Eight Seasons in Otaru

I spent a couple of years in Otaru, Japan, from 1994 until 1996. Apart from the first six months or so, when I gradually eased into writing haiku, these two years are when haiku took off for me.

Near the end of my stay I wrote a compilation of the 100 in my mind best that I had written. I sorted them into categories and wrote brief backgrounds and descriptions, then had it all translated into Japanese (not the actual haiku which remained in English).

I have a copy of that booklet - Eight seasons in Otaru - here at hand. Can't read it though. Must have the original draft around somewhere . . .

Okay then, I've previously posted haiku from the category 'school'. Herewith a haiku from each of the other sections that make up my first compilation:

First impressions

candy kept crisp
for the gods
to unwrap

Commuting

slush hour slaps
waves
across my wake

Insects

clouds brush
bugs hustle to
shut up shop

Trees

sweltering forest
a lizard's tip
writhes in my way

City centre

hatch a patch
of frozen sunshine
red blue red . . .

Cycling

weaving
in and out of line I
hug the half lane

Birds

castles of snow
lowering the camera
sparrows I hadn't seen

Night life

canal at night
train under the bridge
arrives my moment

Flowers

three-year-old eyes
who showed whom
the apple orchard?

Winter

within minutes
swift as snow this
perfect pine

Running

scooting
level footing
ice on ice

Reflections

ten below
and me shuffling a glove
hand to hand