I spent the day at a very large elementary school today, where I spoke to every single student in the course of my visit.
it was daunting, but delightful.

No less than 5 children told me they were going to grow up to be authors.
(Actually, one said, "What are you again? ‘Cause that’s what I’m going to be!")
Later, one wide-eyed 3rd grader asked me if I was really famous.

But the best part of the day might’ve been when a class of 3rd graders surprised me at lunchtime with a poetry reading — their own original pieces. Most had them memorized and quite a few were very funny. There was a haiku about Disneyland, and a rhyming couplet about giving a beaver a fever. The kids were all so enamored with their own work, and so happy to share it in front of each other and me. Would that we could hang onto a little of that openhearted confidence over the years…

When I stepped out into the sunshine after the last session, I had to squint.
The day had gotten so pretty. And now the sun’s gone down but really, it still is…

Haiku 12
4/12/2010

half-glance at the sun —
behind low lids, a glowing
that will last and last

Haiku 11
4/11/2010

I can’t remember
ground I’ve already covered.
Today’s run is new.

Haiku 10
4/10/2010

eight oars stroke and pull
keeping company with ducks
at home on water

Last year, I spent more time in my April entries talking about haiku — its form and technicalities (like in this post).
And you are welcome to peruse all of those if you’d like (or other folks’ more erudite discussions than mine.)

But for me, for now, I’m just enjoying the process of noticing, writing and letting these little tiny poems go…

Haiku 9
4/9/2010

pigtails in the wind
so many eager hands raised —
how should I answer?

I went on the road late last week for a very inspiring book gig. 

As one of three authors/illustrators (including the ever-awesome Don Tate and Kelly Bennett) at the10th Annual Corpus Christi Children’s Book Festival, I read to approximately 1,000 four- and five-year-olds. 

Seriously. That is not a typo.

They move these groups of kids through with their wiggles and their matching t-shirts and an amazing amount of calm and grace. All in all, it was pretty swell, and I made it home happy and just a little hoarse (and with a speeding ticket, but we won’t go into that here.)

Needless to say, my time at the computer has been limited, but my haiku have been accumulating regardless.
And without further ado, here they are…

Haiku 8
4/8/2010

Pigeon, grackle, squirrel — 
who brought you sunflower seeds?
ready offering

This one’s in honor of my Small One,
sweet, wild and upside down…

Haiku 7
4/7/2010

Yesterday marked another day I was able to write a haiku but unable to post it.
I’ll rectify that now, with my very seasonal little piece.

I am more appreciative of spring this year than I often am.

Partly because our winter was (and I can see you northerners rolling your eyes and guffawing here) particularly wet, cold and gray.

And also because this spring itself is exceptionally beautiful — with cool mornings and evenings, and more bluebonnets than I’ve ever seen.

But also, at the most fundamental level, because we’re sort of in thick over here in terms of human drama and struggle. And we are positively hungry for spring (with all its complementary natural and pagan metaphors and literalisms about fresh starts and rebirth and growth and possibility.)

You may be, too.
There’s certainly plenty to go around…

Haiku 6
4/6/2010

One of the things I love about living where we live is that we can bike to school all year round.
Sometimes it’s still a little dark, sometimes it’s still a little chilly, but we load up with backpacks and lunchbags and binders and pedal our way toward the morning bell.
The girls are inevitably awake and in possession of improved moods by the time we pull up to the bike rack in front of school.

This morning I watched all the neighborhood squirrels navigate the power lines as the sun came up.
Meanwhile, Small One recited her Shakespeare lines and Tall One told us about an idea she has for a story.
(What I wouldn’t do for all her ideas…)

A few minutes later, they were both ensconsed in their classrooms and I was taking an easy ride home…

Haiku Five
4/5/2010

Squirrels can’t stop to talk
Their telephone lines waver
and they hurry on

I didn’t log in yesterday.
It was Easter, it was Sunday and it was my birthday.
There were eggs to hunt and languid cups of coffee to enjoy.

But, I did write my haiku.
I mean, really, it almost feels like cheating when the weather is this fine. 
How could one not come up with 17 syllables out of all this goodness?

So, here goes. And today’s haiku will follow in a separate post…

Haiku 4

wind stirs the bamboo leaves
the sound of raindrops falling — 
will it fool the frogs?

We spent a lot of time outdoors today —
it’s that time of year here.
We potted some pretty spring plants (with a bias toward pink zinnias),
dyed Easter eggs in a friend’s backyard, 
and walked the dog more than once. 
(Which is unnecessary since she’s fifteen, but who could resist?)

Most of what I notice right now is the smell of grape hyacinth in the air, the almost-perfect non-tempature and the birds, nesting. But today there was also a little something in the air…

Haikus Three
4/3/2010

Try to catch your breath,
the air yellowed with pollen
and heavy with spring.

Trees reproducing
with sticky vigor and lust;
blatant and straight-up.