Haiku By Fred Masarani

2009-07-05T18:41:00.001-07:00

#fireworks

July Fourth fireworks---
he tells me they got
bigger ones in China

#sunset

Fourth of July sunset---
streaks of red and orange
the fireworks follow

#trust

beautiful weather
on July Fourth---
in God we trust

#Fourth

July Fourth---
Iranian protesters say
they were tortured

#blue

blue sky---
I buy dandruff
shampoo

#resigned

Sarah Palin resigned---
to do
what

#blue

blue sky---
a fisherman's bucket
is still empty

#lighthouse

late night on the beach---
the only light on
is that of the lighthouse

#ocean

a beach downpour---
they come out of the ocean
into a shower

#beach

on the beach---
a man tells me
go fly a kite

#haze

Summer haze---
the bikinis are skimpier
than usual

#night

Summer moonless night---
in the light of fireflies
we kiss

#clouds

Summer day clouds---
so what
if they will rain

#water

hot day---
a beggar asks for money
to buy a bottle of water

#blue

blue sky---
but for a crowd
of Summer kites

2009-06-28T19:34:00.001-07:00

#River

East River choppy waves---
I wait for her
to tie her hair

#fair

Summer street fair---
a sign says
beware of kids

#sunset

Summer sunset---
clouds as blue as the mountains
of an iced Coors can

#blue

blue sky---
I step
on dog shit

#stop

June evening thunder storm---
my neighbors stop
shouting

#dead

Sinatra sings on my ipod---
a man yells
Michael Jackson is dead

#now

Iran's green revolution---
where would it be now
without women

#sunset

clouds at sunset---
I see a mountain range
with fire beneath it

#door

steamy June---
a Chinese take-out
keeps its door open

#River

East River Summer---
workers give a tree
a trim

#tan

late June crowded subway---
but no one has
a sun tan

#shot

dictators don't
discriminate---
a woman is shot in Iran

#clouds

June afternoon---
the same dark clouds
I pour more Cabernet

#cold

Summer morning---
it's too cold
to wear shorts

2009-06-21T16:23:00.001-07:00

#fight

at the gym---
I watch a woman
learn how to fight

#day

first day of Summer---
a son buys his father
flowers

#night

Saturday night rain---
a couple eye the lobsters
in a water tank

#River

East River dark clouds---
a little girl paints the sidewalk
pink with chalk

#sunset

June sunset---
when we wake up
how many died in Iran?

#lunch

lunch hour---
a long line of women
at the ice cream cart

#rain

rain---
mist
fog

#Park

Madison Square Park---
a folk singer sings
about no liquidity

#cooler

Upper East Side---
their graffiti
is cooler

#blue

finally blue sky---
but still
no peace of mind

#River

June East River---
girls versus boys rope pull
the girls win

#ants

June morning---
a line of ants
at the subway entrance

#mosquito

I go out
in search of a haiku---
a mosquito bites me

#dawn

dawn---
an old neighbor
unable to recall my name

2009-06-14T17:10:00.001-07:00

#print

the New York Times is
now on Twitter---
all the short words fit to print

#cat

morning stillness---
the cat refuses to come
when I whistle

#night

June Saturday night---
a priest stops
to buy flowers

#loaf

partially blue sky---
a half loaf is less filling
than a whole

#sunset

after days of fog
the sky clears at sunset---
she buys the champaign

#neck

on a street bench
a couple neck in the fog---
censored

#write

June evening---
the fog has left nothing
uncovered to write about

#fog

morning fog---
she wears sunglasses
in the subway

#open

New York---
opposite a church a mosque
both have their doors open

#fog

morning fog---
a garbage truck
makes no noise

#water

overcast skies at sunset---
I water
the lilacs

#storm

Summer night thunder
and lightening storm---
but no one here to hug

#River

June East River---
a discarded condom
on new grass

#wears

June overcast skies---
she wears
a see through blouse

2009-06-07T18:19:00.001-07:00

#lunch

Sunday street park---
wearing a burka she eats lunch
with her man

#horse

the name of the horse
who won the Belmont---
Summer Bird

#Park

Central Park aft days of rain---
healthy grass
pale crowd

#haze

morning haze---
a circus acrobat
disappears

#day

June rainy day---
the park ball field
is full of mud

#fog

morning fog---
too much steamed milk
in my espresso

#speaks

Obama speaks to Muslims---
a native American
listens

#water

a June downpour takes a break---
I go out to buy
more water

#fog

dense fog---
a blind man crosses
the street alone

#seen

almost Summer---
I come across daffodils
more than Wordsworth ever seen

#open

the recession---
more nude entertainment bars
open

#horse

GM is bankrupt---
I pat a carriage horse
in Central Park

#River

June East River rapids---
schoolgirls learn
to play rugby

#blue

blue sky---
my GPS
stops working

2009-05-31T14:45:00.001-07:00

#traffic

New York bans cars
in Times Square---
the streetwalkers are unhappy

#River

Hudson River cool breeze---
so many men
go topless

#moon

moon above the skyline---
and all I got
is a half pita bread loaf

#blue

blue sky---
a fish monger opens clams
a May lone cloud

#pizza

pizza for dinner---
it's been long time
since I've seen the moon

#fog

morning fog---
the cat ignores
the neighbors' husky

#River

East River---sparrows drink
from a street puddle
May mist

#fog

morning fog---
I visit my friend
the fortuneteller

#bride

the sun behind a thin cloud---
the groom unveils his bride
late May

#rat

morning haze---
a rat stares back
at me

#garden

late night---
she shows me her garden
I taste her tomatoes

#blue

blue sky---
as if last night fireworks
never happened

#River

East River---
the sun shines
Memorial Day

#battle

kids fight a gun battle
in the swimming pool---
Memorial Day

2009-05-24T18:14:00.001-07:00

#fly

late May---
a fly lands on
a poem by Isa

#fog

Saturday morning fog---
a boy wears his uniform
to go to school

#bird

whistles as she passes---
a bird
flies away

#blue

blue sky---
but not enough
sunspots

#River

East River rapids---
I run my fingers
through her white hair

#nothing

ozone level too high---
a woman wears nothing
under her skirt

#sunset

sunset---
a women softball game
ends in lots of hugs

#cool

bared bodies watching weather
starts---
I keep my cool

#sunset

sunset---
the sound of people singing
as I pass a church

#stands

late May---
a butterfly stands outside
my closed window

#River

East River stills waters---
I toss a rock in them
clear skies

#blue

blue sky---
a monk
looks up

#pigeon

a street park---
I watch a pigeon
try to earn daily bread

#sunset

sunset---
May clouds cracked enough
to see purple and red

2009-05-17T17:25:00.000-07:00

#swaps

first time in a casino----
he asks if they have
credit default swaps

#bride

overcast May---
the bride wears
a yellow gown

#River

East River Saturday
clouds clear---
she smiles

#cat

morning blanket fog---
the cat wants
to go out

#River

East River green waters---
a friend gives me a sip
of his absinthe

#haze

morning haze---
I receive an ad
for a cemetery

#dense

afternoon dense fog---
the barmaid gives me
another for the road

#fog

morning fog---
more talk about more
pictures of detainees' torture

#River

East River nice day---
a gust of wind blows
trash in my face

#blue

blue sky---
she walks around the house
topless

#sunset

sunset---
I step on
dog shit

#fastest

morning commute---
the bicycle lane
is the fastest

#eat

a grocery store---
finding out what two priests
like to eat

#dogs

asphalt park---
the squirrels are not afraid
of dogs

2009-05-10T17:49:00.001-07:00

#flowers

on side streets
kids carry flowers---
Mother's Day

#blue

blue sky---
a sale on kitchen ware
for Mother's Day

#may

finally the sun came out---
how May can be
may be

#fog

morning fog---
my voyeur neighbor
loses his hard-on

#River

East River warm Spring day---
an old dog pisses
on new grass

#friend

blue sky---
a rare friend
comes home

#sunset

after a stormy day---
sunset
she's done putting on makeup

#women

the sound of women
whispering---
moonless night

#River

East River low clouds---
the Chrysler Building needle
pricks

#orange

still no sunshine---
I eat
an orange

#clothes

the emperor has no clothes---
the swine flu is just
another flu

#parrot

gloomy Spring day---
a parrot keeps saying
smile honey

#petals

cold rainy day---
Cherry blossom petals
carpet the sidewalk

#mist

morning mist---
she takes off her eyeglasses
to see me better

2009-05-03T16:11:00.001-07:00

#can

rainy May Sunday---
at a bus stop
an empty can of beer

#cash

short on cash---
Kentucky Derby won
by a fifty-to-one long shot

#night

Saturday night---
but no kissing
the swine flu

#bard

the bard has no beard---
the UK first female
poet laureate

#beer

Friday afternoon downpour---
a beer truck stops
to unload

#monkey

May Day---
a monkey at the zoo
raises his fist

#River

East River dark clouds---
bright green leaves sprout
April ends

#news

Obama's news conference---
I turn off
Mozart

#sunset

Hudson River sunset---
no talk here about
the swine flu

#blue

blue sky---
I forgot
my flu mask

#gym

at the gym---
does their sweat
carry swine flu virus

#wave

April heat wave---
I decide not to
turn on the ac

#swine

swine flu scare---
I stay home and cook
my pork real well

#blue

blue sky---
my neighbor shaves
her legs

2009-04-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

#empty

Spring in the park---
two homeless men play poker
for empty cans

#River

East River hot day---
from a sail boat
she dangles her feet

#night

Saturday night---
we drive her mother
to the airport

#haze

morning haze---
I forgot
my swimming goggles

#frog

boring Spring day---
a frog jumps back
into the pond

#seagulls

early morning---
seagulls eat garbage
a French bistro

#River

East River warm night---
couples in cars
stop to view

#blue

blue sky---
I remember to buy
hand sanitizer

#war

more April showers---
the barmaid tells
her war stories

#green

Earth Day---
the government prints
more green

#sunset

sunset---
she gets upset and leaves
but her shadow does not

#cat

morning stillness---
the cat warms up
by jumping in the air

#drizzle

April drizzle---
an outdoors cafe
is crowded

#dawn

before dawn birds sing---
a security guard
searches for them

2009-04-19T18:03:00.001-07:00

#dancer

the sound of trumpets---
a bull fighter views
a ballet dancer

#haze

Sunday morning haze---
she wants
her coffee spiced

#truck

April hot day---
an Asian girl screams
ice cream truck passes by

#cat

April warms up---
the cat has
a new friend

#River

the wake of a boat passes---
a row of East River
white Cherry trees

#moon

before dawn---
a turtle stops at green
a half moon

#River

East River Park---
suddenly his hand disappears
as he touches her

#blue

blue sky---
empty pockets
after Tax Day

#River

East River sad feelings---
Cherry trees blossom
on the other bank

#flowers

Tax Day---
a banker sends
his mistress flowers

#breath

over night trash---
the smell of
acetone breath

#River

East River courting teens---
behind her veil
she smiles at him

#got

my yearly physical---
I only got
the recession

#Gibbous

before dawn---
cigarette in his mouth a drunk talks
Wanning Gibbous

2009-04-12T11:06:00.001-07:00

#hat

New York Easter Parade---
a hat made from fake
hundred dollar bills

#blue

blue sky---
a sugar daddy stops
at an ATM

#sunset

Hudson River Park sunset---
a same sex couple
on a bench hold hands

#haiku

lonely Spring Saturday---
I look at the graffiti
for a haiku

#ransom

pirates kidnap a ship captain
for ransom---
Good Friday

#roof

Good Friday---
seagulls gather on the roof
of a fisherman

#River

East River clear day---
the algae reminds me
I need a shave

#blue

blue sky---
but tomorrow is
Good Friday

#River

East River Spring drizzle---
alone
I stick my finger in its waters

#solar

a sign on the door---
our sun tanning machines
are solar

#blossom

a little girl blows
bubble gum---
cherry trees blossom

#movie

Holly Week---
I watch
a Woody Allen movie

#age

rainy day---
I bet the barmaid
I can guess her age

#showers

April showers---
the man behind me
keeps cursing Poseidon

2009-04-05T19:02:00.001-07:00

#rain

April in Paris---
the rain shower scene
is as good as in New York

#blue

Sunday morning blue sky---
I need more
Alka-Seltzer

#night

Saturday night---
empty bar she teaches me
to belly dance

#who?

the Obamas visit
France---
Jackie who?

#rush

Spring thunder storm---
she asks me
what's the rush

#haven

finances US deficit
a haven for the rich---
China

#house

Spring drizzle---
a newly homeless man
views an abandoned house

#cat

morning fog---
my neighbor can't find
his Siamese cat

#bud

leaves bud on some trees---
a cabbie makes
an obscene gesture

#cross

April Fool Day---
a liar stops saying
cross my heart

#Red 2

Fargo's Red River---
a snow storm calls
but no flood

#Red

Fargo's Red River* crests---
the moon shines
on disks of ice

* http://tinyurl.com/c2wxxg

#skyline

Spring night lightening ---
as if the skyline
needs more illumination

#dawn

dawn---
I take a short cut
through a full cemetery

2009-03-29T15:56:00.001-07:00

#signs

signs of Spring---
the lilacs at the entrance
of a skyscraper bloom

#aura

clear day---
I view Citibank skyscraper
but where is the aura

#snake

Third Avenue--
a woman carrying a plant
wears snake leather shoes

#rain

morning Spring rain---
a joker* stops
to wipe his eyeglasses

* http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/28/opinion/28Tartakovsky.html?th&emc=th

#girl

March warms up---
a little girl says she has
to go pick up her daughter

#blue

blue sky---
the cat
yawns

#cat

overcast March---
the cat plays with a ball
of dust under the bed

#River

East River still waters---
the softball game
remains scoreless

#prisons

the recession---
some states close
prisons*

* http://tinyurl.com/c9upxa

#deer

March suburban road---
a deer stands
at a bus stop

#sunset

March sunset---
the colors of Spring
but where is the bloom

#blue

blue sky---
the cotton candy man
is out of blue

#mailman

cold and sunny Spring day---
the mailman in shorts
smiles then winces

#history

a book on Greek history---
Socrates covered
in one page

2009-03-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

#roses

no evidence
of Spring yet---
I buy her roses

#stillness

morning stillness---
my neighbors
whisper

#night

March Saturday night---
I lost another bet
on a basketball game

#blue

blue sky---
I await
the lilacs bloom

#sunset

sunset---
she finished planting
the eggplant

#cat

first day of Spring---

snow flurries

the cat scratches its head

#drizzle

Spring drizzle---
the sound of high heels
behind me

#dawn

before dawn---
a man shouts
Google is down

#River

East River---
a man takes off his shirt
almost Spring

#blue

blue sky---
warm enough to play
hopscotch on the sidewalk

#moon

Saint Patrick Day---
the moon looks
greener

#red

Saint Patrick Day---
a Brit wants
to paint the town red

#tree

March haze---
a leafless tree reminds me
of my neurons

#teacher

early morning---
a teacher asks
who was Richard Nixon

2009-03-15T15:12:00.001-07:00

#River

East River high waters---
the park swimming pool
is still waterless

#haze

Sunday haze---
a long line to go up
the Empire State Building

#home

the recession Spring Break---
why not stay home
and go to tanning salons

#shadow

overcast skies---
she wears blue
eye shadow

#night

Friday the Thirteenth night---
a witch needs
more time

#moon

Friday the Thirteenth---
before dawn
full moon

#trash

the recession---
even trash*
has become worthless

* http://tinyurl.com/dks3nr

#horse

a grass mud-horse*
steps on a river crab---
watch your language

* http://tinyurl.com/bwlbmh

#River

East River light drizzle---
a truck driver stops
to piss

#fog

morning fog---
the new grafitti is
minimal

#skull

doctor's office---
skull
but no skeleton

#cat

early morning---
a cat passes
without looking at me

#rotini

I cook rotini---
she says she wants
al dente

#fog

morning fog---
the man ahead of me
is walking backwards

2009-03-08T15:57:00.000-07:00

#hair

rain clouds---
she takes the towel
off her hair

#neighbor

Sunday morning---
my neighbor needs a couple
of aspirins

#Park

Madison Square Park
warm March day---
naked limbs of humans and trees

#blue

blue sky---
a robin lands
on new grass

#River

East River nice day---
a used condom
on a pile of dirty snow

#music

morning rush---
a man plays Zen music
on a banjo

#leaf

March---
a dead leaf
under the lawn mower

#hour

Upper East Side---
the happy hour is
recession proof

#moon

she puts the pads
in her bra---
a half moon

#River

East River choppy waters---
kids have
a snowball fight

#roofs

roofs covered with snow---
just ignore
the graffiti

#blue

blue sky---
yesterday's blizzard snow
soiled

#moon

a street accordionist
plays a tango---
crescent moon

#blizzard

blizzard---
flakes agitate
darn mosquitoes

2009-03-01T15:37:00.001-08:00

#white

waiting for a blizzard to come---
the bar tender ran out
of white rum

#snow

snow storm---
the bus arrives
on time

#night

Saturday night---
carrying flowers he rings
the bell of a dark house

#blue

blue sky---
dew drops on the cover
of the garbage can

#Friday

thank God it's Friday---
a blues joint
is full of bankers

#pigeon

Spring like day---
a pigeon enters
through the window

#trees

the sun rises earlier---
but where are
the trees buds

#wipe

I forget---
tell her to wipe her forehead
Ash Wednesday

#River

East River bright day---
I bury my head
in her lap

#blue

blue sky---
she wears
a kimono

#flowers

she bought me flowers---
my wallet is missing
ten dollars

#rush

morning rush---
on his porch he rides
a stationary bicycle

#water

I take out the garbage---
frozen gutter water
moonless night

#sunrise

sunrise---
a seamstress ran out
of black thread

2009-02-22T15:30:00.001-08:00

#sunset

sunset---
the rain clouds
start to move out

#cat

it starts to snow---
the cat wants
the milk warmed

#happier

the recession---
under achievers
are happier

#blue

blue sky---
the jasmine tea
is ready

#moon

predawn---
she says ah
crescent moon

#smoker

windy night---
a smoker finds shelter
behind a garbage truck

#Vietnam

Vietnam---
it's occupied
by Yankee factories

#crescent

the night watchman
almost closes his eyes---
waning crescent

#night

late night drizzle---
she carries her belongings
in a kids cart

#recipe

Winter morning---
I read a recipe for
Ful Mudammas

#lost

they are lost---
newly weds
shop for a home

#moon

dawn---
a cowboy saddles his horse
crescent moon

#River

sunny East River day---
a talkative old man
asks me my name

#sunrise

sunrise---
outside a closed bar
a couple are still talking

2009-02-15T16:47:00.000-08:00

#tax

Greek diner---
there is no recession here
only income tax

#blue

blue sky---
I finish last night
Cabernet

#gym

the gym
is crowded---
Valentine's Day

#kiss

recession blues---
it's the kiss that counts
on Valentine's Day

#blue

blue sky---
but is it
true

#dress

Friday the thirteenth---
I buy her a black dress
for Valentine's Day

#Lincoln

President Obama
gives a speech---
Lincoln is two hundred

#Darwin

a cockroach climbs the wall---
Charles Darwin is today
two hundred

#streaks

warm February day---
on Coney Island
an old man streaks

#tax

the recession---
long lines to file for
income tax early

#night

lonely night---
I call the automated
telephone operator

#stand

at a news stand---
a kid asks
what is A-Rod

#blue

blue sky---
a soldier returns
from Iraq

#River

kids chase the ducks away---
calm East River
Winter waters

2009-02-08T14:54:00.001-08:00

#kite

a kid goes
to fly a kite---
windy Winter warms up

#moon

a baker goes home---
full moon above
the skyline

#church

Saturday night---
a church service with a good
rock band

#blue

blue sky---
but where is
my double espresso

#cold

the cold spell lingers---
a banker tells me his woes
in a jackuzzi

#moon

late night---
a gal walks with a sway---
waxing moon

#swans

the last of Mr B's swans---
Darci Kistler*
retires

* http://tinyurl.com/c353wd

#polka

cold morning---
she offers to teach me
the polka

#star

the recession---
four star restaurants
accept walk-ins

#blue

blue sky---
a banker smokes
a US made cigar

#sauce

snow storm at dusk---
the smell of
marinara sauce

#sunrise

sunrise---
she blows out
the blackberry candle

#River

I view the East River
through a bodega's glass---
I feel hunger

#bank

morning---
a beggar outside a bank
asks me for some TARP

2009-02-01T15:50:00.001-08:00

#yells

warm Winter Sunday---
a kid on a toy horse
yells go Steelers

#game

Super Bowl Sunday---
the high school soccer game
is crowded

#moon

my neighbor missed
his evening prayers---
crescent moon over the skyline

#blue

blue sky---
she says she likes
bald men

#sunset

sunset---
as I walk on thin ice
I remember her

#class

early morning---
a nun reads to her class
"Romeo and Juliet"

#moon

he takes off his wedding band---
crescent moon visits
Venus

#ends

January ends---
sparrows
sing

#support

the recession---
bankers girlfriends*
form a support group

* http://tinyurl.com/d4cynf

#snow

morning---
a snow ball fight
ends with a hug

#wave

cold night---
I dream of what women wore
in the heat wave of last year

#fog

train station morning fog---
a woman walks
into the wrong restroom

#tv

I rewind my Timex---
no more
analog tv

#dawn

dawn---
a cops car
stops at red

2009-01-25T14:53:00.001-08:00

#greed

the recession---
Sunday's sermon
is all about greed

#blue

blue sky---
no more tissue
in the bathroom

#moon

out with her---
he is stuck for words
moonless Saturday night

#dance

Winter doldrums---
outside a dance school
a little girl strikes a pose

#walks

January warms up---
my neighbor walks
in her underwear

#man

internet cafe---
a man falls asleep
while viewing porno

#wind

cold wind---
the headline says
no torture

#quality

the recession---
quality of subway musicians
improves

#blue

blue sky---
I forget the tea kettle
is on the stove

#purple

purple horizon---
Obama wakes up
in the White House

#oath

Obama takes the oath---
words jump
he reins them

#moon

with a shovel on his shoulder
he sizes up the snow---
crescent moon

#out

snow at dusk---
a white poodle
is out for a shit

#King

Martin Luther King Day---
Obama's
is tomorrow

2009-01-18T15:54:00.001-08:00

#biplane

East River Winter day---
a biplane flies low
then rises

#snow

Sunday morning snow---
all the talk shows guests
have gray hair

#blue

frigid day blue sky---
a white smoke column
acts up

#house

bitter cold day---
a house for sale
has its door wide open

#cook

blue sky---
it's too cold to cook
marshmallows outdoors

#jet

Hudson River Winter day---
a jet airliner
lands on the water

#Paris

the recession---
Paris is not Paris
without Champagne*

*

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/

fashion/15paris.html?pagewanted=2&

th&emc=th

#snow

morning rush---
snow falls inside
my new shoes

#waiting

the recession---
waiting for Obama's
inauguration

#blue

January blue sky---
the circus is still
in town

#night

chilly night---
I ask
if I can sleep with her

#moon

late night
a banker worries about
his golden parachute--- full moon

#blue

blue sky---
who cares about that sliver
of pink and orange

#the

the recession---
McDonald’s
prospers