Rituals: Collected Haiku

By Steve K. Bertrand

Steve K. Bertrand is an award-winning poet, historian and photographer. For over thirty-five years, he has also worked as a free-lance photojournalist. His poems, stories and articles have appeared in numerous publications locally, nationally and internationally. In addition, Steve has had a long career as a teacher/coach in the Everett School District. Steve has been very involved in lectures and poetry readings throughout the Pacific Northwest. The author of over thirty books, Steve lives in Mukilteo, Washington. In his free time, he enjoys family, friends and the wonders of Washington.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664131798

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.

Book preview

who dare to dance

Rituals

COLLECTED HAIKU

STEVE K. BERTRAND

Copyright © 2020 by Steve K. Bertrand.

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 Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/23/2020

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

819109

"When tea becomes ritual, it takes its

place at the heart of our ability

to see greatness in small things."

-Muriel Barbery

Preface

Rituals

She rises every morning with the sun,

puts water on to boil for tea,

while she listens to classical music,

tends to plants, watches birds slowly awaken.

Steve K. Bertrand

Morning ritual –

gray heron shin-deep in bay

fishing.

That girl

in the park – how beautifully

she plays the flute.

And when

I’m depressed –

apple pie!

Spring –

I pluck spider from my carpet,

deposit him outside.

Walking forest,

Fox sparrow singing –

Spring is coming!

As far as

music goes – I like soft

adagios.

To the

strawberry leaf for a nap

travels ladybug.

Because it might rain,

the old woman

carries an umbrella.

Spring morning –

same old crow

pecking at my suet cake.

Feeling depressed,

she sits down to write away

the blues.

Watch a parent

talk to their child - you’ll learn

the parent’s upbringing.

Grandma always dressed

in rather

uncomfortable-looking clothes.

Spring buds

on cherry tree – teenage girl

smiles.

Winter night –

sound of softly falling snow

on fir boughs.

From beyond

Japanese Boxwood hedge, Scotch broom

raises its head.

Sometimes

traveling the backroads –

how deep the truth.

Glancing outside –

two crows making out

in my backyard.

The old diner

with its bacon & black coffee

smells.

Dawn –

pine needle falls in the forest,

owl hears it.

Spring –

birds singing merrily amongst

lush greenness!

Scavenging atop

the Umbrella maple –

gray squirrel.

Sparrow –

drops seeds from feeder to waiting

squirrel below.

Rainy Saturday –

sound of the mail truck going

down the street.

Grandma

always said – "To the birds

go the blueberries!"

Cold morning –

warmth from a cup

of herbal tea.

Such bustle downtown,

but for the homeless man

sleeping in the alley.

Drifting

through my open window –

pink cherry blossom.

Adjusting

my mirror, truck on my tail

drops back.

Winter morning –

barmaid carries beer into

Diamond Knot Brewery.

Minnesota,

land of 10,000 lakes –

Did somebody count?

He was

the buffalo – facing down

the approaching storm.

Another nightmare,

my daughter appears at the bedroom

door.

Saying the rosary –

Hail Mary full of grace...

on the out-breath.

Sometimes in her eyes –

the

eternity of the sea.

A bloodied thumb,

but – he entered the house

with roses smiling.

Abandoned monastery

with its crumbling statues

of the saints.

Acrobatic crow –

hanging upside down from

my suet feeder.

Sometimes when I sleep,

my past & future lives

in the same dream.

Rainy afternoon –

a long worm make his way