Haiku for National Haiku Writing Month – October 2026 Second Half

 

National Haiku Writing Month has been founded by the well known haiku poet Michael Dylan Welch. The goal is to write at least one haiku a day. National Haiku Writing Month is in its 15th year. [1] I enjoy writing to the prompts on Facebook. Here are some interesting links: [2]. Our prompter this month has been Hazel Hall, who already had done so in 2017 and 2025 [3]. Thanks a lot for having prompted this month, Hazel! 

true lies 
fear is not an option 
still laughing 
~ Fear

the fire of 
van goghs sunflowers 
so delightful 
~ Delight

old women 
dressed black and rosary 
still longing 
~ Longing

both solemn 
the old church and forest 
but the kids play 
~ Awe

salty tears 
at our anniversary 
so much joy 
~ Joy

pondering 
about tomorrow's sorrow 
not today 
~ Sorrow

smokey 
after the BBQ 
and satisfied 
~ Smokey

rancid smell 
in the cramped metro 
must be summer 
~ Rancid

tibetan tea 
needs rancid yak butter for 
authenticity 
~ Rancid

the honeysuckle
is already withering 
but still fragrant
~ Fragrant

an invitation 
long time no see 
doggy's grey, too 
~ Inviting

a sharp gale 
hitting the limetree 
new shape 
~ Sharp

blue fruits 
on the prickly sloes 
no frost yet 
~ Prickly

long hike 
drenched and numb 
then just a kiss 
~ Numb

light wind 
above the rough landscape 
three eagles sail 
~ Rough 

climbing 
the steep rock 
rough edges help 
~ Rough

the spider in its' 
silken and sticky web 
the art of waiting 
~ Sticky

Links and Annotations:
[1] National Haiku Writing Month https://www.facebook.com/NaHaiWriMo  
[2] „To help with haiku fundamentals, please have a look at "Becoming a Haiku Poet" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/becoming-a-haiku-poet. Please review the "Haiku Checklist" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/haiku-checklist. I also recommend to read: https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/why-no-5-7-5 
[3] https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/meet-the-prompters/hazel-hall 

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Melting Snow - a Haibun

 

The year had not yet ended when the snow began to fall. We walked hand in hand, without gloves. A light wind blew from the west. We climbed the rise toward the heath, where we listened to the wind moving through the pines and the bare birch trees. In the distance, three deer were visible — would they bolt at our approach? The loose stones in the wagon track crunched with every step, and the grass along the edges and down the middle of the dirt path was short, appearing more yellow than green. Then, it began to snow.

snow is melting
on our pale faces
our hands grow cold

We linked arms and tucked our hands into our jacket pockets. We stopped walking, standing still for a few moments, before turning back to continue through the swirling snow. The wind picked up, setting the flakes into a dance.

snowflakes and midges
dancing much the same way
but never together

We hurry down toward the valley. More snowflakes land on our cheeks, melting and trickling down our faces like cold tears. A white blanket covers the meadows and fields. We reach the house before our own footprints can leave a mark.

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Haiku for National Haiku Writing Month – October 2026 First Half

 

National Haiku Writing Month has been founded by the well known haiku poet Michael Dylan Welch. The goal is to write at least one haiku a day. National Haiku Writing Month is in its 15th year. [1] I enjoy writing to the prompts on Facebook. Here are some interesting links: [2]. Our prompter this month is Hazel Hall, who alteady had done so in 2017 and 2025 [3]. Thanks a lot for being our prompter this month, Hazel! 

the fabric of time 
is smoothly moving 
as you in silk 
~ Smooth

the fuss about 
the china restaurant syndrome 
just a joke 
~ Umami [4]

autumn rain 
with a bitter hops tea 
fragrant memories 
~ Bitter

brussel sprouts 
in cider vinegar 
ready to eat 
~ Sour

a salty dog 
full of stories 
none untold 
~ Salty

the morning 
colored in maple syrup 
already a sweet kiss 
~ Sweet 

come in 
warbles the witch 
though halloween is far 
~ Warble

a blackbird 
singing in the rain 
no tap dance, though 
~ Sing

we walk in silence 
only the murmuring brook 
and a light breeze 
~ Murmur

past waking call 
I wink an eye 
still vacation 
~ Call

heated shouting 
red heads and arguments 
then tears 
~ Shout

both watching 
the striated lemur and i 
through the glass 
~ Striated

mountain range 
on a cloudy day 
watching the foliage 
~ Cloudy

clear view 
says the captain fuzzily 
fasten seatbelts 
~ Clear

Links and Annotations:
[1] National Haiku Writing Month https://www.facebook.com/NaHaiWriMo  
[2] „To help with haiku fundamentals, please have a look at "Becoming a Haiku Poet" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/becoming-a-haiku-poet. Please review the "Haiku Checklist" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/haiku-checklist. I also recommend to read: https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/why-no-5-7-5 
[3] https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/meet-the-prompters/hazel-hall 
[4] The so-called "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" is an unsubstantiated myth, which started with a letter to the editor of the „New England Journal of Medicine“ (NEJM) in 1968. It was suggested that the umami enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) might be the cause of symptoms like  numbness, heart palpitations, and others. It isn't clear if this was a (sick) joke. It took on a life of its own, and I believe there are still people who, for this reason, ask at Chinese restaurants whether the dishes are prepared without MSG, which is safe for consumption at normal levels.

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Haiku for National Haiku Writing Month – September 2026 Second Half

National Haiku Writing Month has been founded by the well known haiku poet Michael Dylan Welch. The goal is to write at least one haiku a day. National Haiku Writing Month is in its 14th year. [1] I enjoy writing to the prompts on Facebook. Here are some interesting links: [2]. Our prompter this month is Debbie Guzzi, who has done so for the first time [3]. Thanks a lot for prompting, Debbie! I enjoyed your prompts very much.

the rosy feathers 
of the flamingos 
no comment needed 
~ Feathers [4]

the rosy feathers
of the flamingos
it's in the brine 
~ Feathers

no kids on the lake  

swimming with red arm floats 

too much quietness 
~ Floats [5]

no wasps 
on the fallen plums 
to be or not a windfall 
~ Windfall

the squirrels are busy 
burying acorns 
I trim the oaks 
~ Acorn [6]

calling 
the house whisperer 
ivy and ghosts 
~ Wisper

howl ∙ howl
the storm is passing 
o starry night 
~ Howl

the western wind 
howls in the trees 
the wolves keep quiet 
~ Howl

rolling clouds 
roaring thunder 
ready for reading 
~ Roar 

at the sun eclipse 
nature turns into 
a roaring silence 
~ Roar

equinox gives 
more time to sun and fire 
for an afterglow 
~ Glow

no potato fire 
burning this year 
because of root voles 
~ Burning

no potato fire 
burning this year 
due to root voles 
~ Burning

the tits knock 
on my terrace door 
the birdfeeder is empty 
~ Birdfeeder [7]

on a blanket 
looking at peanut's linus 
and woodstock's ''''''' 
~ Blanket

brittle scarecrows 
time to move into the shed 
there's hope for them 
~ Brittle

kintsugi 
for broken hearts 
tears and a shoulder 
~ Broken

sepia photograph 
in a broken frame 
they were young, once 
~ Broken

all berries 
turn into winter berries 
in a rum pot 
~ Winter Berries

with golden sickles 
the druids are cutting 
mistletoe 
~ Mistletoe [8]

Links and Annotations:
[1] National Haiku Writing Month https://www.facebook.com/NaHaiWriMo  
[2] „To help with haiku fundamentals, please have a look at "Becoming a Haiku Poet" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/becoming-a-haiku-poet. Please review the "Haiku Checklist" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/haiku-checklist. I also recommend to read: https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/why-no-5-7-5 
[3] https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/meet-the-prompters/debbie-guzzi 
[4] Veronica Marjon Van Bruggen wittily remarked: “one not-needed comment: shrimps?” In the haiku I wanted to avoid the scientific explanation (no comment needed), as there are so beautiful. Flamingos filter brine shrimps as food, which contain astaxanthin for instance, a carotenoid, which is also abundant in krill (I have written about krill on my blog [4a] ). And about ten years ago I've written about flamingos, too [4b]. Thanks! Shrimps evoke a culinary picture, but how about this alternative version? [4c]
[4a] https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1428969590789818099?q=Krill 
[4b] Flamingos at Laguna Chaxa in the Salar de Atacama 
https://rheumatologe.blogspot.com/2016/11/flamingos-at-laguna-chaxa-in-salar-de.html 
[4c] Now, you have to return to the above
[5] In a discussion with Rick Dadarrio we talked about floats that were made of glass (in the 1960ies and now more of plastic) and though sometime you found them on the beach of the North Sea, most people bought them. The floats and other items from the sea were fastened to a net and draped on a wall of the "basement party room". 
[6] The day before yesterday a squirrel buried – not an acorn but a walnut – two meters next to me; they usually don't come this close.
[7] The birdfeeder belongs to my brother, but as he and my SIL are in Cologne every week for a couple of days and moreover the birdfeeder is on my site, the tits were somehow right to knock at my door. 
[8] In case you don't believe me: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterix_and_the_Golden_Sickle 

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Haiku for National Haiku Writing Month – September 2026 First Half

National Haiku Writing Month has been founded by the well known haiku poet Michael Dylan Welch. The goal is to write at least one haiku a day. National Haiku Writing Month is in its 14th year. [1] I enjoy writing to the prompts on Facebook. Here are some interesting links: [2]. Our prompter this month is Debbie Guzzi, who's doing so for the first time. Thanks a lot for prompting, Debbie! I'm enjoying your prompts very much.

oh mica 
not all that glimmers 
but still … 
~ Mica

colorful foliage 
raked into heaps
history, too 
~ Rake



at the old pond 
the toad jumps 
yuck! 
~ Toad

empty deckchair 
it's raining outside 
sizzling haiku inside 
~ Sizzling

dry and warm 
lying on pine needles 
just a hawk's cry 
~ Pine Needles

looking at ladybugs 
or the color indigo 
thinking of coachella 
~ Ladybug

crickets and sunset 
the fireflies following 
living right now 
~ Fireflies

light and water 
entering the cracks 
and ivy 
~ Cracks



gothic castle 
lichen, moss, and ivy 
and of corpse … 
~ Lichen 

i used to eat 
fried fiddleheads 
now they grow out 
~ Fiddleheads

stopping 
the magma flow 
with a garden hose 
~ Magma

the magic returns 
to the reflecting pool 
optimist's view 
~ Reflection

the brain leaves 
ripples of memories 
then leaves 
~ Ripples

late summer 
the time is ripe for 
frosted muffins 
~ Frost

still blossoms 
and ripening fruits 
but frost lurks 
~ Frost

sleeping ducks 
floating on water 
with koi beneath 
~ Water 

Links and Annotations:
[1] National Haiku Writing Month https://www.facebook.com/NaHaiWriMo  
[2] „To help with haiku fundamentals, please have a look at "Becoming a Haiku Poet" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/becoming-a-haiku-poet. Please review the "Haiku Checklist" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/haiku-checklist. I also recommend to read: https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/why-no-5-7-5 

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Haiku for “Walking the path together...” – August 2026

I'd like to share some haiku I've written during August 2026 for the Facebook Group “PERCORRIAMO INSIEME... HAIKU E DINTORNI “Walking the path together...” [1]. Initiator of this group is Mrs Tiziana Ciola, who also prompted for “National Haiku Writing Month” [2]. I enjoyed very much writing there and the criticism and encouragement have been incredible. Right now I don't have enough time to read and write about other writer's haiku, though this improves your own efforts. Still in 2026 I have travels to come to Poland and Japan, but afterwards I hope that I'll still be welcome in this group.

Prompt ~ The Train and The Journey
summer vacation
the rattata rattata
and lazy eyes shut

Variation:
summer vacation
the surf rolls out softly
lazy eyes shut 

Prompt ~ Evening breeze
evening breeze 
filled with dark scents 
evanescing

Prompt ~ Figs
eating dried figs 
under the large fig tree 
a bit crazy

Prompt ~ Corn Cobs 
golden corn cobs 
hanging on withered plants 
harvest moon

Prompt ~ Gilthead Seabream 
under the moon 
the golden specks of seabreams 
escaping at last 

Prompt ~ Tent / Curtains!   
camping at the lake 
no luxury in the tent 
but no mosquitos

Prompt ~ Hydrangeas 
a pot of 
withered hydrangeas 
everlasting

Prompt ~ Drought
during this drought 
unripe apples are falling 
without a sound

Prompt ~ Summer Rain
a sudden rain 
on the parched country road 
this scent of summer

Variation:
a sudden rain 
on the parched country road 
wet holes in the dust

Prompt ~ Sweat
last day 
of summer vacation 
still sweating 

Prompt ~ "Fumo"
autumn approaches 
grey smoke leaves the chimney 
as leaves change color

Variation:
grey smoke
from the chimney —
leaves changing Color

Prompt ~ with azure moss and flowers
the graves are covered 
with azure moss and flowers 
but we keep Walking 

Prompt ~ Midges / Gnats 
camping at the lake 
humans are on the menu 
in gnat's fav resto

Prompt ~ Beach Evenings
beach evening 
plastic clings to seaweed 
but our eyes are shut

Prompt ~ Shooting Stars
summer is ending 
the meteors are to come 
we wait under clouds

Prompt ~ Mallow
mallow flower tea 
evening at the hostel 
recalling each time 

Prompt ~ Wheel
looking at 
the dharma wheel and sunflower 
both turn

Changed to:
look at
the dharma wheel and sunflower
both are turning 

Prompt ~ Blueberries
picking blueberries 
the hands are already blue 
as mouth and tongue

Prompt ~ Summer Breeze
summer breeze 
the reeds are bowing
as the boat rocks

Prompt ~ Salamander
the salamander 
under the marsh marigolds 
not minding the rain

Prompt ~ Zinnias
a bumble bee 
on the violet zinnia 
only I watch

Links and Annotations:
[1] PERCORRIAMO INSIEME... HAIKU E DINTORNI “Walking the path together...”
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1569690610826719/ 
[2] National Haiku Writing Month 
https://www.facebook.com/NaHaiWriMo 

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Haiku for National Haiku Writing Month – August 2026 Second Half

National Haiku Writing Month has been founded by the well known haiku poet Michael Dylan Welch. The goal is to write at least one haiku a day. National Haiku Writing Month is in its 14th year. [1] I enjoy writing to the prompts on Facebook. Here are some interesting links: [2]. Our prompter this month has been Mark Stuart Farrar [3], who had done so previously in March 2023, June 2024, and December 2025. Thanks a lot for prompting, Mark! I enjoyed it very much.

the spider's web 
between roes and boxwood 
is still empty 
~ Empty

weeds and grass 
withered in the drought 
here they are again 
~ Again

in the web 
of forgotten memories 
he's still dad 
~ Forgotten

sunshine and wind 
leaf through the trees 
i have a journal 
~ Through

roger taylor [4]
still the best singing 
galileo, galileo 
~ Still

the old pond 
quite busy as usual 
reflecting frog watchers  
~ Quite

after midnight 
even the skyscrapers loose 
light by light 
~ After

sepia pictures 
pals from school days 
all fading away 
~ Fading 

again and again 
crow against red kite 
no peace in sight 
~ Against

the lotus blossom 
just started blooming 
under some raindrops 
~ Recently

intersecting contrails 
not exactly ninety degrees 
but a cross 
~ Exactly

the fen still burns [5]
the air is filled with smoke 
despite the rain 
~ Despite

almost empty 
the rail replacement bus 
near the terminus 
~ Almost

old cherry tree 
instead of blossoms 
snowflakes fall 
~ Instead

the nightingale 
sings into the afterglow 
suddenly 
~ Suddenly

four deer 
stopping in the twilight 
the dog passes 
~ Unnoticed

Links and Annotations:
[1] National Haiku Writing Month https://www.facebook.com/NaHaiWriMo  
[2] „To help with haiku fundamentals, please have a look at "Becoming a Haiku Poet" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/becoming-a-haiku-poet. Please review the "Haiku Checklist" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/haiku-checklist. I also recommend to read: https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/why-no-5-7-5 
[3] https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/meet-the-prompters/mark-stuart-farrar  
[4] Roger Meddows Taylor (born 1949) is an English musician, songwriter and record producer. He played drums and has been a backing vocalist for the rock band Queen. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Taylor_(Queen_drummer) 
[5] The High Fens in Belgium (near the border to Germany) are burning. The area concerned measures 3200 m² (about 7900 acres). 

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Haiku for National Haiku Writing Month – August 2026 First Half

National Haiku Writing Month has been founded by the well known haiku poet Michael Dylan Welch. The goal is to write at least one haiku a day. National Haiku Writing Month is in its 14th year. [1] I enjoy writing to the prompts on Facebook. Here are some interesting links: [2]. Our prompter this month is Mark Stuart Farrar [3], who has done so previously in March 2023, June 2024, and December 2025. Thanks a lot for prompting, Mark! 

while we kiss 
it is raining 
not minding 
~ While

Or maybe:
it is raining 
while we kiss 
not minding 
~ While

this summer 
heat, heat and drought 
enough is enough 
~ Enough

somehow 
we survive
i guess 
~ Somehow

the wind churns in the tree 
and the cherries fall 
all but one 
~ Except

the fresh linen 
smells of childhood 
only sometimes 
~ Only

in the attic 
old boxes lingering 
and your fragrance 
~ Lingering

before sunrise 
all dreams come true 
keep dreaming 
~ Before

wild things leap 
without thinking 
-: MAGA does, too
~ Without

too dry 
and too much rain 
every summer 
~ Always

listening to 
resonating silence 
perhaps a revelation 
~ Perhaps

in my garden 
cherry, plum, apple blossoms 
 are white, but … 
~ Unlike 

eventually 
even boys grow up 
-: or not 
~ Eventually

no people 
in the old church 
but prayers stay 
~ Silent

the family 
on the faded picture 
not beyond repair 
~ Beyond

and kilometers 
to go before I sleep 
frost vs. metric 
~ Versus 

Links and Annotations:
[1] National Haiku Writing Month https://www.facebook.com/NaHaiWriMo  
[2] „To help with haiku fundamentals, please have a look at "Becoming a Haiku Poet" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/becoming-a-haiku-poet. Please review the "Haiku Checklist" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/haiku-checklist. I also recommend to read: https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/why-no-5-7-5 
[3] https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/meet-the-prompters/mark-stuart-farrar  

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Haiku for National Haiku Writing Month – July 2026

 

National Haiku Writing Month has been founded by the well known haiku poet Michael Dylan Welch. The goal is to write at least one haiku a day. National Haiku Writing Month is in its 14th year. [1] I enjoy writing to the prompts on Facebook. Here are some interesting links: [2]. Our prompter this month has been Tiziana Ciola [3], who has prompting for NaHaiWriMo for the first time, with an “Alice in Wonderland” theme. Thanks a lot for prompting, Tiziana! It has been a pleasure to write haiku to your prompts, though I had been travelling through remote locations in Mongolia without even electricity. I hope there'll be another opportunity to answer to your promts, Tiziana!

only mother 
may enter the christmas room 
we try to peep 
~ The Lovely Garden 
(a distant longing seen through a keyhole) 

never lost 
the tiny golden key 
is covered in mud 
~ The Tiny Golden Key 
(hidden passages, locked opportunities) 

a man on a one palm island 
running around 
guilty, of course 
~ The Caucus Race 
(running in circles with no destination) [4]

when sorrow 
fills a pool of tears 
weepers drain it 
~ Pool of Tears 
(swimming in one’s own emotions) 

babies drink from this bottle 
for a lifetime of 
growing and shrinking 
~ The “Drink Me” Bottle 
(growing and shrinking) 

sand flowing 
through the hourglass 
as time goes by 
~ Pocket Watch 
(hurry, the ticking of time) 

falling down 
an utterly ordinary day 
but the wounds won't heal 
~ The Rabbit Hole

Links and Annotations:
[1] National Haiku Writing Month https://www.facebook.com/NaHaiWriMo  
[2] „To help with haiku fundamentals, please have a look at "Becoming a Haiku Poet" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/becoming-a-haiku-poet. Please review the "Haiku Checklist" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/haiku-checklist. I also recommend to read: https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/why-no-5-7-5 
[3] https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/meet-the-prompters/tiziana-ciola 
[4] I've once used something similar as a zen riddle for friends. Text in several languages, mostly German. 
Eine einsame Insel im Pazifik
Eine einsame Insel im Pazifik. Ein Mann geht im Kreis um die einzige Palme. Natürlich hat er Unrecht!

[A lonely island in the Pacific
A lonely island in the Pacific. A man walks in circles around the only palm tree. Of course, he is wrong!]
https://rheumatologe.blogspot.com/2017/09/eine-einsame-insel-im-pazifik.htm  

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Haiku for National Haiku Writing Month – May 2026 Second Half

National Haiku Writing Month has been founded by the well known haiku poet Michael Dylan Welch. The goal is to write at least one haiku a day. National Haiku Writing Month is in its 14th year. [1] I enjoy writing to the prompts on Facebook. Here are some interesting links: [2]. Our prompter this month has been Rick Daddario [3]. Rick has done so before in October 2023, April 2024, and November 2025. Thanks a lot for prompting, Rick! It has been a pleasure to write haiku to your prompts.

the lights go down 
night soothing day's wounds 
but the willow weeps 
~ Light

last embers 
in their own ash 
sparks of hope 
~ Ash

wild hooves across 
camargue's salt marshes 
egrets flying up 
~ Marsh 

no crash 
just shivering 
on the hudson 
~ Crash

no crash 
before nirvana 
just darkness 
~ Crash

the squirrel 
jumps on a branch 
carpet of blossoms 
~ Branch

endlessly empty 
since you have gone 
your fragrance lingers

no fire 
no one around 
driftwood in peace 
~ Drift

sailing
through dublin 
Lá Bloom  
~ Bloom

stones thrown 
ripples on the lake 
two embrace and part 
~ Stone

in the twilight 
even the cherry blossoms 
are silhouettes 
~ Twilight



calligraphy 
with a brush 
and my tongue 
~ Brush [4]

the wind 
in the sturdy canvas 
recalling a melody 
~ Canvas

the wind 
in the sturdy canvas 
recalling a tune 
~ Canvas (Alternative) 

down the corniche 
still breathing 
still … 
~ Breathing [5]

blackcurrants 
even written in blue ink 
recalling the taste 
~ Ink

pouring rain 
kindling the delicate flame 
shivering 
~ Flame

Links and Annotations:
[1] National Haiku Writing Month https://www.facebook.com/NaHaiWriMo  
[2] „To help with haiku fundamentals, please have a look at "Becoming a Haiku Poet" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/becoming-a-haiku-poet. Please review the "Haiku Checklist" at https://www.graceguts.com/essays/haiku-checklist. I also recommend to read: https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/why-no-5-7-5. 
[3] https://www.nahaiwrimo.com/meet-the-prompters/rick-daddario 
[4] The large characters mean: "Talking about is easy" - I've written these characters at the inauguration party of a friend's doctoral degree (Dr. phil.) in sinology, which is what the small characters on the right side say. Not to be seen are all the names, all written in Chinese characters by the participants of the party.
[5] I know, the Princess of Monaco (Grace Kelly) didn't die directly of her injuries, when her car crashed at the Corniche, but the accident inspired me. You might, however, like her more driving in "To Catch a Thief". 

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