Teacher's Paradox

Trying to explain,
I struggled to simplify
-only made complex.

Copyright 2010

Child's Last Day

You looked up at me,
Holding that big paper bag
-bursting with treasures:
the blue blanket you napped on
and all the artwork you made.

Copyright©2009

Just In Time.

Man runs with daughter,
Rain starts as they come to school
-Tower clock shows nine.

Copyright 2009

Beyond Tolerance!

Jimmy kissed Meghan,
Jimmy expelled from first grade
-zero tolerance.

Priest exhorts gospel,
Men kiss on the State House steps
-marriage contested.

Children in circle,
Taunt a child in the middle
-yelling dope! retard!

Before tribunal,
Professor defends his lecture
-lessons not p.c.

Jill slammed her book shut,
Jack was now clicking his pen
-again and again.....

Justice Served
By Edward S. Gault

In the courtroom
The old man sat in a wheelchair
Breathing through a nasal tube
Listening to the judge
Read a 21 page warrant
Charging him as being an accomplice
In the murder of 29,000 people
66 years earlier.

There are those who believe
The man is too old to stand trial
For atrocities committed so long ago.
Why wasn’t he brought to justice earlier?
They ask.

The prosecutor said
The rule of law must prevail
The that the number of years gone by
Must not determine whether justice is done.
The blood of those thousands
Cries out for justice.
We must demonstrate to those
Who commit such crimes
They will not walk away.

But from across the room
One can discern (albeit barely),
A smile come across the old man’s face;
He knows that
He has gotten to walk away from it.

Copyright©2009

One Single Impression: Tolerance

Uh-Oh #5

Bully cornered Joe,
Teacher restrained the bully
-teacher disciplined.

Copyright 2009

Sign Of Our Times

Got daughter to school,
Signed paper hanging on door
-swine flu quarantine.

Copyright 2009

My Word!

Shockjock spews venom,
Norm knew he had a mission
-took gun to clinic.

Standing in doorway,
Boss said I want a word, please!
-holding the pink slips.

On hospital ward,
Old woman saw her daughter
-Said, I forgive you!

Four years of struggle,
She received her diploma,
-Congratulations!
The principal smiled at her,
she did not have the words, though.

After twenty years,
Al met his son at the gate,
-welcome home father.

Staring at the page,
Waiting for the words to come
-page simply stares back.

Copyright 2009

One Single Impression: Word

Spring Cleaning

Clearing out attic,
Found pile of high school yearbooks,
-weighing cost of past.

Copyright 2009

Holy Smoke! More Haiku

One Single Impression: Smoke

Pipesmoke filled garret,
Patriots sign Suffolk Resolves
-a revolution born.

He stood on the street,
Simply watching his home burn
-thinking of treasures.

Sitting in silence,
In temple sanctuary
-recall auschwitz smoke.

Young boys in bathroom,
Pass cigarette around twice
-principal comes in.

Meal would win him bride,
Funny smell from the kitchen!
-oh no! toast instead.

Copyright 2009

Child's Special Moment

Sitting in small chairs,
Parents and teacher talking
-as child shows drawings.

Copyright 2009

Uh Oh #3

You had to throw it,
Nick used the Double Dog Dare
-called to principal.

Copyright 2009

Unexpected Holiday

Children celebrate,
Town officials have cancelled school
-snowballs fly from forts.

Copyright 2009

Her Own Drummer

Children at party,
Run around and wrestle
-one girl by herself.

Copyright 2009

A Week's Freedom

Parents with children
Jaunting around Boston's graves
-school vacation week.

Copyright 2009

Old Friends, Different Roads

Face from long ago,
What would it look like now?
-lifetime, letting go.

Copyright 2008

Sunrise Express

On the morning train,
Small girl's head on Papa's lap
-last wink before school.

Copyright 2008

Autumnal Memory

Autmn Afternoons

by Edward S. Gault

Autumn Afternoons in 1969,

I would rush home from school;

running through lawns

grass pastelled with

red, yellow, and orange leaves.

They looked just like the ones

that we made in class that day

and taped in the window

for all to see.

Copyright 1983, 2008

For One Single Impression

see also Forest River Creations

And Now For Something A Little Different

The Summer Of My Bean Plant
by Edward S. Gault

When
I was
a little boy,

our
teacher gave
us bean seeds

To
plant in
the small milk

cartons
we had
just used during

snack.
We put
soil in each

carton,
then buried
the seeds a

half
inch under
the surface. We

put
them all
in the window,

So
they could
catch the sun's

rays,
and grow.
We checked on

them
each day,
I can remember

seeing
the first
little leaf peaking

through
the dirt
in my carton.

It
seemed to
take forever-but

by
the last
day of school,

We
had tall
bean plants that

we
could take
home for the

summer.
I put
mine in the

window
of my
room facing the

backyard
where I
spent all my

time
when I
was not in

camp.
When I
came home,

I
found it
had wilted some

because
I was
not there to

water
it. I
took it out

to
the yard
and re-planted it.

I
could still
see it growing

there
from my
window. Its leaves

would
move with
the breeze, like

It
was waving-
saying thank you.

Copyright 2008

One Single Impression: seeds
More about Hay (na) ku here

Murphy's Haiku #20

At last!-thesis done,
Masterpiece! now to save it
-instead, hit delete.

Copyright 2008

Better Things Through Chemistry?

On a school field trip,
Children had fun catching frogs
-many had one leg.

Copyright 2008