"Sunlit Castle" haiku

The Sunlit Castle
Floats above a choppy sea
Winter storms out there

Copyright © Res Burman 6th December 2019

"Dusk" haiku

Just before dusk falls
The colours change for the night
So we'll miss them more


Copyright © Res Burman 1st December 2019

"Aerial Aviator" haiku

An Aviator

Flying low past my window

Strange sights in Penwith

Copyright © Res Burman 26th November 2019

"The Sentry" haiku

Keeping watch for cats
The Sentry... poised and alert
Whilst his partners feed

Copyright © Res Burman 26th November 2019

"Cornish November" haiku

Hurricane force winds
Flood warnings and roads blocked
Normal for Cornwall

Copyright © Res Burman 2nd November 2019

"Morning Visitor" haiku

Braving hungry cats
And storm tossed waving bamboo
Morning visitor


Copyright © Res Burman 31st October 2019


This is the first bird to visit my back yard in over a week since the last cat attack which killed one of my beloved sparrows.
I wish people would keep their cats in or fit them with a collar and a bell.
A very heavy bell!

"It's That Sort of Day" haiku

It's that sort of day
When the rain travels sideways
Winter starts early

Copyright © Res Burman 29th October 2019

Chinese Seasons "Frost Descends" haiku

The scent of Jasmine
In my small concrete back yard

Autumn Frost Descends

Copyright © Res Burman 28th October 2019

"The Penzance Lineman" gogyoshi

"Summer Sunshine" tanka

The summer sunshine
Melting the tar on the roads
Friendly neighbours pass

Sunblock wafts upon the air
The pigeons are still cooing

Copyright © Res Burman 25th June 2019

"Mountain Airs" haiku

Pilgrim soul weary
Burned dry by the summer sun
Dreams of Mountain airs

Copyright © Res Burman 25th June 2019

"The Pub Cat" haiga

"Night Cramps"

Argh… your cry of pain

Propelled from your bed

By the agony of cramps

In your lower legs and feet!

It feels as though

Your shins and calves

Are being crushed

In some medieval torture device!

Your feet are bunched 

Like boxers fists

As you stamp stamp stamp

Trying to pop the bones

Back into their allotted place!

You dive into the bedside drawer

Looking for some Quinine

But the blister pack is empty

Victim of previous attacks.

So now you set off

Again on clenched feet

Staggering downstairs

In search of more Quinine.

You’re half naked

So must do all this in the dark

Lest you frighten the neighbours

Or the wildlife!

Ah, open a fresh packet

Of Quinine Sulphate

It says take one at night

But this is the second and needed!

Back to bed

Still trying to stretch 

Those calf muscles

Pulling up one’s toes

To stretch some more!

Then it occurs to you

“Shoulda taken some Arnica

That’s gonna bruise!”

But it’s too late now!

And so you lie there

Contemplating the indignities

That Age inflicts upon this body

That I still dream is young and virile!

This is all down to bad planning!

I thought I’d live fast

Die young and leave a beautiful memory.

I didn’t know I had to plan for all this!

Copyright © Res Burman 5th June 2019

"Today I'm Blue!"

Today I’m blue,

For today I lost a friend,

A fellow poet and brother

And an Oh so human being.

So today I am blue!

I should be grateful 

For his release

From cancer and pain.

But I’ll do that tomorrow,

For today I am blue.

I should rejoice

At his friendship,

So freely given.

But today I cannot

Because today I am blue!

I should exalt

At the fun we shared

Colluding and duelling

With poetic words.

But that must wait,

For today I am so blue!

I should applaud

His art and his music

His poetry and his kindness

But I must shelve that for the moment

Because today I am blue!

I should celebrate our friendship

The kindnesses he showed me

His humour

And his cutting wit.

But that must be delayed.

For my eyes are clouded with tears

And today I am blue!

Yes, today I am blue,

For my old mate has gone.

Soma Dog, Cerberus,

My Ol’ Melbourne Bluesman

Has gone to pastures new.

I will celebrate his being,

But, sadly, not today

For my heart is breaking

And  I am so so blue!

Dedicated with the greatest affection to my old friend

Phillip Barker, The Soma Dog, Cerberus, my beloved friend!

Copyright © Res Burman 11^th June 2019

"Door Stepping" a haiku chain

I was born to sit
In the evening sunshine
On my front door step

A Gin and Tonic
Sheltering in the shadow
Cast by the door frame

A Reporter's Pad
And a sharp Blackwing pencil
Old John Steinbeck's pride

Small moments of peace
Feed my creativity
And ease my old bones

These moments of peace
Need to be stored and cherished
Lest the winter comes

Copyright © Res Burman 8^th June 2019

"Norfolk Island Pine II" haiku

Norfolk Island Pine
Weeping for it's sunny home
In the Southern Seas

Copyright © Res Burman 4th June 2019

"Rainy Day" haiku

It's that sort of day
Rain clings to the washing line
No laundry today

Copyright © Res Burman 4th June 2019

"Love's ambassadors" haiga

Copyright © Res Burman 31st May 2019

My Friends Rosco and Maisey

"Sea Fever" haiga

A tribute to John Masefield and his wonderful poem
"Sea Fever"

Copyright © Res Burman 28th May 2019

I got chucked out and banned from a
Haiga web page for this!
But I am totally unrepentant!

"The Carrion Crow" haiga

Copyright © Res Burman 27th May 2019

"Heaven's Messenger" haiga

Copyright © Res Burman 25th May 2019

"A Jackdaw Haiku"

The wary jackdaw
The morning sun polishing
His shiny feathers

Copyright © Res Burman 23rd May 2019

"Night Mist" haiga

"Godolphin Hill" haiga

"May Dawn" haiga

"Forever Young" a tanka

When first I saw you
T'was fifty nine years ago
So long I've loved you

But I see in my mind's eye
You are still forever young

Copyright © Res Burman 1st May 2019

"A Hungry Jackdaw" haiku

A hungry jackdaw
More welcome than he can guess
Visits my backyard
Copyright © Res Burman 1st May 2019

"The Year of the Ox" a tanka

The year of the ox

Bought me laughter, love and loss

So I took up arms

In the year of the tiger

Fifty seven long years ago

Copyright © Res Burman 1st May 2019

"Dreaming II" a tanka

You lie beside me
But only when I'm dreaming
Your soft sweet kisses

Still caressing in my sleep
But where are you when I wake?

Copyright © Res Burman 1st May 2019

"Dreaming" tanka

Sometimes I still dream
Of your sweet beloved face
Did I not tell you

I would love you forever
Or until the seas run dry

Copyright © Res Burman 30th April 2019

"Eagle Screams" a haiga

"Primroses" haiku

Quiet companions
Down here among the grave stones
Where primroses lie

Copyright © Res Burman 23rd April 2019

"Mercy" tanka

Here I sit below
The Goddess and Dear Lao Tzu
Praying for mercy

That my old friend may be well
And remain with us a while

Copyright © Res Burman 21st April 2019

Easter Sunday

"Bosoms and Halter Tops" haiku

I love the summer

When bosoms and halter tops

Burst out everywhere

Words Copyright © Res Burman 20th April 2019

Image from the web may be ©.

If it offends any copyright, contact me and I shall remove it.

The Image.... not the halter top!

"Panama Hat" haiku

Last week was winter

Today's so hot it's high time

For my Panama

Copyright © Res Burman 20th April 2019

"Evening G & T" haiku

Evening G & T
Sitting on my front door step
Sunshine fills my heart


Copyright © Res Burman 19th April 2019

"I Wish I Were...."

I wish I was in Singapore

Now it’s winter here

I wish I was in Holland Village

Sitting in the Square.

 I wish I was in Haw Paw Villa

Seeing all those statues there

I love Tiger Balm gardens 

With sea breezes in my hair.

I wish I was in Old Penang

Those temples for to see

And pretty girls would bring me drinks

And make a fuss of me.

I wish I was in Santubong

Where the Palm Trees gently sway

And clouds form like smoke rings

Around the islands in the bay.

I wish I was in Jesselton

Before it changed it’s name

I’d climb the Sacred Mountain

Just to see that view again.

I wish I was back in Bau

Where the girls with dimples play

I’d go swimming in the Gold Mine

And eat market food all day.

I wish I was in Kuching

Eating in the Market Place

Where the girls are all so pretty

And there’s a smile on every face.

Yes I wish I was in Kuching

Eating Mee Hoon in the square

Chatting with all my old friends

Who I used to meet down there.

I wish I was in Sibu

Around regatta time

We’d eat and drink so hearty

With those old friends of mine.

I wish I was in Sarawak

To see in Chinese New Year

We’d eat and drink and party

With the old friends I hold so dear!

Words and Pictures
Copyright © Res Burman 13^th April 2019

"Valentine's Day" haiku

Valentine's Day
My heart turns to all lost loves
Warming my sadness


Copyright © Res Burman 14th February 2019

"Kuching" haiku

Dreams of Old Kuching
And my days in Sarawak
Still my heart lies there

Copyright © Res Burman 8th February 2019