crossing the jordan

crossing the jordan
~the allure of gentleness
~the final sunrise 
~there, over my left shoulder
sand washes between my toes
#tanka

low tide

miles of low tide
shared with a few gulls
not a dream

veil

his voice was angry
smashing through the veil 
like a wrecking ball.

resting

resting 
at the surf's edge at low tide
so tired.
#haiku

crows

#haiku
crows return
with thank you gifts
a final farewell

feeders

empty feeders
birds tapping on the window
in vain.

regrets

a light load
his duffle bag
of regrets

fading light

fading light
the magenta sky is not
what he expected

dizzy

political spin
the fraud and lies are making 
me dizzy

moon glow

moon glow
on the lily pads
last light
#haiku

empty cup

grandchild's endless
questions about how i feel
an empty cup
#haiku

open wound

black asphalt ribbon
snaking between the head stones
an open wound.
#haiku

obits

nothing in print yet
the obits blew downs the street
onto a chain link fence

final farewell

so much yet to say
finger writing in the sand
a final farewell
#haiku

feasting in color

feasting in color

toddler loves the living room

more than his thumb

life without parole

sentence
life, without parole.
paid in full
# haiku

smiling dragon

he listens to see

the oft smiling dragon

of his dreams

frog sound

closing my eyes
i see the spring moon
serenading frogs

in your face

she was in your face
from early to late
missing her breath. 

final summit

climbing a steep path
over dark slippery earth
the final summit
#haiku

the mist clears

closing his eyes
the waves of a string quartet
the mist clears
#haiku

less is more

"less is more"
~ludwig mies van der rohe
teachers disciplne
please write your name on
board one hundred times.

a gate opens

confined
solitary days 
a gate opens

spring toast

wine glasses 
filled with capri sun
spring toast

last day of winter

how peaceful he looks
gazing at the snow fall 
his last day of winter
#haiku

virtual gathering

virtual gathering
for the dearly departed
server dies.
#haiku

tulips

tulips limp and longing
arching toward the earth
a final bow.
#haiku

true

laughter pulls
away like the surf 
late in the day
moon's pull
ancient and true.
#tanka

no bitterness

tears speaking softly
wiped on grandma's sleeve
no bitterness.
#haiku

blue mist

a dress of blue mist
for the ridge of crosses
a fresh beginning
#haiku

the feet of the moon

the feet of the moon
lighting the approach 
a fog moving in.
#haiku

listening to the moon (c)opyright

listening to the moon
cicadas in slow motion
as the light withdraws. 

blossom falls.

black clouds
unyielding rain
blossom falls
#haiku

my feathers crossed (C)

my feathers crossed
in hope of eternal life's
first flight.
#haiku

listening to sunshine (tanka)

listening to sunshine
ice cracks on the walkway
drip in the gutter
as my senses peak
so alive so weak.
#tanka

by michael rehling

five below zero
the neighbor covers
his virgin mary

rebel

his rebel flag waving
wheel chair at full throttle 
nursing home escapee
not ready or willing to take
it laying down.
#tanka

the last dogwood

the last dogwood

sheds the final bit of snow

from its gnarled branches.

last petal

last petal

son closing his

father's eyes

hospice 7

hospice
the inkwell is still full
with unwritten thoughts.
#hospice
#haiku

chest pain

chest pain
the nurse says not to worry
with a smile
#haiku
#hospice

IS THERE NO SHAME?

is there no shame?

bombs strapped to children

setting others on fire

selling your children

is there no shame?

attacking hospitals

raping school girls

sawing off heads

is there no shame?

turning truth into lies

turning lies into truth

flogging his back 

with a hundred lashes

is there no shame?

is there no shame?

is there no shame?

questions

questions.
i claim to have answers but
you can easily stump me.
#haiku

best buds

old, feeble, blind, deaf

he hears with his nose and 

my tender touch.

#haiku

#furbuddy

#bestbuds

lyrics out of tune

lyrics out of tune

the moldy piano keys

clunk in time.

#haiku

relections on Tigger, my furbuddy.

that tug on the leash

reminds me of her willfulness

buried memories.

#haiku

soft tracks

the sound

of the train

is muted by

the fat of

spring gnats.

for kathy

happy bamboo plant
moving roots to a new home
chinese new year

ridges of blue 1

ridges of blue

changing and changeless 

i will lift up 

my eyes unto the hills

from whence cometh my help.

instincts

one morsel to hide
under the blankets and sheets
furbuddy's  ancient  instincts. 

too common

finding me to common
a place of great satisfaction
comes to a close

https://www.facebook.com/groups/VirtualHaiku/

sorry michael.  I do not count them, I simply share them.

virtual haiku

glad i saved 
all of the haiku 
posted to virtual haiku 
(facebook page),
since i cannot 
copy them now. 

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/VirtualHaiku/

furbuddy fellowship

furbuddy fellowship
a depth of affection and
unconditional

(if you do not consider provided him with food and water as a condition.)

northern lights

winter sky
her neck adorned with 
mother of pearl light.
#haiku

prompted by a comment from


Johannes S. H. Bjerg

pharisee

christian pharisee

the old torah still rules

his new life.

the blind

blind wood duck
wanders the backyard pond
cat taken indoors.

merganser

merganser
peacefully floating
explosive dives.

black hole

death stare
like a black hole
gator eyes.
#haiku

lonely poet

even my friends
are hard put to read the poet
in me.

trail

wooded trail
i follow with nary a choice
my fellow travelers.

pond scum

pond scum
gator dressed
in green dots

pride

heart of stone
judging others a constant refrain
lost in his pride.

virgin snow

virgin snow
getting old each day
honeymoon over. 
#haiku

stroking

stroking her back
soothing at least one of them
hospice.
#haiku

left lane

left lane
the sheep follow
single file.

hospice reflection

on the window
a vision of a young woman
hospice reflection
#haiku

old dog

crouched down low
the old dog waters the roots
of the cherry tree
#haiku

the old dog warms the roots

last leaf

last leaf falls
only trees undress 
for winter
#haiku

snow moon 2015

sunlight on a plate
sliding into the twilight
snow moon
#haiku

posted in virtual haiku

she told me too

i am wearing a 
mickey mouse hat because
she told me too.

adult conversation

crossing my feathers
sharing a bench facing the sea
adult conversation
#haiku

not yet posted to virtual haiku

ice glare

ice glare 
crows provide relief
from the strain.
#haiku 

not yet posted on Virtual Haiku

hospice

a guinness
would not be a burden
hospice
#haiku

posted on virtual haiku

winter sun

listening to the sun
ice cracks on the walk way
drip in the gutter.
#haiku

posted on virtual haiku

climate change (adult)

climate change
burrowing through a drift
of cloud shit.
#haiku

post it notes

an·thro-pooh-mor·phic

pooh

an·thro-pooh-mor·phic

chest pain

chest pain
worried and told to relax
graph and pressure cuff
picture of good pump
sharp pain continues
#tanka

dutch cauliflower

nutmeg
milk white sauce
missing mom

grave

moving away
i leave a furbuddy buried
in the sand.
#haiku

XLIX

portable television
choir director keeps time
to the play by play.
#XLIX

XLIX

tongue tied
i can only spell it
XLIX
#xlix

his view

eagle floats
rising with the thermals
i envy his view