I believe that the first time I ever entertained the notion of 'doing' anything with my haiku was during the two years - 1994 to 1996 - that I spent in Japan. During that period I spent about a month at each of Otaru's 17 junior high schools. Apart from having to introduce myself to about 200 classes (to stay sane I was obliged to dream up half a dozen ways!) I really enjoyed the experience, both at work and at leisure.
Herewith haiku written when I was an assistant English teacher at those schools (and limited to 17):
truant and teacher
exchange a look
ten thousand stale breaths
the snow runs up
the water down the mountain
Kitayama
at Seien
a puff of dust and sunlight
fuki and football
dog in the window
geen kip on the road
off to Zenibako
not green not brown
but winter's here for sure
the cable car jerks
fresh snow
fresh wind
red Oshoro pine
Asari air
fangs of ice let rip
an avalanche
treeline climbs
up up into mist
afternoon dew
boys in purple
crickets in green
and always puddles
tree roots
shoots fresh as salad
even the earth looks washed
slate and ochre
clay and granite
morning's three-point turns
coliseum shook up
in its crystal
christmas ball
principal and pupil
bow . . . break into
a tap dance!
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