"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