Haiku by Francine
his laugh rings out—
no need for the fisherman
to exaggerate
I raise my head
from his chest, heartbeats
to crickets
open house
my children, their children . . .
joy is my middle name
fond grandma
rose-colored glasses
banana smeared
finding my father
in a Franz Hals painting—
how his eyes twinkle
warmed by the fire
not wanting to be older
or younger
poolside, we chat
about reincarnation;
no longer strangers
lilac buds
affirming the earth
and its fullness
snapped line—
the salmon’s full length
in the air
mama
on her hospital bed:
beyond vogue
without lipstick
without rouge
holding
her hand,
I reach
inside
the coma
twilight deepens—
the wordless things
I know
Michaelangelo
tapped his Moses on the knee:
arise and walk!
I kiss the cherry-red mouth
on the canvas
occupational hazard:
paint on her nightgown
Mother’s Day
gift-wrapped box of chocolates
one piece missing
star-shaped leaves
on each point
a raindrop
Bibliography of Books by Francine Porad
Francine Porad published books of haiku, senryu, tanka, and linked verse regularly for more than twenty years. Each of the following books was published by her own press, Vandina Press, except where noted. Connections, 1986 Pen & Inklings, 1986 After Autumn Rain, 1987 Blues on the Run, 1988 Free of Clouds, 1989 Without Haste, Cicada Chapbook Award, 1989 Hundreds of Wishes, 1990 A Mural of Leaves, 1991 Joy Is My Middle Name, 1993 The Patchwork Quilt, HSA Merit Book Award Winner, 1993 Waterways, Haiku Canada Sheet Selection, 1995 All Eyes, 1995 Ladles and Jellyspoons: Presentations, 1996 Extended Wings, 1996 Moon, Moon, 1997 Fog Lifting . . . , 1997 All the Games, 1997 Let’s Count the Trees, Haiku Canada Sheet Selection, 1998 Family Album, 1999 When in Doubt Add Red, 1999 The Perfect Worry-Stone, 2000 Cur*rent, with Marlene Mountain, 2000 Other Rens, books 1, 2, and 3, with Marlene Mountain and Kris Kondo, 2000 Trio of Wrens, with Marlene Mountain and Kris Kondo, 2000 Second Blooming, 2001 Hollyhocks Stand at Attention, 2001 Probably, with Marlene Mountain, 2002 Probably II, with Marlene Mountain, 2004 Sunlight Comes and Goes, 2004 |