638 711 In my sleep at night, With solemnity I keep pounding an anvil The magpies are dissecting Heard during the day. A cat's dead body. 647 713 Burning out its time, The creeping shadow And timing its own burning, Of a gigantic oak tree One lonely candle. Jumps over the wall. 658 721 The naked mountains, As my anger ebbs, Washing themselves in spring rain The spring stars grow bright again As green fields look on. And the wind returns. 667 730 That sparrow bent dawn, From the cherry tree Its head tucked beneath its wing, To the roof of the red barn, – Sewing a button? A cloud of sparrows flew. 669 737 A leaf chases wind In the summer sun, Across an autumn river Near an empty whiskey bottle, And shakes a pine tree. A sleeping serpent. 673 738 A flood of spring rain In the burning sun, Searching into drying grasses A viper's tongue is nudging Finds a lost doll. A cigarette butt. 686 762 A darting sparrow Droning autumn rain: Startles a skinny scarecrow A boy up toy soldiers Back to watchfulness. For a big battle. 704 766 The scarecrow's big sleeves Standing in the snow, Advertising in the sun: A horse shifts his heavy haunch Huge, red tomatoes! Slowly to the right.
638 In my sleep at night, I keep pounding an anvil Heard during the day. 647 Burning out its time, And timing its own burning, One lonely candle. 658 The naked mountains, Washing themselves in spring rain As green fields look on. 667 That sparrow bent dawn, Its head tucked beneath its wing, – Sewing a button? 669 A leaf chases wind Across an autumn river And shakes a pine tree. 673 A flood of spring rain Searching into drying grasses Finds a lost doll. 686 A darting sparrow Startles a skinny scarecrow Back to watchfulness. 704 The scarecrow's big sleeves Advertising in the sun: Huge, red tomatoes! 711 With solemnity The magpies are dissecting A cat's dead body. 713 The creeping shadow Of a gigantic oak tree Jumps over the wall. 721 As my anger ebbs, The spring stars grow bright again And the wind returns. 730 From the cherry tree To the roof of the red barn, A cloud of sparrows flew. 737 In the summer sun, Near an empty whiskey bottle, A sleeping serpent. 738 In the burning sun, A viper's tongue is nudging A cigarette butt. 762 Droning autumn rain: A boy up toy soldiers For a big battle. 766 Standing in the snow, A horse shifts his heavy haunch Slowly to the right.
richard-wright-haiku.docx