Today, 17 April, is International Haiku Day, as declared by the Haiku Foundation. The members of Café Haiku got together to create haikai on the theme of new life, the warming of the earth.
Haiku by Geethanjali Rajan, art by Dhaatri Vengunad
Haiku by Raamesh Gowri Raghavan
spring morning walk
my dog struggles to cope
with the ladies
bonny boy
vague stirrings
in the bachelor uncle
living on
in my baby’s name
… father
Haibun by Dr Brijesh Raj
Magic
It is a singularly messy thing, this miracle of birthing. The room lined with newspaper. Well stocked with kitchen tissue, string, scissors and betadine kept near at hand. And muslin napkins in which puppy nails won’t get caught.
I hold on to a tiny paw and the tail and coax out downwards and outwards. Frantically rip off the slimy, membranous amniotic sac from the wriggly, squeally puppy and clear the mouth and nares of any ingested fluid. Hold the neck with a prong like two finger grip, keeping the rest of the body in the other hand and wave it downwards, once, twice, thrice to dislodge any inhaled liquor. Vigorously rub its body dry. Tie the umbilical cord close to the navel and cut off the surplus.
She gives a puppy every hour like clock work six times. My school mate is equal parts happy and relieved. But not as much as the rookie vet wiping a dripping brow.
village fair
the cousin recalls
‘the animal midwife
Haiku by Rohini Gupta
first rain
the baby crow hides
amid the coconuts
- The Elements – news from beyond
- The Elements – prayer garden
- The Elements – dandelion egret
- Submission Call – Cityscapes
- The Elements – first rain
Cafe Haiku 