Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry comprised of three phrases.

Traditional haiku uses 17 syllables (5:7:5) but contemporary haiku in English often ignores this rule. A haiku is typically about nature, the earth and the natural world and are designed to be thought-provoking. These original haiku poems are by Anthony Rutledge and are mostly written in the contemporary free style format.

There are over 4,000 Haiku on this site in 15 different themes: Australian, Beach, Garden Sundial, In the Mirror,Kimono,Motherhood,Ships and Oceans,Spring,Windjammers and Miscellaneous.

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Still alive
on the bull ant nest
the scorpion’s sting.

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The bamboo rake
rests against
a naked oak.

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geese bottoms-up
one last feed
before crossing a sea

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magpie
her gurgles answer
the cracks of an egg

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sipping the river
a horse on guard
one at a time

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Patio winds
pruning the bonsai too
of autumn leaves.

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Edge of the cliff
no moonlight
to the touch of a web.

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sailing solo
along the horizon
he cannot see

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Winds tap
the hen house waits
in the fox’s shadow.

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surgeon’s visit
I catch his eye’s meaning
at Mum’s bed-side

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coloured windows
we turn to rainbows
in the pews

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Winter cabin
I roll the carrot rings
into our hot busy stew.

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