Why This Ain’t No Haiku

Why This Ain’t No Haiku

If I could
see like Basho, I wouldn’t
be writing this.

–Tom Riley

Not Quite a Haiku on Brevity

Not Quite a Haiku on Brevity

Cried the bullfrog: “Short
forms are all my Zen poets
ever have time for!”

–Tom Riley

No Time for Haiku

No Time for Haiku

Is there time for a haiku? The pace
Of a haiku ain’t that of a race.
No: it seems honey slow.
In a few moments, though,
It encompasses infinite space.

–Tom Riley

Dracula (by Basho)

Dracula (by Basho)

 

How disappointing!
So many vampire hunters
managed to survive!

 

–Tom Riley

 

Masque of the Red Death (by Basho)

The Masque of the Red Death (by Basho)

 

Through emblematic
chambers stalks the figure of
genuine killer.

 

–Tom Riley

 

Cask of Amontillado (by Basho)

The Cask of Amontillado (by Basho)

 

Walled in deep cellars,
Montresor’s loudmouth victim
isn’t aging well.

 

–Tom Riley

 

AOC Senryu

AOC Senryu

 

Drink to me only

(said the toilet AOC

gazed at) with thine eyes!

 

–Tom Riley

 

Amphibious

Amphibious

Frog refuses to star in haiku
From my hand. What’s a poet to do?
Ha! The answer I know,
My batrachian foe!
I have learned to write rhyming forms, too.

–Tom Riley

Froggy Future

Froggy Future

 

In a discarded

coffee can, dozens of polliwogs:

haiku to come.

 

–Tom Riley

On the Ingratitude of Insects

On the Ingratitude of Insects

 

Hey, there’s cricket shit
all over the fine haiku
I composed last night!

 

—Tom Riley