The Long Road

The Long Road

Cut clearly,
it beckoned and stretched,
and I took it.

In the beginning,
there were guides,
holding my hand.

Alone, I walked further,
watching figures disappear
ahead of me.

Catching up --
Ah! Impossible!
The way overgrown.

Under my feet,
the path disappeared;
progress halted.

Shadows and stones,
obstacles abound;
exhaustion rules.

This spot is good ~
why not stay?
Resting.

Looking back,
the hard road,
reveals progress.

Looking forward,
though not clear,
the road calls me on.

First step tentative,
like a baby,
I start again.

© ACG
03 January 2007

"Wish" haiku

Wish

blowing through windows
soft air belies crashing sea
starlight wish answered

© ACG
26 December 2006

Silent Night

Silent Night

outside in the cold
winds twisting through bare branches
on a Christmas Eve
happy whispering wishes
silent anticipation

© ACG
17 December 2006

Christmas Memories

Christmas Memories

Baba’s homemade cookies,
old Macedonian recipes,
arriving in the mail ~
some crumbled and broken,
still melting in my mouth
deliciously different;

Mysterious packages
hidden among my mother’s shoes ~
peeking warded off by
black and white Spectator pumps
guarding silently,
sentinels of surprise;

My Dad’s monsters,
perfectly painted models,
stand under the tree ~
our Three Wise Men,
Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Wolfman
protect my tiny Red Dress Girl;

Jimmy and Philip shouting,
my sister counting gifts,
our four stockings bulge ~
Mommy made each one
exactly the same,
yet always we know our own;

First, Gene Autry sings “Rudolph,”
then Jerry Vale’s soaring voice,
as wrapping paper scatters ~
“Blue Christmas” from Elvis,
we muse over our treasures,
happy children, basking in Love.

© ACG
11 December 2006
for my parents

"Winter Storm" haiku

Winter Storm

rattling our bones
blowing screaming sleet and snow
Old Man Winter grins

© ACG
07 December 2006

Grieving (tanka)

Grieving

dampness penetrates
bone-chilling winds pierce the soul
brown leaves fall to mold
heavy darkness lingering
tears falling on a fresh grave

© ACG
29 September 2006

Old Friends

Old Friends

ever-present rays
shining warmly across time
ne'er dimmed though storms blow
battering senselessly harsh
an old lighthouse looms firmly

© ACG
24 November 2006

Sleep (haiku)

Sleep

easing into sleep

"perchance to dream" peacefully

the nightmares begin

© ACG

22 November 2006

Transition (tanka)

Transition

pumpkin pies cooling
dry leaves rustle underfoot
harvest moon shines on
first glinting of wet snowflakes
sneaky deceptive beauty

© ACG
05 November 2006

Wind (haiku)

Wind

rattling windows
howling around and about
dry leaves' last journey

© ACG
05 November 2006

Winter

The Winds of Winter

The Winds of Winter
blow coldly past;
landscape changes,
colors revealing
silent sleep like death.

The Winds of Winter
blow coldly through;
breath frosting,
piercing layered
thermal and goosedown.

The Winds of Winter
blow coldly in;
freezing the heart,
hopeless dreariness
stills a sanguine soul.

The Winds of Winter
blow coldly on;
yet a single Star shines,
diamond snow at night
illumines.

© ACG
05 November 2006

Dreams

Dreams

blowing coldly on
night-time restless howling winds
relentless darkness
across a fearful landscape
one heartbeat haunting my dreams

© ACG
15 October 2006

School (tanka)

School

blistering boredom
history's names and dates drone
children's slack faces
by chance one child’s mind ignites
dying words: “I'm still learning”

© ACG
06 October 2006

Mirrors

Mirrors

Ancient Prophetress,

what see you

as you gaze pensive

into the scrying bowl?

Sacred water

reflecting portent images,

swirling time and distance;

"Beware!" she cries,

as if struck back,

her prophecy severe.

Four thousand years

pass in a heartbeat;

pensive visage

stares back sadly;

A broken soul

reflecting incident images,

swirling time and distance;

"At last!" she cries

from ages past,

her prophecy complete.

© ACG

30 September 2006

Tornado (haiku)

Tornado

whirling righteous wrath
nature’s blasphemous sermon
brutal baptism

© ACG
30 September 2006

Birth (tanka)

Birth

pregnant air crackles
crashing thunderclouds signal
the promise of rain
when thirsty fields await
baby’s face revealed at last

© ACG
24 September 2006

Moonstruck Moment

Moonstruck Moment

still forests filter

a silent dance of shadows

one wolf's serenade

© ACG

22 September 2006

September's Garden

September's Garden

Golden days breezing,
filtered sunlight streaming through the trees;
the Wind scurries past
like Alice's White Rabbit ~
Late, so late, for a very important date ~

Leaves, browned and tired,
drift down executing their last dance;
Summer's flowers beg,
like last year's sad debutants ~
Pick me, pick me, I am still young, and lovely ~

Through my old garden
I rake, poking about here and there;
crisp'd air, an omen,
Winter's yearly Messenger ~
Hark ye, hark, Persephone abideth below ~

Whence my loveliness?
Shall my dance breathe out frosted, aching;
old bone, joints, muscles,
like Spring's forlorn memory?
Forget not, forget me not, my Entity endures, strong and true.

© ACG
17 September 2006
~ for my father

Then, and Now (haiku)

Then, and Now

like clouds billowing

obscuring blue New York skies

a haunted skyline

© ACG

11 September 2006

Castle's Queen

Castle's Queen

The Castle's light
Shone in the night,
A single boat
Cross Castle's moat,
Carries a Lady Fair;

The Castle's King
Stood e'er serene,
From Castle's wall
O'erlooking all,
His gaze on Lady Fair;

The Castle's host
With pleasure most,
Celebrating,
Hail Castle's Queen!
With Love for Lady Fair.

© ACG
06 September 2006