A
MBROSIA
Journal of Fine Haiku
Issue 2 WINTER 2009
ISSN 1943-829X [Print] ISSN 1945-8797 [Digital]
Edited by
Denis M. Garrison
MODERN ENGLISH TANKA PRESS
Post Office Box 43717
Baltimore, Maryland 21236 USA
www.modernenglishtankapress.com www.themetpress.com
publisher@modernenglishtankapress.com
Ambrosia: Journal of Fine Haiku
Issue 2 - Winter 2009
Copyright © 2009 by Modern English Tanka Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
mechanical means including information storage and
retrieval systems without permission in writing from
the publisher, except by reviewers and scholars who
may quote up to six poems.
Front cover artwork Copyright © 2009
by Denis M. Garrison.
Ambrosia: Journal of Fine Haiku
, a quarterly print and
digital journal, is dedicated to publishing and
promoting the finest of traditional haiku in English.
Send all submissions and editorial correspondence
to: dmg@themetpress.com
Ambrosia: Journal of Fine Haiku
Issue 2 - Winter 2009
Published by
MODERN ENGLISH TANKA PRESS
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 2009.
Print Edition ISSN 1943-829X
Digital Edition ISSN 1945-8797 [
PDF
&
HTML
versions]
www.ambrosiahaiku.com
E
ditor’s
N
ote
.
In this Issue 2 of
Ambrosia: Journal of
Fine Haiku
, we are pleased to present another 100 top
drawer haiku from thirty-one leading poets. All these
poets, while writing in English, respect the formal
values of traditional Japanese haiku.
David Giacalone, on his
f/k/a
blog (Dec. 4, 2008)
commented on
Ambrosia 1
: “In his Editor’s Note,
Denis tells us: ‘
Ambrosia considers the traditional poetic
aesthetics of Japan as necessary, not in order to pay homage to the
tradition, but because without their understanding and skillful
use, writing haiku worth reading is difficult, if not impossible.
’
At a time when some editors seem to mistake artifice
for originality, unusual for unique, contrived for
creative, and juvenile for rejuvenating, the
f/k/a
Gang
applauds Denis Garrison for reminding us that the
haiku genre does indeed have a recognizable shape and
scent, and for insisting on standards of quality.” Thank
you
, David, for your kind words.
Remember,
Ambrosia
is looking for powerful haiku in
tercets, in a natural, modern English idiom. [Please
submit senryu to
Prune Juice
(Alexis Rotella, Ed.), not to
Ambrosia
.] So, please send us some of your best haiku!
—Denis M. Garrison, editor
winter forest
even now, the new . . .
the fallen
Denis M. Garrison
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Issue 2, Winter 2009
morning dawn . . .
the harsh cough of
shanties
Robert D. Wilson
Veintereales, Valenzuela City, Philippines
1
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
out of the
blue silence
a heron
M. Kei
Perryville, Maryland, USA
2
Issue 2, Winter 2009
morning coffee
watching the last drips
from the eaves
Francis Masat
Key West, Florida, USA
3
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
embers
even the fireflies
silent
Raffael de Gruttola
Natick, Massachusetts, USA
4
Issue 2, Winter 2009
All day their scent,
the white carnations
I didn’t buy.
Alexis Rotella
Arnold, Maryland, USA
5
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
cresting waves;
horses’ manes surfing
offshore winds
Brenda J. Bechtel
Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA
6
Issue 2, Winter 2009
after the earthquake
the pieces of the moon
in my mirror
Jacek Margolak
Kielce, Poland
7
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
a bald eagle
cries a river of salmon—
the ocean fills
Albert Schlaht
Missoula, Montana, USA
8
Issue 2, Winter 2009
Last camellia—
it gives me
tears.
Grace Cavalieri
Annapolis, Maryland, USA
9
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
the gravel road
has it all to itself—
the short day
Jeffrey Woodward
Detroit, Michigan, USA
10
Issue 2, Winter 2009
blood test . . .
a single red rose
in the vase
Susan Constable
Nanoose Bay, British Columbia, Canada
11
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
changing shadows
the strength of
forgiveness
Raffael de Gruttola
Natick, Massachusetts, USA
12
Issue 2, Winter 2009
disappearing
into the red maple leaves
the landlord
M. Kei
Perryville, Maryland, USA
13
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
a cold moon
at the window,
a woman in bed
Jeffrey Woodward
Detroit, Michigan, USA
14
Issue 2, Winter 2009
a deer
still in the field
I approach
Brenda J. Bechtel
Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA
15
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
The three of us
dropping stones in a well.
Where are they now?
David Pope
Annapolis, Maryland, USA
16
Issue 2, Winter 2009
staring through
a whitefish’s eye . . .
Winter clouds
Robert D. Wilson
Veintereales, Valenzuela City, Philippines
17
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
math class
I count each snowflake
on the window
Jacek Margolak
Kielce, Poland
18
Issue 2, Winter 2009
Autumn stillness—
it doesn’t matter
if the fish don’t bite.
Alexis Rotella
Arnold, Maryland, USA
19
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
a crow vanishes
in midair
first snow
Francis Masat
Key West, Florida, USA
20
Issue 2, Winter 2009
tour guide lectures
leading us through crowded streets
orange butterfly
Deborah Finkelstein
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
21
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
favouring wind . . .
the grass leans with me
toward home
Jo McInerney
Boolarra, Victoria, Australia
22
Issue 2, Winter 2009
icy morning
a hot air balloon
hangs in the mist
Elaine Riddell
Hamilton, New Zealand
23
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
frosty morning
the tips of pine needles
sparkle with ice drops
Rafal Zabratynski
Rzeszow, Poland
24
Issue 2, Winter 2009
at dusk,
a butterfly’s wing
recalls your absence
Gary Christopher Payne
Yantis, Texas, USA
25
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
moonrise
bare branches turn
from black to silver
Francis Masat
Key West, Florida, USA
26
Issue 2, Winter 2009
boat-man fishing
stillness cast toward
a loon
Brenda J. Bechtel
Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA
27
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
leaves fall
autumn fire
burns the ground
Janice Kinory
Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire, England
28
Issue 2, Winter 2009
letting go
a butterfly drifts
into light
Jo McInerney
Boolarra, Victoria, Australia
29
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
Crumpled leaves
at my feet—
soft as slippers
April Orr
Boolarra, Victoria, Australia
30
Issue 2, Winter 2009
summer dusk
the seal’s wake
undisturbed
Susan Constable
Nanoose Bay, British Columbia, Canada
31
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
autumn evening
little girls catch a
woolly caterpillar
M. Kei
Perryville, Maryland, USA
32
Issue 2, Winter 2009
while stars sleep,
we make our own . . .
morning rain
Robert D. Wilson
Veintereales, Valenzuela City, Philippines
33
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
summer cottages
offering up darkened panes—
the first winter rain
Jeffrey Woodward
Detroit, Michigan, USA
34
Issue 2, Winter 2009
morning . . .
an apple washing on the tips
of wet grass
Tish Davis
Dublin, Ohio, USA
35
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
above corn shocks
a sculling hawk;
I wade between rows
Brenda J. Bechtel
Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA
36
Issue 2, Winter 2009
scent of dawn . . .
blossoms swooning
upon blossoms
Keith A. Simmonds
Macoya Gardens, Tunapuna, Trinidad & Tobago
37
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
smile for
me sky, i’m tired of
your dark moods
Robert D. Wilson
Veintereales, Valenzuela City, Philippines
38
Issue 2, Winter 2009
after the storm
cherry petals among
the clouds
Jacek Margolak
Kielce, Poland
39
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
spring mending . . .
that crazy-eyed cow
with a twisted horn
Michele L. Harvey
Hamilton, New York, USA
40
Issue 2, Winter 2009
graveyard
a butterfly skims
the stillness
Collin Barber
Marion, Arkansas, USA
41
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
painting the walls—
through the door winter blue
above the slates
John Kinory
Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire, England
42
Issue 2, Winter 2009
the garden
has no limits
to the snail
Jean LeBlanc
Newton, New Jersey, USA
43
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
after the ice storm—
my reluctance to climb
out of a hot bath
Kirsty Karkow
Waldoboro, Maine, USA
44
Issue 2, Winter 2009
Quite alone
in the parental house—
snowdays
Vasile Moldovan
Bucharest City, Romania
45
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
withered leaves
in a crotch of the maple
morning mist
Susan Constable
Nanoose Bay, British Columbia, Canada
46
Issue 2, Winter 2009
Winter sun—
some icicles dripping
from the eaves
Magdalena Dale
Bucharest, Romania
47
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
empty veranda
a touch of frost caught
in the dreamcatcher
Rafal Zabratynski
Rzeszow, Poland
48
Issue 2, Winter 2009
off the concrete barrier—
the lighted eyes
of the seagulls
Raffael de Gruttola
Natick, Massachusetts, USA
49
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
Autumn—
sweeter the voices
of red-winged blackbirds.
Alexis Rotella
Arnold, Maryland, USA
50
Issue 2, Winter 2009
a strand of
scattered pearls,
the Milky Way
M. Kei
Perryville, Maryland, USA
51
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
across the field,
a snail pushing his
weight around
Robert D. Wilson
Veintereales, Valenzuela City, Philippines
52
Issue 2, Winter 2009
bending to touch
the wing-prints of an owl . . .
Snow Moon
Michele L. Harvey
Hamilton, New York, USA
53
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
Winter evening—
the Black Sea lighted
by the snowfall
Vasile Moldovan
Bucharest City, Romania
54
Issue 2, Winter 2009
the Pleiades
a bright stone path
rises above the snow
Francis Masat
Key West, Florida, USA
55
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
getting older—
frost on the last twelve inches
of switchgrass
Tish Davis
Dublin, Ohio, USA
56
Issue 2, Winter 2009
late summer
the half-moon silver tips
a meadow
Adelaide B. Shaw
Millbrook, New York, USA
57
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
a pelican dives
into the green ocean
dragging its shadow
Keith A. Simmonds
Macoya Gardens, Tunapuna, Trinidad & Tobago
58
Issue 2, Winter 2009
a child runs
through the stillness
of his breath
Robert D. Wilson
Veintereales, Valenzuela City, Philippines
59
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
leaf falling
on the first one
to rake leaves
Shawn Bowman
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
60
Issue 2, Winter 2009
February snow . . .
the sweet heart
of a maple
Michele L. Harvey
Hamilton, New York, USA
61
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
morning rain—
a bottle on a book
on the bedside table
Collin Barber
Marion, Arkansas, USA
62
Issue 2, Winter 2009
finch calls to finch
across the brook . . .
I rest my briefcase
John Kinory
Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire, England
63
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
the sweet curve
of an infant’s skull
cradle moon
Jo McInerney
Boolarra, Victoria, Australia
64
Issue 2, Winter 2009
a couple dozen sparrows
becoming as one
with the hedge
Jean LeBlanc
Newton, New Jersey, USA
65
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
turned earth—
time to put away
my engagement ring
Kirsty Karkow
Waldoboro, Maine, USA
66
Issue 2, Winter 2009
A cold spell—
the sparrows are chirping
to warm themselves
Vasile Moldovan
Bucharest City, Romania
67
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
Fresh blood
over the trace steps—
icy moon
Magdalena Dale
Bucharest, Romania
68
Issue 2, Winter 2009
snow in the air
the barge turns on its mooring
nudges the shore
Elaine Riddell
Hamilton, New Zealand
69
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
blue jays clamor . . .
in this noonday sun
a brook’s echo
Douglas Ryan
Pembroke, Massachusetts, USA
70
Issue 2, Winter 2009
biting cold
the Milky Way
even milkier
Rafal Zabratynski
Rzeszow, Poland
71
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
the short night—
a white button surrounded
by sidewalk
Tish Davis
Dublin, Ohio, USA
72
Issue 2, Winter 2009
autumn sunrise
on a halo of mist
hitching a ride
Keith A. Simmonds
Macoya Gardens, Tunapuna, Trinidad & Tobago
73
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
a lean-to
made of cardboard . . .
winter rain
Robert D. Wilson
Veintereales, Valenzuela City, Philippines
74
Issue 2, Winter 2009
favorite coat
the threadbare patch
of wind-driven snow
Michele L. Harvey
Hamilton, New York, USA
75
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
cold light
through autumn leaves
a marbled moon
Jo McInerney
Boolarra, Victoria, Australia
76
Issue 2, Winter 2009
in-laws . . .
a hill and a hollow
between our houses
Kirsty Karkow
Waldoboro, Maine, USA
77
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
Deep footprints
through the new snowbed—
a lone wolf
Vasile Moldovan
Bucharest City, Romania
78
Issue 2, Winter 2009
By the fireplace
a glimmering flame . . .
winter wind
Magdalena Dale
Bucharest, Romania
79
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
cacophony . . .
a congregation
of tree frogs
Keith A. Simmonds
Macoya Gardens, Tunapuna, Trinidad & Tobago
80
Issue 2, Winter 2009
winter dusk . . .
the charcoal seller
disappears
Robert D. Wilson
Veintereales, Valenzuela City, Philippines
81
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
making its own way
in this world—
a winding stream
Jeffrey Woodward
Detroit, Michigan, USA
82
Issue 2, Winter 2009
Tears on my window
as the snow
begins to melt
April Orr
Boolarra Victoria, Australia
83
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
answering
the blue moon . . .
red fox
Tish Davis
Dublin, Ohio, USA
84
Issue 2, Winter 2009
in slanting light
footprints disappearing
in sand
Brenda J. Bechtel
Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA
85
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
a misty beach walk
following the footprints
of gulls
Adelaide B. Shaw
Millbrook, New York, USA
86
Issue 2, Winter 2009
a lantern
over the village . . .
full moon
Keith A. Simmonds
Macoya Gardens, Tunapuna, Trinidad & Tobago
87
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
take a break,
ant, you make me
feel guilty!
Robert D. Wilson
Veintereales, Valenzuela City, Philippines
88
Issue 2, Winter 2009
winter dawn
treetops still dark
with crows
Jacek Margolak
Kielce, Poland
89
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
stopping
at a park on the way
migrating geese
Shawn Bowman
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
90
Issue 2, Winter 2009
yawning moon . . .
another cockroach
on the bed
Robert D. Wilson
Veintereales, Valenzuela City, Philippines
91
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
summer house...
the winter worn path
of a woodchuck
Michele L. Harvey
Hamilton, New York, USA
92
Issue 2, Winter 2009
in the wake
of a nightmare
birdsong
Collin Barber
Marion, Arkansas, USA
93
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
a whistling wind . . .
between the jeans and her navel
a freckle
John Kinory
Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire, England
94
Issue 2, Winter 2009
axe blow . . .
something breaks
in the silence
Jo McInerney
Boolarra, Victoria, Australia
95
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
this smooth pebble—
how many thousand waves
did it take?
Jean LeBlanc
Newton, New Jersey, USA
96
Issue 2, Winter 2009
a leaf falls gently
amid the bustle of ants . . .
the north wind listens
Albert Schlaht
Missoula, Montana, USA
97
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
no more regrets
the last bits of ice float
out with the tide
Kirsty Karkow
Waldoboro, Maine, USA
98
Issue 2, Winter 2009
A tattered flag
at the mercy of the wind . . .
the last leaf
Vasile Moldovan
Bucharest City, Romania
99
AMBROSIA: Journal of Fine Haiku
the snow nearly gone
a white horse grazes
in a muddy field
Adelaide B. Shaw
Millbrook, New York, USA
100
Index
Barber, Collin, 41, 62, 93.
Bechtel, Brenda J., 6, 15, 27, 36, 85.
Bowman, Shawn, 60, 90.
Cavalieri, Grace, 9.
Constable, Susan, 11, 31, 46.
Dale, Magdalena, 47, 68, 79.
Davis, Tish, 35, 56, 72, 84.
de Gruttola, Raffael, 4, 12, 49.
Finkelstein, Deborah, 21.
Harvey, Michele L., 40, 53, 61, 75, 92.
Karkow, Kirsty, 44, 66, 77, 98.
Kei, M., 2, 13, 32, 51.
Kinory, Janice, 28.
Kinory, John, 42, 63, 94.
LeBlanc, Jean, 43, 65, 96.
Margolak, Jacek, 7, 18, 39, 89.
Masat, Francis, 3, 20, 26, 55.
McInerney, Jo, 22, 29, 64, 76, 95.
Moldovan, Vasile, 45, 54, 67, 78, 99.
Orr, April, 30, 83.
Payne, Gary Christopher, 25.
Pope, David, 16.
Riddell, Elaine, 23, 69.
Rotella, Alexis, 5, 19, 50.
Ryan, Douglas, 70.
Schlaht, Albert, 8, 97.
Shaw, Adelaide B., 57, 86, 100.
Simmonds, Keith A., 37, 58, 73, 80, 87.
Wilson, Robert D., 1, 17, 33, 38, 52, 59, 74, 81, 88,
91.
Woodward, Jeffrey, 10, 14, 34, 82.
Zabratynski, Rafal, 24, 48, 71.
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