
transforms from pebble to sand
shifts shape to new use

thin clouds bring coolness
veiled visor softens the eye
in shade, clarity

the breezy trees rustle

soft scratch of the poet's pen

whispers, to be heard

a red sky at dusk
light leaves a burning farewell
embers age, then sleep

the dawn's grey coastline
such ebb and flow of young waves
our orb's lasting rhythm

a raked zen garden
at peace, stone patterns blossom
simple clarity grows

pillar of strength

announcing life force
the whisper of a tree trunk
how stable and strong

tranquility

a flower's petals

the perfection of order

my mind seeks the peace

crumbling starts

dying leaves crumble
the ever-changing season
a fresh start awaits

mother nature

set alight the sun
morning rays break winter's cold
warm touch of nature

a dappling sun winks
playing with shy leaves in spring
life's light shimmers, free

@JvR, 10 Nov. 2015

table mountain

one mountain, one view -
eternal cycle of days
never quite the same.

a soft twilight

low clouds at sunset
herald of an evening hush
a cool quiet settles

thoughtless daze

capacious mind; clear -
stranded in a misty thought,
sweet melancholy.

Before the thunderstorm

an oppressive heat
the stifled world's lung burns, tight
waiting to exhale

Nature's reign of life,

Raining tears of the angels 

Mesmerising  love

Nervous

bristling hair glitters;
the upright motion of nerves
reveals all to see.

Propaganda

Manipulation,
the amenable prey falls -
Oh, Society!

Propitious

You, propitious
offering the happiness
of dewy mornings

Who's reading us this month?

Yes, our haiku are internationally scoped, huzzah!
[In your face, u/19A rugby squad...!]

Leaves changing colour
Obstacles of life, brightening
Goals can be achieved

Equal reactions

Guilt as punishment.
As rain disturbs still water,
actions are returned.

Soul as cold as stone
Frozen battlefield inside
My war reached its end

On the occasion of a most tempestuous Sunday

sudden storms buffet,
we, tall trees, reel and stagger -
souls, seeking stillness.

global warming

a paved paradise -
evidence of existence,
a smoke filled future.

dawn

a sunrise; morning -
elixir of life, sunshine:
blazing energy.

alienation

a small seed growing,
between millions; unsought -
insignificant.

for Adcock, a haiku tutorial

dawn's distant bird song -
a young sun's blush, naive cheek;
she mends breaking days.

spring

the spring breeze is cool -
soft caress of unseen touch;
your eyes feed the soul.

Thus our love dies.

We floated too high
Plunging over seas of death
And now, our love dies

no boundaries

blank space; colourless -
powerful creativeness:
filling white pages.

Illustrated haiku by Jeandré Cordier

Illustrated haiku by Jeandré Cordier

heat

dawning summer's heat --

the globe simmers in shimmer,

life's passion unfolds.

from within

a few, to many;
soft sixth sense spoken loudly -
listen: flowing words.

The home stretch

nearing journey's end;
our fortitude, undaunted -
the triumph awaits

careless

precious life; given -
one chance, taken for granted:
dangerous living.

hydration

dew to steam to rain --
water permeates the all;
slakes the thirst of dust

haiku by Elzet Mostert and Mr Mönnig

distant streams beckon

crystal-clear water, flowing

troubles washed away

masquerade

we all run from truths -
hiding in shades of shadow,
lost for a moment.

Haiku infographic

Need a haiku refresher?
[Or maybe you've never known what haiku are about?]

Well, Jeandré Cordier has located this excellent infographic. Enjoy!

for a friend

darkness twirls inside,
a soul deep; lost in evil -
each one shall be saved.

drug of life

high on oxygen -
blood through veins; a breath taken,
involuntary.

internal search

young heart wandering,
searching answers: time frozen -
lost in the madness.

silver lining

bloom of a flower,
colours intertwine: beauty -
silver-lined cloud found.

glory after death

hidden talent found,
only to be frowned upon;
glorified by death.

revolution

experiment; life,

start of a rebellion -

strong minded boredom.

Boundless

transcend the limits,

the potential for greatness

- we are infinite

our dark souls

two bodies; one mind,
souls linked by insanity -
force against the world.

Womb

distant sunlit seas,

shimmers of new life beckon;

tides give, take - and spawn.

http://www.voyagesdestination.com

"First name is Free, last name is Dom"

the rustling papers,
Light at the tunnel's end -
approaching freedom

dreaded anxiety

The darkness seeps in -
malicious absence of light,
how I dread this place.

Down this road before, 
Got lost beneath the skylight 
Searching for answers... 

Lightning struck her heart 

Awakened by dreadful past;

And her silent scream. 

Spring, sprung

news of distant storms,
herald of the seasons' change:
we, life, rise from sleep.

Lies of humankind;

To comfort a young girl's dreams,

While tussled by life 

Life, passing

in the distance, leaves --
the lonely wind seeks kinship;
a rustling sadness.

Haiku by Riaan van Zyl [2015]

Haiku by Riaan van Zyl [2015]

As autumn leaves fall
So does my last breath come forth
My eyes close, light comes

Haiku by Chris-Mari Lombaard

Haiku by Chris-Mari Lombaard

Aerial streams flow
Carressing the bare landscape
Soft, as his lost touch

Haiku by Peyton Wessels

Shaken leaves, the wind – 
Is this how we say goodbye
Breaking and falling

Haiku by Peyton Wessels

The trees, they change so
As the four seasons go by
So do you, my love 

Haiku by Peyton Wessels

The moon is my light
Walking down this dark pathway
How did this happen?

Transition

late afternoon sun:
day's end, lazy shadows bask,
inviting shy dusk.

Long search

I traced galaxies
Until the horizons met;
All led back to you.

Stasis

sunlit stone garden:
only pebble shadows grow,
fleeting permanence.

Frail existence

yellow, orange, white
roses pursuing sunlight;
blooming fragile life

Malicious delicious

our dry, croaking throats --
once a symphony of sounds;
now, screaming malice.

Shades of Truth

doubt the rising sun,
proven wrong by light of day -
then the moon takes lead.

In the process

wet loops of ink dry,
embedding thoughts on paper:
wit becomes wisdom.

Photosynthesis

unfolding flower,

seeking sunlight; energise -
receive beauty: give.

Irony

waves crash against sand;

creatures from within escape,

only to face death.

Our wonder

Forgotten countries

The seed to untold mysteries

And our wanderlust

When the heavens called

Winds blew her star dust away 

For she shines no more 

Seasonal affective order

Spring sun brings the thaw
Dawn's thin skies, robust at dusk
In blooms, blush of health.

Slowly spiralling down
Hydrating the dry cracked earth
a gift of new life

Boredom: enfold me
in merciless iron claws
Strangle me with grey

Timeless suspension

a waning sun sinks,
dusk drawing near, slowing cool:
the fine rain hangs still.

Hidden

raindrops fall; go hide -
watch the clouds cry, from inside:
hidden from the world.

The dove cries sadly
to the pale, white moon - his plea
unheard, unanswered

Freedom

birds wing high overhead
we extend and point, enthralled
our shadows take flight

Meditation

faint sun casts soft pools
her head, bent in pensive shade
the inner eye dreams

Perseverance

the glimmering lights,
like our futile ambition --
just wanting to shine

Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis.
But mutations do arise,
struggling to conform.

Novice

splattering colours, 

the morning brings new promise --

like blooming flowers.

Viridity

soft drizzle; moist earth.
verdure beneath sombre sky.
the fresh, crisp air - breathe...

Reflections

sheen on a wet road,
mirror flashes passing life --
as ours: tenuous

Ephemeral

shadow of bird's wing
living eyelash flits on ground:
fleeting life blinks; gone.

Unmelodious tumult

the clangorous bus
disturbs morning solitude
-  a discordant dawn

Nature in sympathy

a thin and weak sun,
the distant heat's cautious reach:
old friendship, new love.

Home town

with eyes like cities;

skyscrapers reaching for dreams.

civil wars deface

Rhythmic heart

She's fading away
Like the last chord of a song
Beautifully sad

Oxymoron

once life starts: order,
distinct signs of existence -
pandemonium.

Silence

The wind blew through her - 

because the words never could 

Remaining silent.

Inner eye

wisps of distant clouds,
chill curtains drawing closer:
veils of sleep draw down.

Untroubled waters

a cool night's gentle rain,
dousing days' heated passions,
she soothes fever's brow.

Mirrors

moon's long beam ripples;

still ocean reflects deep light --

your eye's yearning look. 

Emotionless

Frozen emotions
Showing no pain or anger,
My best foot in front

undisputed happiness

butterflies dancing,
adventure just beginning--
celebrating life

signs of grace

colourless skies pale,
birds bright in plant paradise:
small symbols of love.

Thaw

low clouds trap the cold;
lonely eyes seek clarity.
spring's light beams warm life.

Too busy to care.

tweeting birds scatter,
always heading somewhere far--
too busy to care

Options

the restless eye peers
empty horizons invite;
open palms of hope.

goodbye happiness

Blue skies turning dark
The light has been swept away
Pain is upon us

Howling wolf

Like a howling wolf,
Seeking honesty and trust
Will he find answers?

Fixed

Sun, uplifting souls
The healing process ending
Soft, broken hearts, fixed

Dappled forest

the weak winter sun
shadows cast on shiv'ring trees
rough bark, their thin skin.

Vidi

The night shines vivid
and my soul dims with sorrow -
one's grudging pardon

Fearless

thunder drowns earth's noise;
creatures hide from flashing lights-
proceed life bravely.

Tenacity

whirling winter winds,
bending all to freezing whim:
we - hardy bamboo.

Nagasawa Rosetsu (Japanese, 1754-1799). Puppies and Bamboo in Moonlight

Time

Winter passing by,
Time drifts away to the past
Memories are made

Wounds

A light gust of wind,
Reveals the deepest secrets
Wounds are re-opened

Darkness

Rainbows full of joy
After a terrible storm
Will darkness return?

Origami

paper folds, a crane.
thin sheet of elegant flight -
sheer, clean: the mind, zen.

Me, trying to make friends

Poison honeycomb 
Has now left me hollowed-out
Friend, enemy, unknown.

Innocence

Lone rose, still so fresh
Refusing the new summer's death
Pink, as a young skin

Stone, quenched

the morning dew rests,
small bodies of liquid life;
so we feed the earth.

Exhaustion

the weary clouds tire;
reflecting grey from beneath--
releasing sorrows.

Life cycle

flicker of dawn's pulse,
exhaled breath steams; droplets form --
we slake the earth's thirst.

Melancholy

hopeless skies- fog filled,
clouds cry, empty, mending soil-
wounds heal yet scars last.

Beginnings

colour emerges from death,
emotions adapt, nature turns-
simple change aids life.

My first haiku

Distraction

Grey skies - distraction
Lost in a cyclone of thoughts
Nothing clear - just clouds

Horizon

the winter rain falls,
a haze envelops the mind,
in cold, clarity.

Elimination

rose petals tumble,
dirt intrudes; darkness progress,
erasing all beauty. 

Synapses

Like crackling lightning--
our desperation blinds us,
feeding fatal flames.

Weight, not mass

pebble in the palm
flesh holding eternity --
change yearns for stone's heft.

Entropy

bone moves under skin,
flush cheek, bright eyes decry death;
life's autumn, delayed.

fall, the rise

cherry blossom falls,
a soft veil of passing life:
welcoming the new.

epiphany

a mantis, praying.
green hands lift up, to redeem
our souls' state, fragile

Spring

winter's end, earth wakes;
new green fingers reach for sky --
grasps life from heaven.

sunrays tear through clouds

sunrays tear through clouds;
happiness tears through darkness,
but bliss will shatter.

None to serve

oh, the forests fall,
your wish shall be my command!
None worthy to serve.

First Haiku

Trees cover the land
And rain falls slowly because:
The sky loves the earth

Haiku info...

Newbies may find this article on haiku interesting and enlightening:

https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Haiku

Bashō FTW!

Cycles

one leaf falls, then all.
the slumb'ring earth sheds its skin:
fresh death feeds old life.

In the cold of early morning, steaming breath reaches out for new life

winter morn, breath's ghost --
we exhale our souls: sky's kiss;
chill gasp for life's heat.

not with a fizzle but a bang

as storms prevail,
ending  with a single state:
orderly chaos.

lost and found

sunsets bring wonder;
still hoping for a new dawn;
confused minds are found.

Surroundings bathed in a weak morning sun...

thin breeze: leaves scatter;
random swirl of fallen life:
we seek direction.

Monday morning

soft soaks the grey rain;
union, binding sky and earth --
nature blankets all.

Haiku in praise of this Friday

a still morning fog
faint, cool caress on my cheek --
her eyes envelop.

Haiku House Rules

Oh, those haiku ground rules:

> Original stuff only! [Plagiarism is a 4-letter word. Word.]

> Good stuff only [enough with the hipster-breakup haiku, already]

> Follow the haiku rules [3 lines; 17 syllables; 5 in line 1, 7 in line 2, 5 in line 3. Don't just randomly chop off lines to suit the numbers. Start, ideally, with a natural image. Say something deep about life or people.]

> Give dem feels.

Haiku 1

Haiku 1

the crisp night's cold creaks,
stiff pain, the earth's arthritis --
seeking dawn's warm glow.

-- Hein Mönnig, 11 June 2015

Welcome

Welcome to Jan van Riebeeck High School's Alternative Haiku Society, our in-house platform for semi-free-form creative expression.

Founded 11 June 2015 by Mr Hein Mönnig and learners Kimberley Hing and Reinhardt Voges, JvRAHS is aimed at providing an outlet for our free-thinking types -- those who wish to commit haiku outside of the traditional constraints of smothering budgets, melting crayons on summer afternoons, and the loud clashing of paisley cravats worn with khaki cargo shorts.

Here you will read haiku the likes of which you have not read before. Strap on your syllable-counter, and prepare to scan...

Hein Mönnig
HSJvR English Department

PS: Email me at heinmg@gmail.com for your invitation...