Into the Cavern: Collected Haiku

By Steve K. Bertrand

This collection of a thousand haiku entitled Into the Cavern is an exploration of physical nature and human nature, past and present, as experiences unfold in our lives. The haiku are an attempt to make sense of these everyday experiences and preserve those moments that relate to the sea, sky, mountain, and forest in the Pacific Northwest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543430295

Steve K. Bertrand

For this pictorial history of Paine Field, Steve K. Bertrand has selected more than 200 images from the local community, historical societies, regional libraries, and state archives. He has traced the rich history of Paine Field from its earliest days to its present status as a bustling airport and commercial aviation center. These photographs provide a glimpse into the people and events that influenced this small community in the Pacific Northwest.

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Copyright © 2017 by Steve K. Bertrand

ISBN:                   Softcover                               978-1-5434-3030-1

                            eBook                                       978-1-5434-3029-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 07/13/2017

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For Jack Nisbet

Preface

Kokoro

And when I sip tea,

I include my heart’s spirit.

And when my cup is empty,

I place my spirit elsewhere.

How many wonders can one cavern hold?

Alan Menken

Into the cavern,

we start our journey –

one step at a time…

Deep into the cavern

I travel – back to

my primitive beginnings…

The nightgown

she once let slip to the floor –

no more.

So, now you’re an archaeologist,

dog,

digging up bones in my yard!

From her cave,

she makes a plea to the world

for love.

Every once in a while,

in your eyes, love –

flash of the Northern Lights!

Rafting –

we dangle our feet

in the Skagit River…

She walks softly

upon the earth – to reduce

carbon footprints.

Early spring –

we search frost-rimmed slopes

for wild biscuitroot.

Those plains

between Snake & Columbia Rivers –

thirsty places.

The snows have disappeared –

we dig

for wild camas bulbs.

Spring –

we follow faint tribal trail

through Ponderosa pines…

Don’t search for

the true path – make the path

you are on true.

The roof leaked,

so – they raised an umbrella.

It leaked too.

It is a sad kingdom

when the king looks to blame

the peasantry.

Rain has stopped,

just the pitter-patter

of children’s feet…

At Chichen Itza,

ghosts from the sacred well –

whispering…

Mount Saint Helens –

so little

remains of the old ways.

From an icy cave

in my dreams –

wooly mammoths emerge…

How long till

this bustling city too

becomes dust?

He set out to scale

mountains; but – happily settled

for ant hills.

After the battle,

the earth

licks its wounds.

Some days,

I can’t tell you why –

distant mountains calling…

August afternoon –

weeding garden, listening to

the Mariner’s game…

First the heat,

then – jingle of the

ice cream truck…

Another year

come & gone – same old

birthday song.

Yellow bamboo I planted

five years ago –

nuisance today.

Winter –

mice have followed ivy

beneath my house.

Rumble of thunder…

Could the lightning be

far behind?

Leaning tulip –

held upright by spider’s

dew-dropped web.

Sunday afternoon –

hotdogs always taste better

at a picnic!

Coming home –

heron in my back yard

eyeing koi pond…

Nothing but stillness

from the old pond

since bullfrog moved on.

Silly squirrel,

snatching peanuts