spoiled brat media chick
rework your key messages
damage control

Ian Row

cyclone tracey
collapses into herself
landscape ripped apart

Ian Row

power failure
lemongrass yakitori don
brought to you by gas

Ian Row

you said, i said
in between words, between lines
between us

Ian Row

choose
in the end, ultimatum
two sides, one truth

Ian Row

Spot Haiku 30

i.
update my profile
advert neo vox populi
nobody reads

Walter Ego

ii.
frozen edges of
days that turn my nights to stone
give me doona dreams

Cathy Dineen

iii.
During a windstorm,
balance out the winds with a
cello concerto.

Chris Gill

iv.
Wet ancient city
Saw both Venus and David
Florence in summer

Matt Ryan

v.
Local laundromat
Dissed by Islander woman
Guess I’m not your bro

Ian Row

vi.
those numbers help you
see your own mortality -
run for your life, girl

Cathy Dineen

The psychedelic
reflections of sunlight give
the swimming pool soul

Jeff Patterson

today very hot
I want to go to the pond
I will swimming

Kreangkrai (Bew)

It's cold and I wait
somebody for a long time
i sad and lonely

Paetongtal (Pim)

Speed Round 14

i.
As per Ian's brief
I'm capturing the moment
Ha! It's not that hard.

Jo Gill

ii.
quick sleet downpour
I stop worrying about it
8.5 hits Chile

Alan Summers

iii.
all this killing, all
these bloody days, thom wyatt -
turn off "The Tudors".

Cathy Dineen

iv.
Strangely attractive,
any three bodies’ affair
cannot be foreseen.

Chris Gill

v.
Dinner, Diner Where?
After work drinks needs dinner
Dinner, Diner Now!

Paul Rozario

vi.
beads of warm sweat
melt between breasts
summer pleasure

Karen McVean

vii.
drowsy thoughts
in the leafy darkness
the bent necks of horses

deverhart2010

viii.
With my bedroom wall -
I saw my shadow; we kissed -
Shhh! Just between us

Jeff Patterson

ix.
Swanning around Prague
Michael Palin drives me nuts
Jealousy's a curse.

Jo Gill

x.
all inspiration
burns words clean of dross and fat -
then there's poetry

Cathy Dineen

a bucket ov fire
me endless luvv's gone bi
she's maya

Betty Bogan

Sweeter than sugar
magpies warble after rain
the earth sighs relief.

Chris Gill

In Evil 'Borders'
Where the air-conditioning
Is always PERFECT!

Simon Patience

train full of cargo
confession by the spoonful
teaspoonaholic

Jenny Morris

Three haiku about dodgy Mr Chen

i.
Dodgy Mr Chen
My favourite watch maker
You are surely timeless

ii.
In China you were
Mechanical Engineer
Oceans crushed your skill

iii.
Still you can fix all
You're surely beyond compare
Dodgy Mr Chen

Lucas Ryan

the new me attracts
animal magnetism
you're nice, you're so... me

Big Koala

trash can magazine
soap bubbles emerge from ears
i have No Idea

Jenny Morris

mobile phone charges
"usage not covered by cap"
bastards, all of you

Ian Row

Spot Haiku 29 Part 2 of 2

i.
snow blankets the earth
hiding the filth and squalor
land of make believe

Bumpo

ii.
summer silence
jesus in a manger
on the mantle

Timothy K

iii.
He wants a share house
This relationship ramps up
A whole new level

Jason Rostant

iv.
i'll sing jazz standards
in my new dress and shoes but
there won't be blue skies

Cathy Dineen

v.
New year, New System!
Alas! Worse than the old one!
Cheap student email.

Sutekh the Destroyer

vi.
a roar in the night
giant foot prints in the snow
THE YETIS ARE HERE!!!

Bumpo

vii.
slumber out of reach
a stolen chance of rest
as the fan thrums

cambosis

viii.
mystery coughing fit
perhaps i've been poisoned
non stick frying pan

Ian Row

ix.
Acknowledged greatness
in your spoken greeting style
makes it a “Hi!” coup.

Chris Gill

Spot Haiku 29 Part 1 of 2

Beneath shady beech
We walked this trail long ago,
Rocks alone the same.

Stepping over flowers,
Fallen onto a tree trunk.
We all will fall soon.

I climbed this mountain
But now I must keep climbing,
No rest ‘til the stars.

Doug Hamilton

India in three parts: Part 3

i.
overnight mail train
easy to romanticise
in first class a/c

ii.
they like strong colours
the hues and shades are what
they have problems with

iii.
papier-mâché boy
terra cotta elephant
worth their weight in gold

iv.
a dowry
the measure of a woman
gold, cash and livestock

v.
stolen rupees
from my unlocked suitcase
is a small problem

Ian Row

India in three parts: Part 2

i.
on every corner
a shrine to offer thanks, and
ask for clear passage

ii.
lost in the moment
among ten incarnations and
countless deities

iii.
did Jesus live here?
preach and pray, heal and cure?
only St. Thomas knows!

iv.
new year's eve movie
tamil flick with the locals
senses overload

v.
brotherhood - a lie
the system is a prison
where dies are cast

Ian Row

India in three parts: Part 1

i.
compare and contrast
learn your lessons and move on
and watch where you step!

ii.
rubbish bins
that's what India needs
now

iii.
kindness of strangers
"just want you to be happy"
i am your brother

vi.
killer biryani
for food this good i overlook
the filthy floor

v.
battling traffic
army of auto rickshaws
transport's foot soldiers

Ian Row

Singapore 12/09: Light and shade

i.
return to race; but
new level of graciousness.
new pecking order.

ii.
stranger in my house.
make the right gestures but i
feel the elephant.

iii.
slow bullet train.
how fast can you go in
a country so small?

iv.
my iPhone headphones
can't block out noisy child
or ugly passengers.

v.
24/7
shopping - distraction from
my dislocation.

vi.
no more Mercedes.
gone are your status symbols.
no shortage of gods.

vii.
old haunts, old habits.
points of reference give way
to memory.

Ian Row

people in a hurry
the Salvation Army bell
rings rings rings

Bill Kenney

i.
Memories surface
I offer rafts to most, but you
You I'll let drown

ii.
"Of course, we're not true.
I won't tell if you don't tell,"
Trouble said to Time.

Jeff Patterson

Oratorium -
therein pronounced these great words:
'Shut up and listen!'

Chris Gill

A haiku about proprioception

proprioception
body, i do not know you
in my mind i am

Ian Row

You saw flowers as
useless, dead - even those offered
with love, alive

Jeff Patterson

You claim I'm extinct
yet the forest where I live
looms large in your dreams.

Perhaps extinction
fills you with familiar dread?
Dare you sleep? See ya...

Terry the Thylacine

Seldom acknowledged,
insects serve our planet well -
Let us offer thanks!

Jeff Patterson

you and your bullshit
is this how i will be judged?
take it or leave it

Ian Row

A Bumpo Twinset

i.
Empty and hollow
toss a coin into my soul
evermore it falls

ii.
When will this all end?
There is no reply, nuthin
just sneering silence

Bumpo

i miss alcohol
escaping all my problems
sweet oblivion

Bumpo

pedantic lawyer
overcompensates; process
or paranoia?

Ian Row

Spot Haiku 28 - Part 4 of 4

i.
pain wracks my body
its as nothing to my heart
a lost love is worse

Bumpo

ii.
Throwing caution out,
Never know unless you try
The worst aint that bad

Jason Rostant

iii.
Even if it makes
no shred of karmic sense, be bold!
Expect lightning!

Jeff Patterson

iv.
fleetingness of life
allows space to be grateful
moment to moment

Dawn Mok

Spot Haiku 28 - Part 3 of 4

i.
Disaster movie:
Clues mount. We see what's coming.
"...now here's the weather!"

Chris Gill

ii.
ligurian bees
the other side of the world
living in exile

Ian Row

Spot Haiku 28 - Part 2 of 4

Renovation Redux

i.
it's shedding 30 years
of soap and paint and time;
it's half a bathroom.

ii.
When this is over;
my kitchen will look so old -
a new addiction?

Cathy Dineen

Spot Haiku 28 - Part 1 of 4

i.
Ah, sweet irony!
To drink wine as I write on
Drug use in prison!

Sutekh the Destroyer

ii.
christmas pressies
double-sided tape is my friend
RSI from wrapping

Ian Row

iii.
higher duties is
twenty four seven on call.
where's my extra cash?

Cesca Alice

iv.
At the local fete
I pick up all the litter
It's such a good job!

Simon Patience

v.
parking lot rage
brings out the nasty in me
change your mind, run

Ian Row

the real question is,
can you have too much mango?
asked the apricot.

Ian Row

Gah haiku

Bumpo

the secret boyfriend
it's not a secret anymore
truth will set you free

Ian Row

Iris nursery:
fanciful blooms, names more so!
Nature made chintzy.

Chris Gill

scent of cheap hotel
tobacco air freshener
your movie not mine

Jenny Morris

A haiku about geopolitical gender relations

Fatherlands invade.
Motherlands get invaded.
War fucks everyone.

Chris Gill

i.
It's more than silly
Seeing friends where there are none
It can nick your heart

ii.
Is it better for me
to treat these small poems
As Skittles or grapes?

Jeff Patterson

Tratratrankhun Suksa: Part 3 of 3

Part Three

i.
country roads
mile after mile after mile
around the world

Napawan Chabkangwan

ii.
the king too wealthy
the poor and homeless too poor
all will end will die

Attachai Had-an

iii.
in the blue daylight
an old cat and fishing pole
he wants a big shark

Niparat hanhiam (aka gate)

iv.
middle of the night
the confession of a child
when everyone sleeps

Salisa Thanakit (aka Bua)

v.
green fields in rain
everybody in their rows
only me not there

Nattiya Apiwat

vi.
snow very cold
sunshine very hot
my life hot and cold

Wattanachai Chawalitchaichan

vii.
in the crowd
silent talking in the heart
me and my shadow

Nawaporn Amornyut

viii.
miraculous dream
many times throughout one night
finally... nonsense

Tadcha Nujuk

ix.
now, rainy season
broken umbrella - student
wet uniform

Kulwadee Ekkaphojmethee (aka Tangmo)

x.
unexpectedly
the light from the moon will shine
the stars, useless

Salisa Thanakit (aka Bua)

Tratratrankhun Suksa: Part 2 of 3

Part Two

i.
love you in spring
come winter, i miss you
the heart alters

Nathapon Suksawad

ii.
broken flowerpot
seed splits, grows to be big tree
tree: still life

Nawaporn Amornyut

iii.
the award for
the best liar goes to
the people

Salisa Thanakit (aka Bua)

iv.
since one year ago
she, like sunshine of my life
thank you for loving

Mui

v.
close eyes and focus
her face in front of me
open eyes, focus

Napawan Chabkangwan

vi.
life
at least is nothing
but empty

Wattanachai Chawalitchaichan

vii.
i know i can fly
fly with my dream i slim
fly with me up high

Papawadee Salakphet

viii.
love = enigma
complicated physics
where's the love

Rattanaporn Thawin (aka Ann)

ix.
night comes again
the wind blows slowly
i wait for you

Patsaree Yarnnawut

x.
animals, buildings
plants... everything's touchable
but not my dream

Napawan Chabkangwan

xi.
water in the eyes
the plane on the runway
"good bye"

On-among Kituam

Tratratrankhun Suksa: Part 1 of 3

The following haiku have been written by students of the Tratratrankhun Suksa School of Trat, a Thai province next to the Cambodian coastal border. This first anthology comes in three parts. Thank you to Ian Robertson, their English teacher, for making this happen.

Part One

i.
Nowadays alone
not having humans around
very very sad

Mui

ii.
search eternally
perfection waits for you
never to be complete

Papawadee Salakphet

iii.
Happy in your life
while there's sadness all around
ground is rose and stone

Napawan Chabkangwan

iv.
sunshine in the storm
golden bird in the rain
star in black sky

Kanita Panjakul

v.
in the garden wide
butterflies around flowers
the earthworm alone

Wanthida Sawotdimongkhon

vi.
sweet fruity ice cream
my feet stop suddenly
no money in purse

Kulwadee Ekkaphojmethee (aka Tangmo)

vii.
without prediction
today, continue fighting
mistake and try again

Pornthiwa Khanthasamram

viii.
my eyes close
a dream blooms and grows
grievous past

ix.
Rattanaporn Thawin (aka Ann)

from the east...
my journey I’m still running
...to the west

Thatphang Patsanguan

x.
old tree in my house
in my life with family
everything in heart

Chanida Supapa

i've got the munchies
but theres no banana bread
that really sucks balls

Bumpo

Madness emailed me -
Remaining cordial, again,
I clicked "unsubscribe"

Jeff Patterson

The lemon diet
Swimsuit body by christmas
Screw you, exercise

Neve

cold morning
the anger from a dream
I can't remember

Bill Kenney

Angry talk, bubbling
The trick: keep the mind engaged
and the lips moving

Neve

Ode to Warm Weather

Yes, it's a t-shirt -
I know it's freezing but it's
Summer in my heart

Cathy Dineen

Fete haiku twinset

i.
fete junkies unite
a secret let out to fill
the hole in your soul

ii.
a 10am start
means leftover artefacts
behind the 8 ball

Ian Row

Please read my palm.
I'd like confirmation that my
best is yet to come.

Jeff Patterson

comfortable shoes
a heel too far to go
stiletto grimace

Jenny Morris

curry accomplished!
close to outdoing myself.
the way to your heart?

Ian Row

You should be in bed
That green herbal tea shit works
Don't 'Yes, Mother' me

Neve

mr ambition
ass kiss your way to the top
how low can you go

Ian Row

Top drawer blues

Homage to Philip Glass

The Disfigured Spoon
spurned, stands alone in the cup
but stirs just as well.

You may call me, "blunt".
My perspective as a knife?
"I'm made for butter!"

I am on the left
Without me, you'd get dirty.
Homespun fork wisdom.

Cutler E. Wrights

Wagyu beef burger:
a small bite of a big beast
(bit like a wedding...).

Terry the Thylacine

Little note to self:
Go to store, pick up the mail,
Thank God you're alive

Jeff Patterson

brown on the outside
a confection metaphor
white on the inside

Ian Row

the secret boyfriend
i think i know what's missing
you

Ian Row

Sydney trilogy

Sydney business trip
Clean sheets, air-con, room service
Must get out of here.

From Circular Quay
I catch the Manly Ferry
(not the girly one).

Sipping a cocktail
by the Pacific Ocean
I can't help but smile.

Chris Gill

knowing it's not you
making me feel what i do
is not helping me

Ian Row

i.
Living so near the
Equator, how do you explain
your frigid heart?

ii.
Go straighten your hair
Look nice for all the dudes that
you won't ask to dance

iii.
Private secret held -
I have days that glisten and
No one sees but me

Jeff Patterson

Children always know
Who they are, who they can be
Love them, step aside

Jeff Patterson

Irekae haiku

i.
i hate you so much  
i'm going to write a haiku   
to let the world know

ii.
i love you so much
i'm going to write a haiku
to let the world know

Neil Krieger

i have a headache
"fat people don't get headaches"
you saying I'm fat?

Dawn Mok and Ian Row

sticky date pudding
bake off was a health hazard
my death, your shoulders

Ian Row

don't 'whatever' me.
this was never about you.
i'm finding my way.

Ian Row

childhood friend in town
last contact twelve years ago
three key messages

Ian Row

Guilt free haiku

i feel fat. and sick.
mmm. last piece of chocolate cake
i won't feel guilty

Jenny Morris & Ian Row

Full cream & dairy free haiku

i.
i gotta have cream
screw dairy free confection
die, food nazi, die

ii.
what are my choices?
i'm lactose intolerant
gluggy asbestos

Neil Krieger & Ian Row

Spot Haiku 27

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring

i.
Layers of meaning
Layers of winter hardship
Peel off in sunshine

Cathy Dineen

ii.
Come part clouds part clouds
So unrest and frustration
Give way to content

Simon Patience

iii.
There was hail in Perth
And mighty winds did sweep down
Now just chirping birds.

Sutekh the Destroyer

iv.
Winter versus Spring:
Will frost destroy sweet blossoms?
No, but Summer will.

Sharkbite von Herringattack

v.
This light comes in time
For me to see clearly
We need umbrellas

Cathy Dineen

vi.
soft and warm breezes
green shoots and scented blossoms
a change of season

Leah Billeam

A haiku about strawberry helicopters

Can't say something nice?
Strawberry helicopters!
Say something surreal.

Chris Gill

buddy lost his case
jeff thinks he's still the boss man
back in your box mate

Cathy Dineen

One more haiku about a train ride

Train ride to Fairfield
Daily confined, we stare out.
My life in a zoo

Terry the Thylacine

Four haiku about a train ride

i.
train ride to Fairfield
the passengers, disengaged
disempowered

ii.
train ride to Fairfield
great walls of tags but no
imagination

iii.
train ride to Fairfield
can hear your iPod screaming
bad form and bad taste

iv.
train ride to Fairfield
rain - cyclist hitches a ride
too wet, pussycat?

Ian Row

Spot Haiku 26 Part 4 of 4

i.
Falling from my self
Couldn't even notice it
A gear of life gone.

Lucas Ryan

ii.
a mind of its own,
body makes a fool of me.
new medication.

Ian Row

iii.
Haiku is easy
If you speak like a Dalek
Just 5-7-5

Sutekh the Destroyer

iv.
Have this heart to break
You've broken it once before
Next time it'll hurt less

Neve

v.
i don't know at all
clouds or love or friendship tales
but I love joni

inspired by Joni Mitchell's 'Both Sides Now'

Dawn Mok

vi.
Spring versus Winter -
will frost destroy the blossoms?
No, but Summer will.

Chris Gill

vii.
Why oh why George?
Man who gave me confidence
Now he's just nothing

Simon Patience

viii.
how quickly you turned.
surprise! a tenuous friendship.
I'm finished with you.

Ian Row

Spot Haiku 26 Part 3 of 4

i.
Should be about now?
Ok, bepanthen fingers
Moisten tattooed crust

ii.
And Melbourne morning
Rain relieves parched earth, but still
Not barcelona

iii.
So another day
Of daily grind recalling
far places...happy

Jason Rostant

Spot Haiku 26 Part 2 of 4

i.
the great divide 'tween
you and me
is all of me

ii.
love, separated
from both giver and taker
is still and distilled

Dawn Mok

Spot Haiku 26 Part 1 of 4

i.
Another crap day
More horrid field-code errors
Curse you, Microsoft!

ii.
Ahh! Brand new hardware!
But the monitor won’t work
New drivers needed.

Sutekh The Destroyer

Adelaidia: Outro

no thanks to Tiger
presence of mind was absent
excess baggage charge

Ian Row

Adelaidia: Suite 4

i.
checked and challenged
my knowledge of your people
museum

ii.
16:30hrs
never too late for pancakes
turn right @ Rundle

Ian Row

Adelaidia: Suite 3

i.
art exhibition
finds a home in cathedral
open heart surgery

ii.
wrong turn at the mall
Pancake Palace is out of reach
my cravings unmet

iii.
no show at dinner
was counting on company
still counting on you

Ian Row

Adelaidia: Suite 2

i.Port Adelaide
two prams, three kids
one family on the move
homeless in transit

ii.Semaphore
a passing stranger
asks for my leftover chips
the half we don't know

iii.CBD
hypochondriac
post viral chronic fatigue
i nod and say 'aaah'

Ian Row

Adelaidia: Suite 1

i.Wayne
dumpling house
stranger makes conversation
God, was that you?

ii.
sibling rivalry
Adelaide and Victorians
who hated who first

iii.
Waterfall Gully
straightforward work of nature
simple perfection

iv.
in the cool quiet
camelias, rhododendrons
you, me, Mount Lofty

v.
here
you wait longer for the lights
to change

Ian Row

Adelaidia*: Intro

*Adelaide, South Australia

do i have to write?
even i don't want to know!
write under duress

Ian Row

On Nationalism

"Death to tyrants,"
says Terry the Thylacine
"so I can eat them!"

Terry the Thylacine

wake up birthday girl
you've had your workshop session
go forward in faith

for Wibbly Pig

Wibbley

hasty reaction
no lesson taught just angry
words to shame and break

Ian Row

takeaway noodles
everything here tastes the same
one trick pony

Ian Row

piss me off you may.
mistake your intent? never!
i know you by heart.

Ian Row

I made clear too late
my droll, ironic intent.
Now I've pissed him off.

Chris Gill

Why did I decide
To take on a PhD?
This is Hell on Earth.

Sutekh the Destroyer

a morning gallavant
the lazy afternoon nap
evening of potential

Ian Row