Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry comprised of three phrases.
Traditional haiku uses 17 syllables (5:7:5) but contemporary haiku in English often ignores this rule. A haiku is typically about nature, the earth and the natural world and are designed to be thought-provoking. These original haiku poems are by Anthony Rutledge and are mostly written in the contemporary free style format.
There are over 2,000 Haiku on this site in ten different themes: Australian, Beach, Garden Sundial, In the Mirror,Kimono,Motherhood,Ships and Oceans,Spring,Windjammers and Miscellaneous.
the tall ship
sails tonight
on the sailors below
lightning
ignites the ocean
I sail alone
solo yacht
I tack windward
in the way of whales
waves crash---
brought on the wind
a voice from the yacht
seeping tide
the boat's name again
in sunshine sparkles
harbour breeze
the oranges of dawn
pour in the boat sails
harbour dawn
the boat sails
colour the wind
lighthouse beam
the voices of the storm
through a yacht
always to be great whites
lording in the seven seas--
the crabs watch them pass
the clouds are wild
a lightning cracks
our shadows on the sea
The last-month mum
alone after breakfast
pruning her bonsai.
The ward echoes...
our teenager pushed
to mother.
Antarctic cruise
coming bright brighter brightest
the polished stars.
Ionian beach
your tourist bracelets
jingling as we leave.
Ship berth
the city fastened
to the gang-plank.
Deserted yacht
the slapping whispers
of her torn sails.
Aegean cruise
how momentary the bargains found
among the spice bazaars.
Cloudless orange sunset
yet it is for the moon
the tide waits.
Staring landward
the lime bikini stranger
under her red straw hat.
Bringing the hula
out of the coconut palms
pacific island breeze.
Fisherman's boat
the dog alone at Christmas
without a meal.
Night cruise
the swishes at the railing
of her party dress.
Sailing solo
a need for all those stars
to leave me alone.
Mediterranean cruise
the far migrating geese
come out of the blue.
To all you lost sailors ...
a pregnant woman swims
in your gentle waves.
Surf breaks
stretching for a gold bottle top
the tumbled boy.
Pleasure boats
gentle harbour waves
caressing their hulls.
Crawling along
in fog
the lobster boat's lamp.
Combed by the wind
three little girls
at the ship's prow.
There ! deeper out
in the washing machine
a driftwood or a surfer.
Ionian sea
our windjammer shadow
keeping pace with the whales.
Moonlit whales
her newborn following
their ancient journey.
Glass-bottom boat
it's all about the lives
of the reef's fish.
Coral reef
its sharp teeth
making sea horses safe.
Ocean whispers ...
one albatross swoops
another gliding past.
In the way of the ancients
sailing in the Aegean
blue with sky.
One whale
its wink so knowing
beside our boat.
Coloured spinnaker
the scented winds
of islands.
Asleep in the boat
between the islands
of tide and moon.
Cracked loose ice
rising
the waves of blue whales.
Whales around us ...
along repeated highways
migrating south.
Solo yachtsman
his shadow falling
behind the wind.
Landward
the orange windmilled sun draws
and the bright boats slowly bob.
Aegean moon
our cruise ship following
with party lights.
Ocean for miles
the dolphins think it playful
luring the ship on.
Bringing us to islands ...
at the ship's prow
the squawk of seagulls.
The blue Aegean
about twenty yachts
becalmed at sea.
A raging storm
our ocean Liner digs in
from wave to wave.
Cruise ship
hovering on a breeze
the palm island gulls.
Our sharp white hull
opening the Aegean waves ...
opening the afternoon swell.
Mediterranean cruise
the hour dawn takes
to fill the sea.
Ionian whales
the waves from their dives
coming to meet us.
Harbour sunset
not one gull standing
without a pink coat.
Island cruise
a hush of dawn lovers
at the ship's prow.
Sailing home
in the faint mist
every harbour light.
Cruise ship table
her smile to the waiter
tainting my white wine.
Port customs
shadows of us shuffling
along the wharf.
The still dark sky
pinned with stars ...
Aegean dawn.
Ocean Liner
alone on the sunset
alone on the sunset's fire.
Dunes
hurling sand
into the sea's storm.
Dolphins frolic ...
a sprinkle of clouds
dot the sea.
Harbour storm
the long pink struggle
ahead of dawn.
Dawn spreads ...
a boat leaving the harbour
to gull cries.
Afternoon sailing
the sea-shine polished
by the Aegean waves.
Battleship bones
emerging from the deep gloom
to chill us.
Still on its side
under Aegean waves
the shipwreck's name.
Leaving the sea
remnants of a rainbow
that gulls sweep through.
Sailing solo
I find the waves glow green
in moonlight.
Mediterranean
clouds , so few to cool
the migrating geese.
Winter fog
paling haloes
around the sun.
Fishing fleet
into the sleep
of home port.
All sunset
the sea's horizon
is the same sliced orange.
Becoming waves
my reasons
to be buried at sea.
On its reflection
a cruise ship through
the full moon.
With all her money
on an ocean cruise
a jealous woman.
Whale watch
tourists taking a spray
from the mother's calf.
Limp sails
seagulls drifting
besides the boat.
Tourists
captured by the whale
looking back.
Holy oceans
from your deep greens
the whales blow.
Leaving at sunset
a lonely woman
and an ocean cruise.
In still water
darkness supporting
the shark around us.
The ship's cat
cuddled in her arms
before the fog horn.
Mediterranean cruise
greeting an old friend
the sky blue heat.
The ship's funnel
its shade comes aboard
the sun deck.
Coconut palms
in the fire of the sunset
rustling breezes.
Scorning
the waves of tourists
the whale's suckling calf.
Mediterranean cruise
the whimsy of the water spout
to turn away south.
Dawn
showing the pacific off
to the island tourists.
On the pacific cruise
almost standing
a backbone of islands.
Limp sails
an albatross on the deck
in folded wings.
Pacific cruise
a meteor connecting
the Milky Way dots.
Tender giantess
at the rear of whales
the calf's mother.
Swooping gulls cry ...
an Aegean sunset
on the polished sea.
Dusk
among leaping dolphins
the swish of our sails.
Rocking gently
boats and gulls
coloured sunset-red.
Baby bum smooth
the harbour fog
kissing my face.
Aegean waves
sails filled by the wind
flap all afternoon.
A cruise ship
hinged on the horizon
sliding over.
Dolphins in and out
the waves of the Aegean
arching their backs.
Bright glinting waves
before I squint
... glint more after.
Clipper ship
first light where it begins
coming out of the sea.
None the same shape
yet a backbone of islands
from the mist.
Whale family
between oceans
in the ice of the world.
Dawn still stormy
the wreck breaks up the surf
broken by it.
Where the cruise ship berthed
the moon
on coiled ropes.
Christmas cruise
our tourist trinkets
to strangers.
Aegean sunset
the cruise ship deeper
into the light.
The cruise ends ...
through the port hole window
a taxi rank.
In the soft beds
of Aegean waves
ship bones.
Closet fog
the cruise ship hoots
over deep water.
Nesting cliffs
only moonlight meanders
over the waves.
Mediterranean
ship and moon
passing the same spot.
Rusty island freighter
the Aegean waves just
rise and foam , rise and foam.
Crow's-nest
all morning
bending beyond the storm.
Coming aboard
the Black sea cruise
my birth-sign stars.
Leaving it there
the name plaque
in the ship's bones.
After the albatross leaves
the lurching
of our crow's-nest.
Ship wreak
the rooms filled and un-filled ...
a school of whiting.
Coffee on deck ...
dolphins surfing
the bright sunshine.
Lighthouse beam ...
the sounds of the shore
between our sails.
Dozing into sleep
on rounded breasts
our boat in the swell.
Island sunset
surrounded
the sea on fire.
Closed by the fog
the sharp rock mouth
into the sea.
A blue voyage
dolphins in the sun
drawing us on.
Our bathing lounge chairs
burned by the sun...
Caribbean cruise.
From the marmalade sky
the Aegean spreads
a creeping dawn.
Ship's rails
a yellow balloon
just fits to our pace.
Aegean storm
the greys of everything
bobbing in the harbour.
Pacific cruise
left on the beaches
footprints.
Mediterranean
burning the horizon
two white suns.
Aegean cruise
grandmother's
story to learn.
Sailing home...
a moon path
back to the sea.
Storm waves
all pitched black
but the lighthouse beam.
Cast off ...
our cruise ship hoots
fills the harbour.
The whale dives ...
a silence descends
between us.
Pleasure yachts
the fondle the tides shape
around their rears.
Tropic isle
the hula palms
shedding winds.
Tropic isle
in the sinking sun
it's gulls I hear.
Tropic isle
the polish dawn
leaves on the sea.
Tropic isle
pieces of mirror
the sinking sun.
Tropic sun
the thieving gull
lives tomorrow.
Tropic isle
the sunrise bathes
in orange juice.
Tropic isle
a ghosting rain
shines the silence.
Tropic isle
the orange dawn
pours with gulls.
Tropic isle
all the palms shining
sunlight and lace.
Tropic isle
filling the sea
the moon pulls back.
Tropic isle
the swaying palms
heart beat time.
Tropic isle
waves of sunsets
break on shore.
Tropic isle
this painted moon
some other sky.
Tropic isle
the crescent moon
cocoons the light.
Sunset isle
palms wave
the gull's goodbye.
Tropic isle
the travelled seed
first germinates.
Tropic isle
retched by a storm
the beach debris.
Tropic isle
a tightrope bordered
mirrored sea.
Tropic isle
a sunset fiery
bleeding sea.
Scant breeze
clouds of gulls
across our sails.
Tropic isle
a crow's-nest falling
from the horizon.
Staring landward the lime bikini stranger under her red straw hat.
Fisherman‘s boat the dog alone at Christmas without a meal.
To all you lost sailors ... a pregnant woman swims in your gentle waves.
Crawling along in fog the lobster boat‘s lamp.
Combed by the wind three little girls at the ship‘s prow.
Glass-bottom boat it‘s all about the lives of the reef‘s fish.
She points out love affairs along the ship‘s deck ... Aegean cruise.
Landward the orange windmilled sun draws and the bright boats slowly bob.
Bringing us to islands ... at the ship‘s prow the squawk of seagulls
Our sharp white hull opening the Aegean waves ... opening the afternoon swell.
Island cruise a hush of dawn lovers at the ship‘s prow.
Cruise ship table her smile to the waiter tainting my white wine.
Ocean Liner alone on the sunset alone on the sunset‘s fire.
Dunes hurling sand into the sea‘s storm.
Still on its side under Aegean waves the shipwreck‘s name.
All sunset the sea‘s horizon is the same sliced orange.
Whale watch tourists taking a spray from the mother‘s calf.
The ship‘s cat cuddled in her arms before the fog horn.
The ship‘s funnel its shade comes aboard the sun deck.
Scorning the waves of tourists the whale‘s suckling calf.
Tender giantess at the rear of whales the calf‘s mother
Rusty island freighter the Aegean waves just rise and foam , rise and foam.
Crow‘s-nest all morning bending beyond the storm.
After the albatross leaves the lurching of our crow‘s-nest.
Leaving it there the name plaque in the ship‘s bones
After the albatross leaves the lurching of our crow‘s-nest
Ship‘s rails a yellow balloon just fits to our pace.
Aegean cruise grandmother‘s story we sail on to learn.
Tropic isle in the sinking sun it‘s gulls I hear.
Sunset isle palms wave the gull‘s goodbye.
Tropic isle a crow‘s-nest falling from the horizon.
in dreams about dolphins guiding our way… Mediterranean cruise
the buoys toll a waves lifts a hand to raise our yacht
windjammer sails red balloons in the sunset harbour
a dolphin fin splits the sun… sailing on solo
the sway of sunken wreaks… Pacific islands
Mediterranean an octopus sucks the wreak
around battleship bones the sing songs of the whales
sailing on solo… my shadow over the next wave
on the horizon a quarter moon scoops the sea
lighthouse search leaving me alone with darkness
our cruise ship gliding down a sunset to the horizon
their cries carry over beyond the rocks… the one lone yacht
near rocks a lone yacht bobs and weaves the lighthouse beam
Southern lights all decks of the cruise ship
She points out
love affairs along the ship's deck
...Aegean cruise.
the harbour-sun sets
such an orange to the winds
nodding the boats
the buoys toll
a wave lifts a hand
to raise our yacht
in dreams about dolphins
guiding our way--
Mediterranean cruise
In gentle waves
our sail boat grazing
on the moon.
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