DOWN EAST HAIKUS

Down East Haikus
Age 35, Beaufort, North Carolina, 1980
The area known as Down East on Core Sound is about 60 miles south of the Cape Hatteras Light House on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
In 1980 Down East was very remote.
-- This is one poem, from my autobiographical series of poems, that I posted here at WriteSpike. Go to my Stories section for others. They are in chronological order. --
 

~~ A Weekend Away From Durham ~~

in clear September light
fish darting inside a wave
cresting, breaking

now I'm used to seeing
wild horses across Taylor Creek
on Carrot Island

salty from our swim
I fire charcoal with paper, wood
you say I taste like smoke

power out
so dark
no one moves
frogs scream

under the moon
shrimp boats, yucca blooms -
the surf's dark glittering edge
 

~~ Returning to Durham ~~

the tiger kitten
in Wendy's parking lot -
dragging a burger

above the traffic jam
a hawk
circling

back in the city
I've lost track
of the moon