February 16, 2026

HAIKU FIVE SEVEN FIVE

HAIKU (5) Three People Smiling

You didn’t believe- His obvious deception- The proof was your smile

Your smile said enough- Easy tears had all fallen- Tracks, faint scars, remained

I thought you might crack- Most things broken stay broken- He shouldn’t have lied

My friend looked at me- As if I might just save him- I gave him your smile

He didn’t believe- My obvious deception- The proof was his smile

HAIKU (7) Invulnerable

Goodbye and goodbye- Why’d you ask me that question- You knew I would lie

A beautiful cat- On the side of the highway- I could pull over

You know this is true- Your heart is breaking your heart- And yet you persist

You’re not so fragile- Your tears held for the moment- When they won’t be seen

You just had to know- If we’re equally damaged- I’ve bounced and I’ve rolled

I try not to panic- We both smile through disaster- I’m panicked inside

You knew I’d return- You were out in the driveway- I brought you a cat

HAIKU (5) While We Can

Cold intuition- All your skills at perception-Deciphered my soul

Perhaps it’s not hard- I’m transparent, like water- Flowing clean through rocks

Cannot run faster- The horizon’s not moving- We feel every step

We hold tight to life- Life has weakened our fingers- Worn down our resolve

Cold meditation- Memory struggles with hope- We move while we can

Because You Know

If love is a spell- If we’re caught in love’s shadow- Don’t wake me up yet   

                  THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FLYING AND FALLING is the difference between landing and crashing. You cannot fall up, even in dreams, even in those dreams in which, as if you are wind, you soar to the boundaries of heaven, gliding and swooping, your view of the world from the divine perspective, flattened mountains and patchwork plains, shining cities and glistening water, distant and beautiful.

Or… or, or or you see rocks and concrete, the dark ground coming up to you, too quickly, and the easy breaths are gone, held, ready for a last scream before you wake up or parish.

You might as well look up.