Haiku and Senryu

I have officially updated "The Hearts Series" with some new photos, some of which come courtesy of some friends (I'm loving the enthusiasm). Which got me to thinking... maybe this can become a joint effort between myself and others. So, consider this an invitation: If you stumble upon any heart images in your wayward travels, feel free to send them to me at Licardist@gmail.com with your name (first name or moniker), age, region, and a little bit about the photo. I can't wait to see what you guys have for me! I will place your photos here, on the blog, as well as on the Facebook page. Don't hesitate to send me anything you feel is heart-esque.

Anyway, I was recently made aware of a contest being hosted by yet another local poetry organization. The Performance Poets Association is currently hosting their third annual haiku contest for residents of Long Island and Queens. Though haikus are not something I wrote often, a group of friends and I have been carrying on a haiku battle for just about a year now, so this contest comes as sort of an omen. I like the simplicity of haiku, (which generally refers to short poems of seventeen syllables about nature) though mine usually take the form of senryu (which is generally used to refer to those about human nature). Considering most of the images in "The Hearts Series" are of natural phenomena, and to commemorate this contest, I have included a few of my haikus and senryus below. Let me know what you think of them and maybe I'll draft you for the haiku battle. Enjoy!

Dry, empty cocoon

lies withered on the concrete:

New life is naked. 

Running water coos,

Like the child in my arms.

I hold him under. 

A glossy seashell

washes up on the shoreline:   

An abandoned house.

I probe the hole with

my finger; cold crimson walls.

The gun is still warm.

He slid his gentle 


finger across her lips, "Please,


Don't say, 'I love you.'"

Tear rolls down my cheek.

Dry eye blinks, quite perplexed.

Rain from skies above. 

Love will set you free,

if you believe in yourself


and the love you have.

Smooth, sexual skin,

perfect, erotic, a tease:

God damn I look good!

She wanted something


beautiful for Christmas:


She got a mirror.