by cOLLEEN KEATING

walking the beach
beneath a reddened moon
breath of acrid air
where black ash trails
the tide line

an empty sky
where the blue gum stood –
returning birds
perch on a brick wall
chirping incessantly

Tuggerah Lake
swells at dusk
swallowing the spring moon
a lone pelican scoops
the last paling light

in Shiki’s garden
our guide struggles
to read haiku
carved on mossy stone
a bush warbler sings

• Poet’s note: a garden holding the Shikido
  Museum, dedicated to haiku poet Masaoka
  Shiki, which captures the atmosphere of his
  life in Matsuyama, Japan