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Published by Alba Publishing, P O Box 266, Uxbridge UB9 5NX, United Kingdom www.albapublishing.com
© 2011 Maeve O’SullivanAll rights reservedNo part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by anyform or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without theprior written permission of the copyright owners.
A catalogue record for this book is available fromthe British Library
ISBN-10: 0-9551254-3-XISBN-13: 978-0-9551254-3-0
Edited, designed and typeset by Kim RichardsonCover image and drawings by John ParsonsPrinted by Cahill Printers Ltd, Dublin, Ireland
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ContentsACKNOWLEDMENTS 8
A: AUTUMN 10
B: BIRDS & BLOSSOMS 12
C: CHILDREN 14
D: DEARLY DEPARTED 16
E: EATING 18
F: FATHER’S DEATH DAY 20
G: GRADUATIONS 22
H: HALF A YEAR OF MOONS 24
I: I LUV SPAIN 26
J: J’AIME PARIS 28
K: KERRY 30
L: LOOSE HAIKU 32
M: MUSIC 34
N: NURSING HOME 36
O: ON THE BEACH 38
P: POSTCARDS FROM HOLLYWOOD 40
Q: QUO VADIS? 42
R: RAIN 44
S: SPRING & SUMMER 46
T: TUNISIA 50
U: UNTIL DEATH DO US PART 52
V: VENICE, TRIESTE & ROME 54
W: WINTER 56
X: XMAS & NEW YEAR 58
Y: A YEW TREE AT BOUZINCOURT 60
Z: ZEN / MEDITATION 62
BIOGRAPHIES 64
In memory of my father,Maurice O’Sullivan, 1924-2010
8
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
AcknowledgementsGrateful acknowledgement is due to the editors andpublishers of the following journals in which most ofthe haiku in this book, or versions of them, firstappeared: Blithe Spirit, Journal of the British HaikuSociety (UK); Brittle Star (UK); InCognito, IrishLiterary Journal (Ireland); Haiku Ireland, Ireland’sInternational Journal of Haiku (Ireland); (Haiku)Presence (UK); The Stinging Fly (Ireland); The StonyThursday Book 2010 (Ireland).
Anthologies‘after meditation class’ was published in Path, the 2003
BHS Members’ Anthology.‘another cork pops’ was published in Light, the 2006
British Haiku Society Members’ Anthology.‘Basque flower market’ appears in seed packets: an
anthology of flower haiku (bottle rockets press, 2010,US).
‘emerging through’ was published in Earth, the 2009British Haiku Society Members’ Anthology.
‘her bony back’ is published in evolution: The RedMoon Anthology of English-Language Haiku 2010(Red Moon Press, 2011, US).
‘summer wedding’ was published in Celebration, the2010 British Haiku Society Members’ Anthology.
‘third journey’ was published as the opening verse(‘hokku’) of the renku*, The Labyrinth’s Core, in theVol. 5, No. 4 (December 2007) issue of the SimplyHaiku website, www.simplyhaiku.com.
9
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
‘whistling in the rain’ was published in Storm, the 2007British Haiku Society Members’ Anthology.
Some haiku in the ‘Xmas & New Year’ sequence appearin Census, the Second Seven Towers Anthology (SevenTowers Agency, 2009, Ireland).
*The renku (linked chain of verses) was composed inJuly 2007 as part of the summer workshop Writingfrom Within: Haiku and the Spiritual Path, led byMaeve O'Sullivan and Kim Richardson at the AnamCara Writers’ and Artists’ Retreat in Beara in WestCork, Ireland.
Awards‘around the corner’ was commended in the first
International Haiku Contest of the Bulgarian HaikuClub, Haiku and Music (2006).
‘her bony back’ won first place in the Haiku IrelandKukai No. 20 (online members’ competition) inSpring 2010.
‘I blow raspberries’ won the Haiku Museum ofLiterature Award for Vol. 20 No. 4 of Blithe Spirit(December 2010, UK).
Note: 50% of the profits from this book will go to thecharity Rokpa UK towards projects in Tibetan areas ofChina.
11
AUTUMN
10
AUTUMN
riverside woodlandautumn leaves restingon a dry waterfall
childhood swinglong gone from here—wild mushrooms
leaving Bull Island...the plaintive cryof unseen sandpipers
September sunriseseagulls strollingacross the empty pitch
by the stone crucifixbursting with red berries—cotoneaster
nothing leftof yesterday’s blackberriesthis invisible thorn
1312
BIRDS & BLOSSOMS BIRDS & BLOSSOMS
snowdrop bulbsa seagull wheels overheadsends out a long cry
busy afternoona glance outsidemagnolia flowering
hard to tellthe blossom from the butterflythis May afternoon
prize-winning poem—wagtails move in low arcstowards the podium
waxing moon—flying across the waterfalllone magpie
cornflowersin this wild gardentwo city eyes
15
CHILDREN CHILDREN
14
six months pregnantshe sizes up the new pramswith disbelief
I blow raspberriesinto your tiny palm—sleepy nephew
twins’ birthday partytheir mother gives herhalf a hug
photo of his son—he brushes a speck of dustoff the left cheekbone
a young girlsmoothes her mother's hair backoutpatients
my friend’s eight-year-oldasks me quietlyif I have children
17
DEARLY DEPARTED DEARLY DEPARTED
16
old man coughingnewspaper open beside him—death notices
news of her death—stepping asideto let the buggy pass
applause for the deceasedlastingfrom the altar to the church door
thunderous applauseand a standing ovationfor the dead showman
suicide burialrobin song getting louderas he’s laid to rest
he poseson his burial plotchats about his ‘neighbour’
19
EATING EATING
18
at the salad barone man, one womanapple on the side, untouched
conversationinterrupted, a plate smashing—asparagus tips
one hundred degreesice-cold lemonadewarm banana bread
Pancake Tuesdaydrips of honeyon the restaurant review
silent meal...we drink our wineat the same rate
coffees after lunchhe picks outa heart-shaped chocolate
21
FATHER’S DEATH DAY
20
FATHER’S DEATH DAY
father's death dayafter hours of phone callssoft November rain
one sixth of his weightsnugon my left shoulder
a week since his deathshaking the heavy duvetinto its cover
graduation nightwiping the dirt from his graveoff my good black boots
after five weeksof condolences—first Christmas card
midnight arrives...ringing in the firstfatherless year
2322
GRADUATION
fully-fledged robinadmiring his reflection—graduation day
graduation night:short skirts, high heelsthe sound of sirens
visiting graduateshesitateto enter the staffroom
25
HALF A YEAR OF MOONS
24
HALF A YEAR OF MOONS
pink moon hiding—a police helicoptershines its searchlight
blossom moon...baking breadfor tomorrow’s goodbye
after the barbequestrawberry moonover Dublin Bay
Note: In North American Indian folklore, the full moon of eachmonth is given a name.
coastal road trip:heading southtowards the straw moon
last nightof our retreat...corn moon-viewing
harvest moon—finding the house keyI no longer use
27
I LUV SPAIN
26
I LUV SPAIN
cathedral marketsmells of incense and leather—I buy a choker
Basque flower marketan orange hibiscustrumpets its presence
waiting for the bus...several stemfulsof cherry heaven
on the back of this cointhe famous cathedralI visited today
full moon, fiestadancing on the beach—shadows of palm trees
back by the Liffeyshells from Chipiona strandjangle in my bag
29
J’AIME PARIS
28
J’AIME PARIS
plane to ParisI search for the seat belt,find a toy soldier
the water is stilla boy watches—did someone turn the fountain off?
October sunshinethe guitar player rests—Pont des Arts
gallery visitorsphotograph the paintingswithout looking
airport buildingbesieged by hailstones—Bastille Day
on my return homea sunflower:just like the one in the Metro
31
KERRY
30
KERRY
something movinguphill through the bluebells:cotton-tail
two thousand acresof Lough Currane—mosquitos on the windscreen
castle rampartsbird’s eye viewof swallows wind-reaping
over the nettlesthe white butterflyyour cat loves to punch
August sunshinewigwams of turf sods—final cut
sandpipers grazethen take off as one...South Kerry sunset
33
LOOSE HAIKU
32
LOOSE HAIKU
Sunday morningradio voices chatteringa tulip petal falls…
stained-glass ceilingwobblingin my coffee cup
following methe matchmaker’s eyesin the photograph
a giant beeflies by the old manembroidering…
wonderingwhat it was all week:hornbeam tree
at the pier’s endan upturned bellthe silent foghorn
35
MUSIC
34
MUSIC
solo banjosilencing the sessionwith a new tune
midway through the lamentopening my eyesto see hers closed
temporarilyoff-duty, the conductorswaying to a jig
youth orchestraringless fingersrendering Rossini
around the cornerfrom the Dvorak Museuma drummer practising
flute notes evokingI Am SleepingDo Not Wake Me
37
NURSING HOME
36
NURSING HOME
a single strand of tinselwrapped around her bedrail:Christmas Eve
slowly she peelsthe easy-peel orange—afternoon visit
her bony backagainst my palm—Mother’s Day
rain-filled Mondaynursing home residentssing Que Será, Será
once again coveringmy Mum’s hand with his—this stranger
a difficult visither wheelchair tyresdeflated
39
ON THE BEACH
38
ON THE BEACH
Barbie at the beachminiature ghetto-blastersilent beside her
a handsome couplejumping over the waves—their naked daughter
a rescue helicopterwhirring overhead—jellyfish on the sand
three horses sea-swimmingspotted just as the film runs out
Ballyheigue beacha small group circlesthe dead dolphin
sinking August sunon Inch Strandlast ice-cream
41
POSTCARDS FROM HOLLYWOOD
40
POSTCARDS FROM HOLLYWOOD
photograph"how did you meet your friend?"fingerprints
waftingthrough the kitchen screen door—smell of a skunk
drying the pinka small fan at my feet:nail station
Japanese Gardena strong sweet scent—we search for the flower
Cha Cha Loungeslumped over the counter—the bartender
open-air screeningwe pause the movie—coyotes howl
43
QUO VADIS
42
QUO VADIS?
rush hour traffica boy on the busreading On The Road
almost-collisionbus driver brakes just in time—passengers applaud
approaching the bus stopour hoods go uptheir umbrellas down
Good Fridaythe rustle of newspaperson the train journey south
platform—is that my manin the spring sun?
summer night breezeeven the trainshave gone to bed
4544
RAIN
between orange skyand diagonal rainmy friend the heron
whistling in the rainthe cyclist too iswhistling in the rain
her umbrella blowsinside out again—mother laughing
47
SPRING
46
SPRING
emerging througha gravelled gardendaffodil shoot
a twig skiddingacross the pond’s surface—February afternoon
gorse flowerscutting through their sweet smellbirdsong
behind the willow curtainthe pen builds her nesttwig by twig
birdsongpunctuated by dialogue—ewes and lambs
long ladder leaningagainst a fruitless tree—spring sunshine
49
SUMMER
48
SUMMER
first raina red blush appearson the strawberry
third journeyto the labyrinth’s core—the sun breaks through
dodging cloudsand Manhattan skyscrapers –June blue moon
late afternoon sunmy voice, my parents’ voicessinging Summertime
a pausein the discussion—soft summer rain
late summer sunshinefiltering throughthe heart-shaped bower
51
TUNISIA
50
TUNISIA
at the wadibridge half-built by Germansa toy car rolls down the bus
Sahara sunsetthe dromedaries’ shadows,legs even longer
fossils packed inso closely togetherwhere does shell end & rock start?
a tiny brown frogleaps from the spring poolback into camouflage
Holy City markethawkers ignorethe call to prayer
last leg of the journeya young camel waitsoutside the slaughterhouse
53
UNTIL DEATH US DO PART
52
UNTIL DEATH US DO PART
drying the champagne glassesI smile againat the good news
we place the golden beadscarefullyonto her sister’s wedding cake
another cork pops—between us and the townred-windowed river boats
summer weddingwomen in cowboy hatsline-dancing to a jig
Chinese restaurantthe bride throws her bouquetwe collect our order
playing guitarfirst time since the weddingfingernails grown already
55
VENICE, TRIESTE & ROME
54
VENICE, TRIESTE & ROME
I tell him I’m alone:the look of horroron the gondolier’s face
tall sea pine,please don’t dropyour cones on me!
summer afternoonsun on the Adriaticthis wartime bunker
piazza-hoppingchurch-crawlingI stumble into a Mass
a bin truckblocking my view of St. Peter’s—rosary beads up front
this morning’s raindrained offinside the Pantheon
57
WINTER
56
WINTER
November morningthe rainbow follows meall the way to work
slowly fillingblack pepper grinder...first snow
love alluntrammelled snowthese tennis courts
pedestrian lightsa girl in pink hat and shoesdances herself warm
frosted brancheswe zoom inon the singing robin
hoarfrost melting—dropletson the dead badger’s fur
59
XMAS & NEW YEAR
58
XMAS & NEW YEAR
filling the housewith Silent Night:uileann pipes
left inside the rooma party-goer's coat—this freezing night!
Christmas Eve nightan empty taxi rank—biting wind
New Year's Evehot wax from the old candlehardens in the bath water
just you & Iwind & bogthis New Year’s Eve
midnight passes...quietly, not embracingwe stand together
61
A YEW TREE IN BOUZINCOURT
60
A YEW TREE IN BOUZINCOURT
(‘REV D. V. O'SULLIVAN, CHAPLAIN TO THE FORCES',killed giving last rites, July 1916)
under the yew treeby the large crucifix:my great-uncle
on his graveroses in bloomlike in the old war song
just five daysafter his anniversarysoft rain falling
over the walla dozen rowsof soldiers’ graves
a white butterflyflits from stone to stonebirdsong
on the way homewe cross the wide Sommeslowly moving
63
ZEN / MEDITATION
62
ZEN / MEDITATION
yoga movementchimney pots coming into viewdisappearing…
after meditation classnot recognisingmy new black shoes
she stops readingthe question inside my headdisappears
trying to meditatea young man sits beside mecracks open a beer
the leaning treefalleninto its own reflection
after evening practicethe wishing mantraa thunderclap
64
MAEVE O’SULLIVAN
Maeve O’Sullivan works as a lecturer in Media in FurtherEducation in Dublin city. She haspublished her poems and haikuwidely since the mid-1990s, and isa former poetry winner at ListowelWriter’s Week.
Maeve has led workshops inhaiku poetry for adults and children since 2000. She is afounder of Haiku Ireland, and also a member of theBritish Haiku Society, the Poetry Divas and theHibernian Poetry Workshop.
Double Rainbow, a collection of haiku co-authoredwith Kim Richardson, was published in 2005 by AlbaPublishing. Initial Response is Maeve’s first individualcollection.
JOHN PARSONS
John Parsons studied painting and printmaking atHornsey School of Art 1959-62, taught printmaking atSt Martins School of Art and life drawing at other majorart schools. He has painted and sculpted all his life andexhibited widely.
John also writes haiku and related forms and has published these widely. He is also a member of theBritish Haiku Society.
BIOGRAPHIES