Some Haiku by Elizabeth St Jacques

Some Haiku by Elizabeth St Jacques

Extracted from the Haiku Society of America's
1996 Merit Book Award Winner,
"Dance of Light" by Elizabeth St Jacques.
(One Time Electronic Reprint Rts.)

A published writer for 30 years, Elizabeth St Jacques' work has been published in ten countries. Author of eight books, including "Around the Tree of Light," the first collection of original English-language sijo poetry in North America. A frequent award winner, her collection, "landings soft" earned the Cicada Haiku Chapbook Award, published by Amelia Press, 1994. She is Assoc. Editor of Sijo West, Poetry Ed. of Canadian Writer's Journal, Contributing Ed. with Small Press Review and a Book Review Ed. with Albatross.

 from wet clay
 where no seed with grow
 the worm


 battle won,
 the rooster strutting
 with a limp


 in the field
 chirping wrens
 on the mean bull's back


 quiet twilight
    even birds are listening
    to the old push-mower


    final resting place
 beneath the new sunporch
    another sparrow


 november chill
 creeping through
 grandfather's house
 the scent of wintergreen


 woodshaving curl
 in winter light
 grandfather's violin


 this autumn night
 the small moth's touch -
 shiver of  the moon


 first heavy snow
     the broken fence leans
     a little lower


 winter dusk
     the rhythm of her knife
     chopping fruit and nuts


 Christmas Eve . . .
 in the snowbank
 a full-grown angel print


 biting my nails
      the acned boy begs
      my hand in marriage


 floating through moonlight
 to the New Year's dance
 on big brother's arm


 new year pledges
 in my hand
     pumpkin seeds



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