Fallen Leaves
Haiku Collection
(Part I)
We are thrilled to bring you Part I of a collection of 130 Haiku poems, a creation of 14 friends, a project run by One Kayak. Please visit this page for details about this fun project.
Here is a highlight: about three months ago, Manshu started this small Haiku project, and casually asked about 20 friends. 14 of them eventually joined her. They are all beginners in poetry, and are all non-English-native speakers (except two school children who are considered bilingual). Despite all the challenges and nuances, everyone tried their best to leverage a second language to share day-to-day observations from this small yet big and amazing life, while expressing some of their deepest feelings, ranging from great joy to immense sorrow. Personally, the process of such a collaborative and communal effort has its own power, fun and inspiration. It brought all of them together.
9/14 by SS
Endless summer winds
Winding roses are still pink
Pink hydrangeas pruned
9/17 by MQ
It was a great night
Wake up in drizzle morning
Unbelievable!
9/17 by JL
White big peach in box
Yellow small orange in bag
Bye-bye! Long workday
9/18 by MQ
(from camping site)
The rain gets heavier
Lie down, listen to raindrops
Completely relax
9/18 by YX
Yellow autumn leaves
Leave the dust in emptiness
Empty your worrying mind
9/18 by JL
I see summer breeze
Green leaves, blue sky and white cloud
What comes to my mind
9/18 by JL
An old man came first
A young girl jumped up and down
And many others
9/18 by JL
Why the self not come
Ah, cogito ergo sum
You know what I mean
9/19 by YX
Raining on the lake
Drops run after drops and drops
Grasshopper awaits rainbow
9/19 by SS
Wildfire in northland
Ocean wind toasts maple leaves
Dylan book of lyrics
9/20 by SS
Chairman on a chair
Spinning up keeps spinning fast
Home away from home
9/21 by JL
Two worlds cut by doors
Chilly sluggish me inside
Come, come, said the sun
9/21 by JL
I have what you need
Sunny happy energy
And a cake like moon
9/21 by JL
Your bonus tonight
Enjoy the nature my friend
In the hardest time
9/21 by MQ
It’s full moon tonight
We go for a full moon hike
Beautiful moon-rise
9/21 by SS
6am con-calls
Zooming through the entire day
Mid-fall never falls
9/22 by MQ
Four nights out of home
Camping site with wine tasting
What a pleasant trip
9/22 by SS
Sub-boomers opera
Atlantic tweets Pacific
Yellow nautilus
9/22 by JL
Mornings come and go
Evenings come and never leave
I am evening
9/23 by CL
Baby crying much
Sucking milk in mother’s arms
Both smiling again
9/24 by AX
My boy doesn’t wake up
It’s already time for his school
Alarm keeps ringing
9/21 by CZ
Sunshine on table
Such a wonderful morning
With the ones you love
9/24 by JZ
Moonlight shatters me
As torrential memories
Permeate my heart
9/21 by YX
(Haircut by my hubby)
New style with short hair
His stress from mediocrity
Mine is the grey hair
9/24 by YX
Cellular shuts down
Quietness is my luxury
Inner-outer peace
9/24 by SS
Sunrise on Hudson
Boys and girls boogie all night
The sound of ashes
9/24 by CL
Good morning coffee
Keeps me going every day
Wind or sun or rain
9/24 by JL
Virtual remote
distance you further away
I miss you so much
9/24 by MP
Kitchen windowsill
Tomatoes turn red yellow
Colors of the life
9/25 by MP
Toothaches all night long
Where does the problem belong
Night will soon be gone
9/25 by MQ
Back from camping trip
Face my fumigated house
So much work to do
9/25 by SS
Tip-toe with mask on
Crimson fever inside out
Until autumn falls
9/25 by AX
Wind starting to blow
Gopher hiding in the hole
Leaves keep falling down
9/26 by SS
Hide behind the drapes
Two calico cats inside, stare at
The black one outside
9/26 by GY
Oh, the orange light
The air is thick and smoky
It scares me daily
9/26 by MQ
Drove to testing site
Thought it’s drive-through COVID test
How come the set changed?
9/26 by XW
This is a nice day
I went outside for a walk
It’s full of sunshine
9/26 by YX
Coffee grinder comes
My new toy for addiction
Tea still No.1 choice
9/26 by CL
Ants on the table
Don’t know danger approaching
Run for your life, run!
9/27 by MQ
Fall breeze refreshing
Calligraphy practicing
My strings still waiting
9/27 by SS
Sunset through glass door
Breaks porcelain at its core
Kaleidoscope
9/27 by ZZ
In the autumn night
Shadows of deer and baby
Impression of moon
9/27 by XW
Autumn is coming
Leaves turned into colors
The air gets so crisp
9/28 by MQ
Someone in the dark shadows
whispered to me “They are all over the place...”
Scared me a bit - here comes a deer!
9/29 by CL
(Financial Times)
Black words on pink sheets
Sheets fluttering with the wind
Wind takes thoughts away
9/28 by SS
Winter at doorstep
The squirrels collect acorns
Shout “Yo La Tengo”
9/28 by YX
Breeze through silver birch
Small town of gold ginkgo leaves
Full of city crowd
9/28 by JL
Silent the meeting
Turn off shining monitors
Gimme back my life
9/28 by XW
Books on my shelf
A way to look at the world
Reading enlightens
9/29 by XW
Wind, rain and lightning
A small ship sails on the sea
Oh, how dangerous!
9/29 by CL
(Eye Checkup)
In the hospital
Staring at the lines and dots
Are my eyes ok?
9/30 by SS
Freeze some ice cubes and
Run! Lock the sadness into
sub-zero darkness
10/1 by XW
This is a small park
Neighbors all come here and play
Busy and crowded
10/1 by CL
(Grieving)
Sitting by the porch
Woman in black gown mumbles
Sayonara
10/2 by SS
Hydrangeas being trimmed
Endless speechless summer wind
Autumn sinks in ink
10/2 by XW
The clouds are heavy
and grey, it’s raining all day
At home, have to stay
10/2 by XW
Learning has much fun
It gives me new perspectives
I enjoy myself
10/3 by JL
Even worm knows to
Live a full life while it can
“Ghost won’t do after”
10/4 by XW
Good friends seldom meet
When will the restrictions end?
Blame the pandemic
10/3 by MQ
Life almost halfway
Upfront still a long journey
Look forward to it
10/3 by YX
Chasing in the wind
Flying with the dandelion
Seeds of hope awaits
10/4 by MQ
No time today for
my dear books, who mourn on shelf
I apologize!
10/6 by SS
Lie down on the floor
Listen - the knocks at the door
Let it come and go
10/6 by CL
(Squid Game)
So fake yet so real
456 flighting for life
Humanity rules
10/7 by XW
Oh my dear daughter
A wonderful day in life
Happy birthday