food haiku

[grocerytrekker]

I have been creating food haiku from Japanese original versions (mostly ancient). Here are a few samples, and I need your help in deciding which ones you like best, to get a better idea of the direction this project should take. I started out with fish. Lots and lots of fish. Did fruit. Did a LOT of beans. I am doing vegetables at the moment. I really like the results. Hope you do, too, and any helpful advice will be appreciated.

Libidinous gods / Multitudinous seed pods / Pistachio nuts

Angry sea urchin / Jet black spine needles erect / Stands from where it sat

"I'll see you later" / I say to my ramen pork / Let it sink for now

Five-ray yellowtail / I was watching them rise up / There hangs a rainbow

Wife primps our dinner / As if it is haute cuisine / A whiff of yuzu

Poor shiitake / Tofu takes the credit for / The mushroom flavor

His arms cradling / Honey mushroom bushelful / Father returns home

Smell of dengaku / Unshaven komuso monk / Slips off to the side

Kenchinjiru soup / Konnyaku jelly pieces / Cooking of my mom

An arctic surf clam / Color of a young lady / After it is grilled
　
Thinning of ice fish / Surely can't be construed as / Dewdrops of the moon

Kuruma ebi / When you brush off wood shavings / They do spring to life

Is the spring fountain / Sadness of navy blue crab / I am wondering

For a jellyfish / That cannot ride the ebb tide / Dizziness galore

***
Oh, and there are pictures that accompany the poetry:
http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/

[Kholvaitar]

Red clam sauce so nice
lonely for pasta noodles
I can taste both now

[BuildingMyBento]

Four a.m. sushi
Yet, persona non grata
Tsukiji market

[FoodFuser]

So soft snipped the sage
scattered to beautiful pork
begging for oven.

Onions and garlic
Coarse pepper, fractured cumin
And pinch of good salt.

A separate pot
for baking the pinto beans
All yield ascendance.

[FoodFuser]

Sheen glistens from Wok.
Memories, good charred moments.
Oil has curl, nascent smoke.

All things assembled,
As the vegetables go first
resounds as chorus.

High heat is building
Curved spatula is dancing,
also is ringing.

Veggies to vessel
in accord to their needing
Done browned, but yet crisp.

Naked Wok smolders,
Awaiting moment of Meat
Hot steel surrenders.

Meat by the handfull
Cascades past clasp of firm fingers
Wok now full symphony.

In seek of both char,
and interior rawness
Flame, paddle, do dances.

The meat now to plate,
a short rest, before return.
Now to the saucing.

Arrowroot powder
In a slurry with water,
Congeals, firm power.

Now all reassembled
to ingest, as we gestate,
Wok's work on our plate.

[FoodFuser]

An ode to the crusted onion burger,
a great magnum opus of central Oklahoma:

Strong man at the grill
Grip to heavy spatula
Works onions and meat.

He moves left to right
with each incoming order
Pacing his spacing.

The grill must stay hot
to give crust to the onions,
which dance song their own.

Now time for the meat
A third pound of beef, as ball,
slammed hard to onions.

Spatula flattens
sphere to flat patty, forcefully,
embeds to onions.

Bed of more onions
Scattered with skill on the top
Steam rising meets them.

He preps up the bun
with a quick schmear of butter
gauging the timing.

Time to flip burger
to give crust to the top side...
The spatula pings.

The patty is placed
in fresh lane on his flat-top,
hot sound of sizzle.

Buns now to browning
Both face down in the old lane...
Might render good scrapes.

Cook's moment of rest
yet still hard calibration
to the best browning.

Top bun is scooped up
and centered atop the patty...
browned bread now meets steam.

Bottom bun plated
waiting for placement of patty
soon wet from drippings.

Now spatula gentle
in the patty removal
as joins bottom bun.

Diner astounded
to such beauty made for him...
peels the top bun....

Revealing layers
of crusted browned excellence...
Hail, Onion Burger.

Cook gives a moment
to rest spatula to shoulder
and gives his perusal,

Eyes meet 'tween the two
As the diner hefts burger...
quick nods and quick smiles.

That might be the way
all food encounters could be,
with some type of smile?

[FoodFuser]

Hefting fresh catfish.
Dawns tomorrow Ceviche
with soft sublime Lime.

[FoodFuser]

Tree buds awaken
as do the dandelions
Season harbingers.

[FoodFuser]

Soft rain to prairie drought.
Falls gently from clouded sky
Soil weeped does now seep.

Fissures, faced to rain,
seek now the good moisture
'Pon wheat growing Plain.

Our bread comes from wheat
rooted deep in the soil
Doth rain provide grain.

Gentle the moment
Filled with bushels of portent
goodness of rain.

I move my chair
to take those droplets above
to body and face

Sweet dampened the soil
for Springtime harvest of wheat
Thus rain and the bread.

[FoodFuser]

First month of year
Night sky so beautiful
January has vanished

Yet scroll of the skies
Be bit incremental
Night folds to night.

Is there good rhyme
In cascade these good evenings
suckled from sky?

Teats twinkle in stars.
Such firm grandeur to choose from...
Which star to nuzzle...

Night sky brought so forth
In hand, my suckle of broth,
panoply of skies.

[FoodFuser]

Some soft boiled eggs
make so supple a breakfast.
White contrasts with Yolk.

Not just their colors,
Their colloidal suspension,
Different textures.

Travels through Ovums
are delightful in deed...
So many spectrums.

[FoodFuser]

Mid-winter morning
requires soup of good warming...
broth miso and beans.

[FoodFuser]

Good can of peaches
Offer the great benefits
fruit in December.

[FoodFuser]

Crispness of peppers
Depth taste of tomatoes
Grown upon summer.

Good we seek seasons
of the bounty provided
both crispness and taste.

[FoodFuser]

Upon coffee.

Such glisten of beans
Traveled afar from the pickers
Now just rest in bag.

Of coffee and all
Celebrate growers and pickers
They be providers.

Now move those good beans
to the blade of the grinder
whirl to the morning.

Then to so simple
of the heating of water
that trickles through them.

Beverage of morning
affords us good warming
sups to our cups.

Yet linger question
of there be other trickles
give such of warming?

Growers, Pickers?
Or perchance of the simple
just being Givers?

My face full to mug
on such wonderful morning
yet ponder questions.

[FoodFuser]

Movement of evening
Downing of Sun from day's sky
Augments our rhythm

Of spoon to the pot
Of the meter of stirring
Sun to horizon.

Such be the cadence
all of rhythms diurnal
as even to beans.

[FoodFuser]

Some mornings need soft.
Simmer of tofu and broth.
Such silk to the throat.

[FoodFuser]

Cold clouds many days
Yet now shaft of some moonlight
Time for chocolate.

[FoodFuser]

Peeler, cucumber,
Soft the sound of their meeting
upon scraping.

Glistens the peeled log
also a glisten to skins
and glisten to day.

[FoodFuser]

The breaking of fast
of no eating since evening
gives name to Breakfast.

Time to fill belly
and attune to the morning
that be the Break Fast.

[FoodFuser]

Grey skies December
so cold, even bones shiver,
but yet there be soup.

[FoodFuser]

Green be the scallions
surrender of knife
to their circles.

There be gentle of hints
of aromas of onions
had from their slices.

But only in ice
Do they give full their unfurl
aromas and curls.

Such be the scallions
with the balance of brushes
Just knife slid to stem.

And ice.

[FoodFuser]

Special the nestle
Warm burrito in hand
Joy of ingestion.

[FoodFuser]

Deep into evening
comes there a need of good snack.
Now sated, soon sleeping.

[FoodFuser]

Burrito, High Noon.
Simplicity of travel
to Taco truck.

There be dispenser
of both beef and the beans
good fold burrito.

[FoodFuser]

Seated at counter
where both wife and the husband
offer their ramen.

So simple a shop
On simple an avenue
Good place of ramen.

As often Japan
They live on the second floor
with business below.

She was the maker
of such exquisite noodles
carving with skill.

He was the keeper
of simmer of such good broth
made daily from bones.

There was harmony
As they labored together
to give good ramen.

Most gentle of place
where have ever I eaten...
slurp upon noodles.

[FoodFuser]

Answer of question
of dinner this evening
simple as burger.

Will visit the place
where man astrides to his fryer
as chef earned his pride.

Bemixes with beef
best our local pork sausage
hunks of six ounces

Grilled upon flat-top
Seared crust, soft of middle
Perfect a burger.

Then hand to fryer
gives dip of the basket
freshly shorn taters.

Such burgers and fries
have accord to the heavens
So well earned his pride.

[FoodFuser]

Man astride burger
Did so surely deliver
that of my order.

Bun of such softness
Gave wrap to treat of good meat
and the condiments.

And also the fries
in their crispness of glisten
to both mouth and eyes.

Is good to know man
with such goodness of burger
both sausage and beef.

Keeper of kindle
of good fries and good burgers
Good know such a man.

[FoodFuser]

So cold blow the winds
Deep here in depth of December
It simply be cold.

But what of a dish
that would give a good prancement
give balance cold winds?

As often, the answer,
comes of the goodness of soup
built strong these cold days.

With spoon and with sip,
Winds give of cold and of howl
Still suckle my soup.

Be there a beauty
of such of the contrasts behad
of winds early winter

While stoutness of house
has the warmth and the freedom
allows me suck soup.

[FoodFuser]

Single slice of good Ham
gives foundation to sandwich
not yet assembled,

Considering first
just its beauty as glistens
as gift from the hog.

Travel of femur
journey of thigh of the Pig
shimmers presented.

Buns are well chosen
for purpose of encasement
of shimmer of Ham.

Be it arrangement
or be more an arraignment
in sandwich of Ham?

[FoodFuser]

Man scratches his back,
Gives good adjustment to spine
Now stands relaxed,

To wave and to waft
of aromas and paintment
beheld by the fridge.

There in the glowness
of such lowness of wattage
as claims the fridge bulb

Stands styro container
of simply a gift of dozen,
laid well, by chickens.

Moment decision.
Pan is perched in the left hand
Vision fixed to the fridge,

Yes, it be morning
Salutation of chickens,
In fry of their eggs.

[FoodFuser]

Rich the aroma
of leaves, that fell from the trees,
now grounded and wetted.

The chill and the moist
of this wonderful morning,
leads mind to warm.

In match the simple
of arrival such morning,
soup will be Miso.

A spoonful to bowl,
then water, then sent to the bathe
of warm microwave.

To sup upon soup,
these most gentle of mornings,
has own kind of warming.

So simple the broth,
Miso matches this morning,
Day welcomes our sup.

[FoodFuser]

Soft tread in the night
to the pleasures of kitchen,
munchies a mission.

Such a soft silence
of my hunger in balance
as crept to the fridge.

Stalk to that Mammoth
with such whir of its wattage
always entrances.

[FoodFuser]

Deep felt the drumbeats
lead us to food fed from hearth
constance of rhythm.

Deep strike of stick
upon hollow of drumlog
that drives us to supper.

Sweet be the tenor
of good call to our dinner
when issued by log.

[FoodFuser]

Tis time of the Daikons
pulled afresh from the fields
to dangle from rafters.

Drape well the landscape
picture of rural Japan
Concert of season.

So slowly they dry
while hang in coolness of wind
with chime so sublime.

Destined for pickles
these kings of the radishes
now swing in sunshine.

Will give a good crunch
to every bite of the rice
and somehow entickle.

Thus hang the daikons
from rafters, upon ages...
gift be the pickle.

[FoodFuser]

Good grate of cabbage
and the hint of good onion
makes for good slaw.

Standing and sniffing
in very waft of them both
gives a good hanker.

So simple the grate
of enfolded the cabbage
requires just our strokes.

Onion needs peeling.
Laying of sharp knife to skin
Layers revealing.

In search for our slaw
Might we always keep good mind
of simplicity

It is of cabbage.
It has hints of the onion.
But be it just slaw.

Accord to the simple
of cabbage and onions
Good pause for the slaw.

[FoodFuser]

So great the pleasure
of a slice of good cheddar
and also of apple.

One for its aging,
other for youth, for crispness.
So good a menage.

Glad that we dapple
with such fruit as the apple
and pieces of cheese.

[FoodFuser]

Morning so quiet
Seeking the coolness of breeze.
Thus door be ajar.

The heating of pan
for the make of the bacon
gives welcome to Fall.

Bliss of the breakfast
that is shorn from the Autumn
as do dance with leaves.

[FoodFuser]

These evenings of Fall
bring clarity of crispness
to love of the gourds.

Rotund the Pumpkin
baked to the sweetness of pies
that we so relish.

Slender the Butternut
with its chunks so well broiled
or softened as soup.

It's season of praise
for the goodness of squashes
the goodness of gourds.

My mind travels back
through the line of the growers
who gave us the gourds.

See them besquatted
On their muscular haunches
while tending of gourd.

There's role to be had
In the keeping of squashes
and growing of gourds.

And pictures of men
squatted hard on their haunches
Gentle keepers of gourds.

[FoodFuser]

Wakened by thunder
from that somewhere down under
such Wind and such Roar.

Just a reflection
of good work of intestines
to di-gest those beans.

We seek not the flatulence
but we sure love our legumes
Such staple, such goodness.

This wind of the night
doth seldom awaken us,
but on times when it does...

We re-adjust blankets
and give a slumbering smile
to benefits of beans.

[AreBe]

Thanksgiving oysters / marked down at Kroger today / fried deliciousness

[FoodFuser]

Arsters been fried
at a markdown of price
such a wannabe.

[FoodFuser]

Giving the breading
to those seasonal bivalves
indeed be blessing.

Now shimmer hot oil
in the bathe of them oysters
intended for dressing.

Such silk on the inside
Such crunch on the outside
Them be good oysters.

[FoodFuser]

Gives good dangle of morning
Just a strip of peeled bacon
belly glistening.

Await good awarming
Possible be some frying
Warmth to my morning.

[FoodFuser]

"ZZZZiiPPP" goes the metal,
lid of the can of sardines.
lingers on finger.

"CRUNCH" go the saltines
well meant to accompany
good can of fishies.

Left holding the lid,
Even left holding the bag.
Good crunch good fishies.

Twas talk in the past
of the matter of good loaves
and meaning of fish.

Centered on sharing,
not just loaves and our fishes
but also our selves.

Words spoke in good peace
to those gathered on hillside.
so hungry of mind.

The Zip of sardines
and the Crunch of the crackers
all from a hillside.

Was powerful talk
of the fishes, of sharing
of loaves, and of being.

[FoodFuser]

Such sizzle of bacon
Does deliver good aromas
here upon morning.

Just slice of cured belly
Neverless romances me
Curls in the skillet.

Float to aromas.
Let nose waft upon bacon
fried upon morning.

[FoodFuser]

Such beautiful day.
Sunlight filters to back porch
Exposing both me

And my munch of the Snickers.
I revel in the sunshine
and the fact being busted.

Felony candy bar
of peanut and chocolate
worth time spent in jail.

Might be, all of we,
Have want of an evening
where sun gently flickers

Wherein its dapple and dance
Gives so strong its exposure
to our innermost Snickers.

[FoodFuser]

Upon bread:

Listen to leavening
as dough gives its arousal
such staple as bread.

Listen to leavening
from we bakers with fingers
beknuckled the bread

Listen to leavening
in all tasks that attract us,
be bread, just be be-ing.

The loft of the loaf
is internal determined
by our hear of the beast of our yeast.

[FoodFuser]

Pork loin in oven
such succulent of slices
Loving slow roasted.

Knife gives its own peal
as the slices dance downward
Praise juice of the pork.

[FoodFuser]

Sound of the drumming
of fingers on side of the fridge.
Door fully open.

Fingers keep rhythm
to my lack of decision
of contents within.

Is just late night snack.
It calls not for crescendo
Here sought is diminuendo.

Fingers still rapping
Comes arrived the decision:
I reach for the olives.

[FoodFuser]

Four days after Thanksgiving.

The Turkey all gone
the cranberries waning.
Time for new sandwich.

But first one last munch
upon, ummm, them cranberries
give tartness to soul.

[FoodFuser]

Three days after Thanksgiving:

Vestige of turkey
sweet remnants of cranberry.
Time make last sandwich.

[FoodFuser]

The Feasting is done.
Grunts of contentment abound.
Surely, Thanksgiving.

Some four hundred years now
we gather to celebrate
Bounty of harvest.

Good times to the feast.
of the turkey and pumpkins
of links to the past.

[DoobieWah]

Lovely kanpachi.
A tiny slab atop rice -
Firm, rich and briny.

[FoodFuser]

Snacks of the midnight
are as simple as pickles
crunched sweet with delight.

[FoodFuser]

Praise to kabocha
small green cousin of pumpkin
harvested in Fall.

Knife circles stemmed top
exposing with lifting: the seeds.
Stands firm but exposed.

Spoon cleans thick middle
giving place for good stuffing
to which I accede.

Stuffed, steamed, then roasted
Quintessence of squash.
With spoons we embrace.

[FoodFuser]

There's good act in washing
Five pounds of pertaters
brought home in a bag.

Brush swept along skin
the dirt doth descend
and settle in sink.

Anticipation,
in this act of their cleansing
soil dispensing

Soon boiled they'll be
then buttered, and well salted
Good taters they'll be.

[FoodFuser]

Midnight needs warming.
Is there chance of becording
their needs of this night?

My own brings deliver
Of the goodness of cheese
and gratis of beans.

[FoodFuser]

Could one remember
or applause to the platter
beef that's been braised right?

[FoodFuser]

Arising with eggs
is a good way greet morning.
So gentle they fry.

Sun softly rises.
With clarity of yellow
Bematching of ovum.

Were all just so simple
as surety diurnal
as raising of Sun.

Is cause give to praise
of orbits of orb
and softly fried ovum.

[FoodFuser]

'clined to November
it brings up, just moniker
the Dear Robert Frost.

His talk upon forests
do send me this night
of his talk upon fences,

His speak of the trail
and forks not yet taken
Give rise to good road.

It's well to commune
With such great poet as him.
While eating my beans.

And chance of good bacon
As my thoughts give their lean to
communion with Frost.

[FoodFuser]

We dance with the wolves
as we dance with aged cheese
firmaments groaning

It calls for good eggs,
the supple power of which
will distribute it.

[FoodFuser]

Day that awaits me
Give stare cubic contents
With-held by the fridge.

Such sweet appliance
So gentle its storage
Somehow speaks to me.

"What shall it be for thee
on this cusp of good morning
I'm here just to please."

Ignoring euphonia
of such subtle of statement
I reached for the cheese.

It turns out this day
is one which to calibrate
our borrow of cheese.

[FoodFuser]

Standing at frigde door
so open, so lightening
begs us to explore.

We be so lucky
just having refrigerator
and contents within.

I stare in the darkness
Lighted by bulb in the fridge
and reach for a yogurt.

Such gifts at this midnight
accorded by fridge.

[FoodFuser]

First freeze approaches
It is Advent for oaties
for the breakfast meal.

[FoodFuser]

Layers of muscle
to be found in the fried thigh
Good part of chicken.

Peals for the drumsticks
or requests for plump fried breasts
Not diminute me.

Chewing on layers
Of those strong muscled thighs
Be-bests call for breasts.

[FoodFuser]

Consider the beauty...
Plate full of mashed re-fried beans
Each Pinto own ecstasy.

Brought to the cast iron
Amidst hot lard and onion
With cracked seeds of Cumin.

"Tis gauntlet, this dish
of the consequent fartlets.
But still I chow down.

Beans now ingested
I feel need to be rested
It's time to recline.

Tune Weather Channel
to see which other places
match upcoming wind.

Gauntlet of fartlets
So well tossed, now ingested
I snooze in bean breeze.

[FoodFuser]

Slicing of prime rib
whiff of the sharp knife
good platelets descend.

[FoodFuser]

Rough wooden chopstcks
slide through fresh tofu with grace.

[buttertart]

Soft slickness in mouth.

[FoodFuser]

Thank you, dear Buttertart.

I was so caught in the ecstasy of fresh tofu
that chopsticks gave loss
to completion of verse.

May I here reconsider?

Here a new haiku:

Half hour warm tofu
Yields to rough chopsticks
Glissade to fresh curds.

[buttertart]

Love it.

[FoodFuser]

Snacking on Snickers
Such good peanuts and caramel
Good chocolate as well.

[FoodFuser]

With yawn and with stretch
I give seek daybreak haiku
to give form to morning.

Mind hits upon grits
slow coddled kernels of corn
Well paddled with cheese.

To go with good grits
there must be an egg in that.
Two over easy, please.

[FoodFuser]

Ridgetop views valley.
Banks of rice paddies descend
I tread so softly

Downhike so tenuous
Valley views so glorious
Soil dikes so old.

Descent with the rice.
Down with time took build paddies.
Stroke ancestral rice.

At base, looking back
water, mud, rice, all trickles.
Touch base with real old,

[buttertart]

Very evocative. I dare you to work the word "polder" into these musings.

[BobB]

Polder. Once, twas land
kept by dikes from ocean's dark.
Now, thermometers.

[FoodFuser]

Bob has opened the dikes to a poetry of puns upon brands, with a good one.
Do I hear a howl from my Wolf stove?

[FoodFuser]

Buttertart:

Ponder upon polders
and relation to paddies
comes down to terraces.

The polder claims land
from the lakes or the oceans.
Dikes keep out the water.

Terraces halt gravity
slowing flow of the water
allowing the rice.

Both are communal,
and requiring our sculpting
whether slopes or wet flatland.

[buttertart]

Bravo both!!!

[FoodFuser]

The best I can tell is of trickle from paddies
as water went downhill.

Such softening quiet.
Such perch on the ridge.
Such crouch to give calibrate
to all human hands
who had patted, developed, these walls.

It was not just a canter downhill.
It was passage through mists
of slow gentle history
of mud and of water and rice.

[FoodFuser]

A single oat flake
tasted dry with wet finger...
good way meet the day.

Sun is arising
It is now time for breakfast...
time meet with the oats.

And as the eggs boil
firming first their albumen
then setting of yolk

They lead us on journey
of how best set our center
this beautiful day.

[FoodFuser]

Such softness of eggs
Cradled in pan and in butter
turned over-easy.

Approach with a spoon
to take gentle sips to yolks
followed by napkins.

Then to albumen.
Yolk sack depleted, consumed.
But still have the spoon.

Clank of the tool steel
to porcelain breakfast plate
as whites are encircled

All now devoured
Napkin wipes this experience
yolks, whites, from my face.

But yet there remains
an egg-eatin' grin of it.
Sheen is internal

[FoodFuser]

Seared burgers on coals
Cook quick to sear outside
Pink in the middle.

Hot flames attending
when the patty hits hot coals
then it's attending.

This is a matter
of good judged moderating
of meat and the heat

The buns on the side
are charred for mayo slide
meat buns come to fruition.

[FoodFuser]

Smell the fresh Masa
as you press your tortilla
Hear hit to hot pan.

Heat adds to aroma
as it stiffens but stays soft.
Flip, again sizzles.

If all was so simple
as the freshness of Masa
grilled at mid-morning.

[FoodFuser]

Praise to pork belly
manifested as bacon
Crispness of soft strips.

Greeting this morning
there are strips in the oven
slowly rendering.

They shall be supple
They shall bend with a crispness
They shall satisfy.

Belly gives good grub
Stacked, turned, in the oven.
Soft slices rendered.

Hard to describe them
But Good God I chew them
Oven baked bacon.

[FoodFuser]

A good friend in night:
the refrigerator light....
shows content within.

Softly we dawdle
And lovingly we fondle
our special treasures.

Choices, past midnight,
are based more upon Munchies
than our best interests.

Yet somehow we find
that most perfect item
and proceed with the feed.

Illumined by bulb
that betrays all our secrets
in 20 watt glow.

But door in the night
Impels us to fulfillment
Not closed 'till we're done.

Our secret treasures.
Door of the box keeps them cold.
Such friend of low wattage.

[DoobieWah]

This sounds like Part Two
Is found on another board -
(Like Penthouse Dot Com?)!

;-)

[FoodFuser]

No double entendre.
It is all in the passion
of power of Fridge light.

Door clicks the switch,
lights the refrigerator...
Such treasures within.

[buttertart]

Ti amo, FF.

[FoodFuser]

Morning Fritatta
Eggs, bacon, onion, Mac 'Cheese
Leftovers made good.

[DoobieWah]

It rained yesterday,
and maybe again today;
can't say that I mind.

Still hot as hell though,
So I think I'll have a Pop-
Sickle for breakfast.

[FoodFuser]

Please, Eugene O'Neil
In this hellish heat tell us
That Iceman doth cometh.

[DoobieWah]

This I swear to thee,
From B'Gosh to Begorrah
The Iceman cometh.

[FoodFuser]

Thanks for "Begorrah".
It was a new phrase for me.
Guarantees Iceman.

A sixty pound block
hefted on apron clad shoulder
Sufficient for me.

For one day.

[buttertart]

Here's one for you, FF, as a palliative to the heat -

popsicles ice cream
ice cubes sorbet granitas
vanquish summer heat

[FoodFuser]

Chest freezer, block ice
Fits in the bathtub real nice.
Blissful immersion.

Cantilevered shelf
attached to side of the tub
holds frozen ice cream

Chest freezer gives ice
Cold bergs in the bathtub
Crisp frozen chocolate.

[buttertart]

Brr! :)

[BobB]

The ice cubes await
Shimmering in the darkness.
Martini time, soon.

[buttertart]

Niiice. Your tomato one is hot.

[mamachef]

I do not think this is my last haiku, but FWIW:
You gave me such love
When I needed food, and life
you knew the difference.

[DoobieWah]

Happy July Fourth
To each and every Chowhound.
May your steaks be rare.

[FoodFuser]

Watermelon, ice.
Spent two days in iced cooler.
Crisp. Seed spittin' good.

[FoodFuser]

Soft rain came through last night
and it cooled down the landscape
Lightening too was soft.

Called for ice bucket
and some bottles of tonic
some crackers and cheese.

Cicadas confused.
What song should they sing
with this drastic change?

Deck surely beckoned
Cooled by this soothing soft rain
Said "plant your butt down."

Iced bottles rattled
Snap hiss when I opened one
Cicadas chorused.

Beautiful balance
this soft misted evening
begged more observing.

Downpour had passed by
Lightning seven seconds away.
I sat under eaves

but scooched out my chair
to let the drizzle hit my knees.
cheese crackers protected.

Cold fronts follow storms
I let it envelop me
with mild winds it brought.

Cicadas silent
at these shifts in the balance
in their simple world.

I reach for crackers
smeared thick with pimento cheese
Perfect for this night.

Tried to crunch silent
so not disturb choirmaster
engender chorus.

Wind from the cold front
whispered its gentle moving
soft gusts, not sustained.

Each pulse sure bathed me
and choirmaster chirped indecisively
a few followed lead.

Next tonic water
I opened more quietly.
Closed mouth upon cracker.

Unusual storm.
Epicenter at distance
yet scattered drizzle.

I sat for an hour
admiring the choirmaster,
the sky, rain, and wind.

Ran out out tonic
and pimento cheese crackers
Arose, and went in.

But that evening is still with me..

[FoodFuser]

Bacon microwaved
to dictates of this heat wave.
Bread, 'mater, mayo.

[buttertart]

Imari bowl holds
six golden peaches fragrant
promising sweet juice

[mariacarmen]

flavorless truffle
why do you even exist?
black hole of sorrow

[buttertart]

summer truffle not
anywhere near as fragrant
as fall or winter

[mariacarmen]

damn. maybe that was the problem. dammit.

[buttertart]

$10 is nothing compared to what a real one would have cost - they're two distinct fungi.

[mariacarmen]

they had different sizes, up to $20. what do you mean "real" tho - fall/winter as opposed to summer? or region it came from? (i don't actually know where ours was from."

[buttertart]

Real as in winter truffles from the Périgord or somewhere of the sort. Those puppies are eyewateringly expensive.

[mariacarmen]

it's true. it probably would've been a $50 hunk if it was from the Périgord or Piemonte or something. and it would've been divine!

[FoodFuser]

Cold leg of chicken
Skinned then marinated
Brushed with marinade

With heat indirect
Hot half drives the smoking
with pan of pecan.

Loving good basting
And lots of good attention
Legs, indirect heat.

Then loaded to fridge
Just one day before serving
Cold bowl, good cold chicken.

[FoodFuser]

Sun's down and moon rises
Such a cloudless horizon
makes want to pick dill.

What soft wind there is
flows with its passage through fronds
as thumbnail pinches.

Cucumber shredded
awaits really cold yogurt
and garlic, chopped dill.

Yogurt, cucumber, dill
There must be a name for this
Don't care what it is.

Nameless is timeless
and deserves its own status
as just in my bowl.

With gaze to the North
I seek out star Polaris.
Been guide for many.

Spoon dips deep to bowl.
as I raise my eyes upward
this balmy evening.

They were Mariners
those who gave name to this dish.
as plied inland seas.

Were Greeks, I believe
sailed Mediterranean
often in warfare.

Tonight with coolness
One spoonful bathes my hot tongue
Now name comes to me.

Tzatziki. Old Greek.
Whether was hoisting of sail
deep in the Aegean

Or me on my swing
with no sail except moonlight
this dish really sings.

[FoodFuser]

Pork steak close to charcoal
Sizzles and sears and crusts fat
Meat remains tender.

One inch from the coals
Red hot from pump of bellows
Makes beautiful meat.

[FoodFuser]

Dawn signals Miso.
One dollop stirred into broth.
Soft cubes of Tofu.

[FoodFuser]

Aperched to the fryer
Fresh Catfish came into my life.
Gift from a Noodler

Noodlers ply banks
of recesses in rivers
and fish with their hands.

A strange sort of sport
Where forced forearm meets catfish
Pulled from the river.

I heat the oil
And make up the breading
when fish headed here.

[FoodFuser]

All praise to young taters
Just forked from my prairie earth
so rotund you be.

Praise also to nozzle
of garden hose rinses them
spins water in bin.

These tates will be steamed
then brought down to al fresco
and once they are chilled

They'll get handfulls of Dill
some dabs freshly made mayo
and chopped garden onion.

Sounds like the makin's
Of a good tater salad
Verdict to eaters
.

[buttertart]

One of the happiest food memories of my life is of eating just dug potatoes at a dear cousin who was a wonderful gardener's house. So utterly delicious. Thanks for bringing that back (the green bean ones resonate too, my dad grew those).
FoodFuser, the Gerard Manley Hopkins of the 21st century haiku.

[FoodFuser]

New dug pertaters.
Skin slips yet has awesome grip
to soft starches inside.

No way describe them
so supple, so fresh from soil
One has to imbibe them.

Have scent of good dirt
Spade and I prefer call Earth
as turned forth the tubers.

More than just eating
Matches heart with ground beating
So simple taters.

So simple soil
What joy in the toil
To bring food from Earth.

Accent, excitement
come from Mayo and Dill
and fresh chop of onions.

[buttertart]

Freshly dug taters
Ontario aummer day
Butter salt crown them.

[FoodFuser]

Spuds really do rule.
Brought to food stream by Incans
and now feast Canadians.

Tuber much traveled
First from cool dirt in the Andes.
Chants from those hillsides.

[FoodFuser]

Soft crunch of Green Beans
Were dangling in garden
Picked, steamed, and ate them.

They dance through the days
of the heat of young summer
building seed, building pod.

Good crunch comes from each
both soft seed and the crisp pod.
Such gift of green bean.

[FoodFuser]

Gosh let's get out there
sipping coffee on porch.
gift of the morning.

[FoodFuser]

Here around midnight
merge with sounds of the night.
Chair's steel cools my back.

Rarefied silence
where two pork ribs await me
glisten in moonlight.

These ribs are leftover
from cooking debauchery
comes with Father's Day.

So me and two ribs
Somehow thoughts go to Adam
in this sweet silence.

Naw, won't go Biblical
When I can go Riblical
Hoist bone and I chew.

Last of the relics
of a good weekend party
I now devour.

Deference to Adam
It just don't get much better
than leftover ribs

Porch and its silence
but the soft sounds of night dance
add joy to my chew.

Was a good weekend.
Is a really good sparerib
Joy in both swallowed..

[FoodFuser]

Still daggum records of heat:

Birds singing slower now.
Apollo flips bird quite early
Notice of day's sun.

So me and my hose
placing water, save garden
Bird flipped back to Apollo

I water my garden
hose sprays to all islands
Apollo debunked.

[FoodFuser]

Heat Wave.

Refrigeration.
From cool air to dense ice cubes
Cools both glass and ass.

[FoodFuser]

Heat wave:

Neighbor made Jello
Cut cubes to glisten with cold.
Down glad gullet goes.

[FoodFuser]

Summer evening:

Nighttime has now come.
Sun chariot horizoned
Break from Apollo.

Listen to earth cool.
Embrace song of Cicada.
Good end of good day.

Mint steeped as a tea
In a jar in the sunlight
Now gives me delight.

Honey and lemon
mixed into the ambrosia
Allow drink just right..

Ice clinks, counterpoints
the melody of evening
with which earth does sing.

Just me and my tea
on my piece the planet
All gently comes cool.

[FoodFuser]

Softness of seltzer.
Singing bubbles hit palate
Excitement to nose.

[DoobieWah]

"All you can eat ribs."
The most vile and most evil
Five words known to Man.

[FoodFuser]

Extra sharp cheddar
Such a heavy block hefted
Brought to the grater.

Tower of sharp steel
with edged pockets protruded
cuts cheese so smoothly.

Soft cheese now rendered
Strands are placed upon omelet
Where slowly dissolve.

[FoodFuser]

Joy of the smoker
Oak, Pecan, and Hickory.
with pork ribs inside.

Meat rubbed lovingly
Coals tended to soft degree
From bone, meat will slide.

[buttertart]

Hickory smoke scent
From childhood summer corn roasts
Taking me back home.

[FoodFuser]

The char upon Maize
Fire, friends, teeth crunching kernels
Butter drips from face.

[FoodFuser]

Thunderstorms moved through
In normal path west to east.
Good ground soaking rain.

Now garden glistens.
It is time to give listen
to driplets droplets.

Focus on those sounds
of water just seeking ground
gift of gravity.

Glides down along stems
and releases from leaflets
Some remains, glistens.

Harken to those days
when survival was centered
on very same rains.

Close eyes and just feel
joy of their celebration...
early gardeners.

Steam still arises
from my own little garden.
Skies clear, and wind blows.

Plants carry on dance
of just sun, soil, and water.
Continue to grow.

I raise smile to skies
Try to merge with the Old Guys
In praise of the storm.

[FoodFuser]

Ode to haiku-burger

Grilled burger drips well
splatters the plate with droplets
but just meat and bun.

Condiments extra
and only as requested
That's part of the fun.

Onion for pungence
Lettuce for crunchy crispness
Sliced 'maters that slide.

Mustard for good bite
then comes the piano-forte
Dollops of Mayo.

This burger best at home
restaurants just don't make it
except In and Out.

[FoodFuser]

Hot sun has hit early
Giving droop to my basil
Soft limp wimpy leaves.

Wanted to use you
to mate with tomatoes...
Formless you dangle.

Perhaps tonight's Dew
will bring back your erectness
Draped over 'maters.

[FoodFuser]

Warm Hot winds greet me
Portender of Summer blazing skies?
Just want Cukes and Onions

Chilled to defray them
with soft vinegar soft sugar
from summer's strong heat...

Thank God for the fridge
as it rattles and rambles
allows dish served cold

Gifts from the garden
gifts from deep cold running frige
right to the gullet.

[FoodFuser]

Ode to flatulence
from ingesting those legumes.
Haiku to good beans.

Source of good fiber
and incredible flavor
good farts to savor.

While all know the bliss
we so rarely discuss this.
Manners. Etiquette.

Proud to be species
with such workings of colon
digesting my food.

All of such systems
require Pressure Relief Valves
It takes form of Fart.

Relish ingestion.
Relish work of the Colon.
Give grin at good Fart.

[FoodFuser]

Meat from grill today.
It is Memorial Day.
Best day to eat meat?

Celebrate soldiers
With grunts they protected us.
Memorial Day.

Might MD say peace.

[FoodFuser]

What lunch from satchel.
Crusted bread cut to sandwich
Bring only cut cheese.

[FoodFuser]

Buttered pan sizzles
things seem just right to add eggs
Senses buttery.

Crack two from their shell
Revel in buttery splatter
Hot butter meets eggs.

Cook them now coddled
Just the way that I want them
Beauty, Butter, Eggs.

[FoodFuser]

Knock mud from boot soles
It is Tornado cleanup
Sit for a minute.

Flip bird to debris
and tragedy surrounds me
Just need to sit, breathe.

Am handed canned beans.
Metal lid has been opened
Spoon is deep standing

I eat down cold meal
as if each bean were treasure
Spoon clanks to cold steel.

Back to the debris
Scrape more mud off my boots
Cleanup sure beckons.

[buttertart]

I've been worried about you, FoodFuser - is everybody safe, I dearly hope?

[FoodFuser]

We are tornadoed
Pick up the pieces
Move on and do well.

[FoodFuser]

Dark, balmy night.
I'll eat just a light sandwich.
Breeze gives good delight.

[FoodFuser]

Sweep of the zip top
Revealing good canned sardines.
Multiple layers.

Good fishies arrayed
either firstlings or brislings
soft layered in can.

Once so bescorned
they are back as the lunch snack
All good Omegas.

Their partner Saltines
hath too made re-emergence
paired perfect with fish.

Blue Collars chuckle
In knowing held long and strong
strength of a meal in can held

Glistening sardines
Corner-hugging Saltines
We told you guys all along

Lo Merc, Hi Omegas.
Lunchbox snaps with a good burp
and fish-eaters smile.

[DoobieWah]

Wrapped in fine paper,
little pearls of sweet and sharp,
God's gift - the onion.

[FoodFuser]

God's gift indeed.
Been a good Spring for onions
Smunching them fresh green.

[FoodFuser]

Eye to good breakfast.
Gotta be eggs and oaties,
Making the prep now.

[FoodFuser]

Midnight is speaking.
Moon shines and illuminates.
Soft breezes sweeping.

So silent tonight
on the waves of the soft wind
pulsing and blowing.

Nary an insect
singing in hopes of mating.
Tonight we are quiet.

Pulse of a breeze
leaves shimmer, tingle, and breathe
then fall to quiet.

Soundless evening.
In heart, boundless evening.
The gift of soft breeze.

[FoodFuser]

Plants in the garden
Finding their succor from rain
becoming erect.

Seek to the rootlet
grabbing soil eternal
Mix mind with the dirt.

Growth upon photons.
Stream forth rich from our Sun.
Harvest. Energy.

Love days gentle Spring
Before Summer Sun blazes
That sure lies ahead

For now be of herbs
lettuce radishes onions
Soft Sun soft soil.

[FoodFuser]

Up with the the Onions
Sol's chariot not here yet
thus simple morning.

Birds bleat a soft note
Redbird serves as bugler
Time roust and awake.

Soon will be chorus
of bird guided euphony
Pleasures but scattered

I seek to hear growth
from rootstocks were planted.
Soft gentle onions.

Mornings and onions.
Listening for their green growth
Birds give good chorus

[FoodFuser]

Rain. Breaking our drought.
All night thundering pouring
Good for our gardens.

[FoodFuser]

Cold block of tofu
yields slabs to a butterknife
sliced and quivering.

So many uses
but the first is the naked
dip into shoyu.

Flakes of bonito
and sprouted radishes await
to dress this blessed tofu.

[FoodFuser]

Crisp green kaiware
open leaflets, gift pepper
Dress my tofu.

Are just daikon sprouts
but leaflets are opening
mustardly crisp good.

Stance of kaiware
is clamshell opening
leaflets to heaven.

[FoodFuser]

Softness of butter
left on counter to soften
gives gift of glossen.

Knife spreads it smoothly
upon rough face of the bread
Ahhhhh... bread and butter.

See Granny at churn
with such calm separating
fat that is butter.

Now she kneads flour dough
her stout forearms are churning
loaves ready, hot oven.

All hail to Granny.
Her fresh butter, her hot bread.
Knife spreading sings smoothly.

[FoodFuser]

Coffee of morning
Birds compete in their songing
All's well on deck.

Sunrise aroma
The wind chimes are tinkling
from base of my mug.

Cup runneth over
with the joys sought from this day.
Dawn, birds, coffee beans.

Just the beginning
As Apollo moves sun higher
Songs yet to be sung today.

[buttertart]

This inevitably brings "Sunday Morning" to mind: http://www.bartleby.com/265/355.html

[FoodFuser]

Thanks for Wallace Stevens. He was a beautiful poet.

[buttertart]

Another WS you're sure to love - the last canto of "L'Esthétique du Mal".

the green corn gleaming
tomatoes red ripening
hot summer pleasures

[FoodFuser]

Thank you, bt, for steering me softly to these awesome poets.

[buttertart]

My pleasure.

[mamachef]

Blackbird. I do not know which I prefer. That man could shatter a mind.

[FoodFuser]

Lo... the Bread Maker
arises before the dawn.
Time to get baking.

So many cultures
with just flour and water
thank baker at dawn.

Ovens now heating.
ready for whatever dough.
Ready for good bread.

Man of the morning
this is flour-splayed baker
Central to all lives.

Today we find it
cut, sliced, bagged and delivered
was it always so?

Bakers with hot stones
before we had hot ovens
bread baked in the past.

[mamachef]

This is great. And for reference, the first sliced bread debuted on 7 July, 1928, courtesy of Otto Frederick Rohwedder, inventor of the machine.

[FoodFuser]

Hear man rub the rice
under fresh flowing water
He rinses it thrice.

The split bamboo broom
a tool most traditional.
Whisk, rinse, whisk again..

Soft rhythm in rice.
Cascade flow of the water
to each gentle grain.

Sounds atavistic.
They've hurled through the centuries.
Still today: Whisk, swoosh.

Could be as simple
as rice grains, bamboo, water?
The answer awaits.

For now will focus
on his forearm and elbow
as daily brings rice.

[buttertart]

I love your suites of haiku.

[FoodFuser]

Haiku be good.

[mamachef]

A good dose of creativity is a great and fine thing. : ) Have a good day, FF.
Best,
Marci

[buttertart]

It's the Tao of Ku!
Memo to self: ask husband whether haiku was a Japanese borrowing from China. Think not but one never knows, there are so many things that are.

[buttertart]

Memo to self part 2: Maybe there's a Chinese poetic form we can goe going on. It can be counted syllable too.

[grocerytrekker]

Buttertart,

No, Japanese grammar is completely different from Chinese. Vocabulary is borrowed, yes, but the answer is no :)

[FoodFuser]

But richness of Kanji,
Chinese characters borrowed
each has deep depth.

Carry more meaning
than paltry syllabary
Give haiku its breadth.

Grocerytrekker
please rejoin us in chorus
in search of Haiku.

[buttertart]

Preaching to the choir, here - I know, I speak and read Chinese and my husband reads Japanese as well as being more conversant in Chinese including literary than I'll ever be (had to learn it for dissertation research, is a historian, late imperial urban history). Not 5-7-5 but counted syllable forms do exist in Chinese poetry.

[FoodFuser]

Seems good point of discussion of making thread better.
Sense such force of subdued power here.
Scent of good folks want release power of poetry.

[FoodFuser]

Here smoked pork spareribs
One flick the meat falls from bone.
Bone shines, meat beckons.

Made by a Master
in his restaurant kitchen
Pecan, Hickory.

The logs piled outside
bespeak authenticity.
Ribs revolve through smoker.

Beans are too in there
to be stirred on occasion
to take in the smoke.

The Master attends
to his making of cole slaw
chopped with loving strokes.

He has apprentice
but he is for sure Master.
This kitchen is his.

He's been smoking ribs
for almost forty years now.
Good sweat to his brow.

Folks queue at the door
for his ribs, beans, and cole slaw.
That is his menu.

His restaurant is set
on a deep country road
far from the highway.

The sense that one gets
is much more than just good meat.
It's dedication.

Would that we all could
find such deep avocation.
Maker of good ribs.

[FoodFuser]

Green pea shoots curling
Radishes flavor bursting
Dress with vinegar.

[FoodFuser]

Toward more plebeian food memories:

1989.
Along Interstate 40.
Year of Big Mac wars.

Just 49 cents
Will supply you with Big Mac.
Or Quarter with cheese.

Long distance driving
with Moon over my shoulder
making the miles count.

Talk radio good.
Thermos of coffee still hot
recharged at McD's.

Big Mac in hand
Quarter pounder beside me.
Chew, sip, and listen.

Next time to get gas
Is in about two more hours
and more of McD's.

Engine hums smoothly
Moon follows me down the road.
Hurtle through darkness.

Hark... on horizon
My best brand of gasoline
adjacent gold arches.

[FoodFuser]

Cooking pork and beans,
Good dish when rendered out right
Porcine and legumes.

[FoodFuser]

Consider the cheese
Caseins compacted to loaves
Beauty milk gives us.

[FoodFuser]

Okay fellow posters.
There is a lot of good talent on this thread.

Let us keep this thing going
Let us keep just enjoying
5-7-5 poetry.

Do it by posting
Such good talent here.

[FoodFuser]

Olives

Neighbor shared olives.
They are called Kalamatas
deep good meaty fruit.

Thanks to that friendship
It has more than just olives
Of living joyous.

[FoodFuser]

Upon oats, Upon groats,

Just now this morning
As my oaties were warming
I gave praise to groats.

Journeys to feedbags
Sound of the strong jaws of horses
As chomp on their oats.

As we feed our steeds
For the max of nutrition
Why not feed ourselves.

Soft chomp in groaties
Skilled rendered from oaties
Good take on breakfast.

[DoobieWah]

Five, Seven, Five huh?
And it must be about food?
An apple a day...

[FoodFuser]

Becone the pecan
Grows down here in our valleys.
Better than walnut.

What would be good life
in it's struggle and hard strife
Without some good nuts.

Not about crazy
I be just a FoodFuser
feasting on pecans.

[buttertart]

And the happy genius of your household, to paraphrase another poet of renown.

[FoodFuser]

That phrase is new to me. Who spoke it?

[buttertart]

Danse Russe

If when my wife is sleeping
and the baby and Kathleen
are sleeping
and the sun is a flame-white disc
in silken mists
above shining trees,--
if I in my north room
dance naked, grotesquely
before my mirror
waving my shirt round my head
and singing softly to myself:
"I am lonely, lonely.
I was born to be lonely,
I am best so!"
If I admire my arms, my face,
my shoulders, flanks, buttocks
against the yellow drawn shades,--

Who shall say I am not
the happy genius of my household?

William Carlos Williams

[FoodFuser]

Thank you BT
I have read some some WCW
just not enough.

And how give him
more of an accolade
Than a name so mellifluous
WCW flows to William Carlos Williams
Even name has a rhyme
I shall read more of him.

[buttertart]

One of my favorites, and I now live in his home town!

[FoodFuser]

I have googled him. Man most magnificent, thank you. Please email me.

[FoodFuser]

Gosh darn, it is Spring.
Let us let forth with laughter
in foods that we're after.

Today?

Joy in Cheeseburger
Dispensed by a Meister.
Good burger, Good man.

[FoodFuser]

Coffee.

Coffee from tropics
tastes and aromas in nose
cup back to saucer.

Thoughts to the first ones
who sensed such beauty in beans
hand-picked from the plant.

Roasted, delivered,
as whole beans, I just grind them.
Beauty of Coffee.

Beauty of Drip.

[FoodFuser]

Soft breath fells petal.
Sending such sweetness to ground.
Four of the five now remain.

Watched blown one soar down
in gentlest of circles
then flesh met with ground.

Bring blossom to me
as I study the ovary
plump, it is ready.

Soon will be good fruit
in the hands of caretakers
well plucked to baskets.

But Blossom, one petal,
it seeks not to the basket.
Seeks freedom instead.

Petal in freefall
speaks deep of an energy
we have not yet heard.

[FoodFuser]

Elm seeds bespatter
driven in drift of the wind
Small football flat discs,

Elm in the saddle
means time to check calender
for planting maters.

Curious they're tied
those Elms and those Tomaters
Strong sign of good Spring.

[FoodFuser]

Slicer meets cabbage
Such joy in that whisking sound
food for us masses.

Leaves taking in Sun.
Minimal toil to the soil.
Cabbage is food for the planet.

[FoodFuser]

Dill. Best herb of Spring.
Aroma oils flowing.
Leans toward the taters

But glances to Fish
Cooked, yet accepting chopped leaves.
Beauty of fresh Dill.

But then come the eggs.
Butter and ovum and herb
Dill give full blossom.

[DoobieWah]

Like all fingerfood/ Nagirizushi always/ Makes me young again.

[mariacarmen]

ooh, like.

[FoodFuser]

Energy always
does flow forth from Wasabi
Best of the mustards.

It grows in best places...
Where water and rocks do their dance
Streambed Wasabi.

Falling of waters
Combined with a good hit to nose.
Ahhh Life... Ahhh Wasabi.

[FoodFuser]

My taxes are done
my loot rendered to Caesar
as Bible prescribes

(And as does IRS).

Let us celebrate
with a salad of lettuce
fit for Das Caesar.

It starts with wood bowl
and a fresh clove of garlic
rubbed in the wood grain.

Egg and anchovy
are stirred as they are added
then oil, then all whisked.

Such a sweet dressing
Smell arises to greet me
Still needs some lettuce.

I sneak in a few
of those extra anchovies
before I proceed.

Crisp head of Romaine
is now stripped, disemboweled
best leaves at its heart.

Joy as it mixes
In fresh bowl with fresh dressing
salad of April.

I hand out a bowl
to IRS auditer
represents Caesar,

Mid April is his
which is why I've renamed it
to "IRS salad".

I take much more joy
in whipping up same salad
when rendered to God
(not to Caesar)

Because God allows
that it goes down My gullet...
not to dang taxes.

[buttertart]

You slay me utterly, FoodFuser. I now have a new hobby because of this.

[FoodFuser]

Just use your fingers
to count out five and seven,
then follow your heart.

[buttertart]

Every thought I have
Can be made into haiku
And is all the time!

[FoodFuser]

I find the haiku device with its meter restraints, quite useful, almost like a sieve when we clarify sauce.

[buttertart]

Very much so. It seems (like iambic pentameter) to be a pattern that thought and speech fal linto fairly naturally.

[FoodFuser]

Iambic, indeed, does fit to our meter.
haiku more tightly so.

Gifts in the cadence.

[FoodFuser]

Were Fast winds this day
Fifty-five miles per hour
Just Prairie in Spring.

All the young tree leaves
bent strongly to this hard wind
seemed well to survive.

Bent fiercest were onions
Laid low with the hard winds
I hope they survive.

In each of us want
to foster cultivation
even in deep wind.

Metaphor there is
when we plant others than onions
Whatever that is.

[FoodFuser]

Weather becalmed
Deck beckons to coffee
Birds sing morning.

Eyes to the onions
still bent from the weather
not yet walked out there

Most bent of stems
will be chopped for my oaties
savory goodness

Oaties and onions
Makes for savory meals
And good breakfast.

[FoodFuser]

Certain we celebrate
The crunch of the celery
such gift to colon.

It even excites
each pass of good sharp knife.
Blade and explosion.

Such simple of tasks
as is chopping the celery
Center of Life.

Its crispness affords
such a platform for knife
and marvel of crunch.

Such gift of crisp stalk
Such gift of this humblest task
Such gift is the celery.

[FoodFuser]

My neighbors Magnoila
Gives praise to the spring
with scent of her blossoms
and evergreen leaves.

Thickness of petals
Hefting weight, heavy waxy
They celebrate all that is Spring.

Wish I could eat it.
Gift deep from past they be,
these herald Magnolias.

[buttertart]

Lovely. As are the redbud ones.

[FoodFuser]

Rejuvenation.
Gift of all blooming blossoms
Message of Spring.

[jubilant cerise]

I really like the one about the sea urchin and one about the blue crab.

Why are you looking for opinions/critiques, grocerytrekker? Will you be publishing some of these? :)

I'm inspired by everyone else's postings so far! Here's my offering:

Three years my backyard
has been neglected and yet
ev'ry spring there's rhubarb.

[grocerytrekker]

Thank you. Publishers are interested in my flower haiku, although I like the idea of not publishing them at all. You know, we are talking about ephemerality after all... we'll see.

Rain on the meadow
Alighting with sound muted
Summer plume thistles
http://languagegallery.blogspot.com/2012/07/rain-on-meadow-alighting-with-sound.html

On the straw bedding
(A) bona fide novelty
Strawberry flower
http://languagegallery.blogspot.com/2012/10/on-bedding-straw-bona-fide-novelty.html

A distressing sight
Flowerets have missed the mark
Lacecap hydrangeas
http://languagegallery.blogspot.com/2...
(Ah, hydrangeas are not edible, I guess...? Good for them!
)
I'm admiring everyone's input here. Cheers.

[FoodFuser]

Good to see you, grocerytrekker.

[grocerytrekker]

Thank you! Now *you* should publish a selection of your haiku.

Here are a few more fun ones:

Wintry willow tree
She's skewering small snappers
Wife of the angler
http://languagegallery.blogspot.com/2012/03/wintry-willow-tree-shes-skewering-small.html

A snowy morning
All I've got is dried salmon
To chew all alone
http://languagegallery.blogspot.com/2012/03/snowy-morning-all-ive-got-is-dried.html

Does she mean to share
The crane does not finish her
Watercress dinner
http://languagegallery.blogspot.com/2012/03/does-she-mean-to-share-crane-does-not.html

Cracking a walnut
In the middle of this nut
There's an unused room
http://languagegallery.blogspot.com/2012/08/cracking-walnut-in-middle-of-this-nut.html

They used to be green
That was fine the way they were
Ripening peppers
http://languagegallery.blogspot.com/2...

[buttertart]

I love these. Especially the walnut one.

Sad to report that haiku master and poet FoodFuser has departed this realm...http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/883140

[mamachef]

Brought as courtesy
Sterile, bland, not unctuous
Hospital food tray.

With a thank you to the nurses on 11 - and no, it wasn't that bad and I am so appreciative to you all for thinking of me.....

[buttertart]

If you can make a haiku of that, you've really got it going on. On so many levels.

[FoodFuser]

Praise to the tray
and praise all behind it
Gift of Hospital,

[AreBe]

Dear God that tray of broth, jell-o and tea was delicious after several days of TPN flowing into my arm.

[mamachef]

Uff Da, Oy, AreBe. I just bet it was!

[FoodFuser]

Good gusts of good wind
What more could one hope for
Garden and spade/

[FoodFuser]

Toast. Browned bread.
Passed with a knife full of butter
What else to udder.

Such gift of the wheat.
Such gift of the curds of the cream.
butter benevolent.

Singing to butter
Accorded to crust, softly melting,
Contrapunt in the gentle admixture
of toast and of butter..

[mariacarmen]

thoroughly intimidated by FF but also inspired.

Bacon wrapped hot dog
The spice of jalapenos
The smoke in my hair

[FoodFuser]

Encurl of bacon gives crunch and good crust,

Hope skin of the wiener browned exploded with flavor.

[FoodFuser]

Let us all just enmeld
In the gentle of Haiku
five on the jive.

There's something about
struggled search for a consonan
constrainments? constraints?

There is fun in the deft of the five seven five
There is fun just Gol durned dang it of being alive

Is it shelter , or smelter, this haiku?
It requires or regard of the 5 7 5
Emplacing our thoughts
within such tight boundaries.
Somehow, there is joy of the 5 7 5.

[FoodFuser]

Is there haiku of bacon?
Iron cast broadly pork laid longly
Sizzles slowly,

Beauty of bacon,
Slabbbed pork in the makin
curls in the pan.

Match of the iron
with the seal of the pork
makes bacon.

[FoodFuser]

Hot dang to raw onions
pulled fresh from the earth soil clinging.
Call me rapscallion.

Be Spring. Be April.
Be time to pluck earliest onions,
Bulbous in soil.

In no other form
completes such a rhapsody
as spring onions.

[buttertart]

In fine fettle, Food Fuser. Rebravo.

[FoodFuser]

Forgot the last line
In praise of the Allium:
"Onions. Good After-Burp."

[FoodFuser]

Redbuds are blooming
Pink petals of labia
Five parted blossoms.

Mandoline singing
with hiss of the cabbage
shaved gossamer thin.

After some dressing
Redbud flowers are sprinkled.
Glory. Spring salad.

[mamachef]

My Gawd, FF: this is probably the sexiest haiku I've ever read. Reminds me of Anais Nin. : )

[FoodFuser]

Joined not to Anais
I softly remain
simply Foodfuser
with full warts and boils.

Gift of gossamer
is girt of the blossom.
that be labial redbud.

[mamachef]

"I softly remain" and "Gift of gossamer" are very beautiful lines.

[FoodFuser]

Roasted drumstick.
Cut from the body of chicken
Magnificent.

Tendons and muscle
Teeth peel from it's supple
Magnificent.

Consider the Hen
and the gift of her drumstick.
Magnificent.

[mamachef]

Magnificent.

[FoodFuser]

God bless the chicken
and good meat that it gives us.
Magnificent.

Bird clucking heard
plus gift of their ovum
a really good bird.

[FoodFuser]

Joy, Spring Equinox
Balance of night and of day.
Soil feels it and stirs.

Perennials rouse
There is rouser in root bases
old proven timing.

Annuals scattered
with hope as new planted seed
seek rise to the sun.

Gardeners know this
As too ancestors knew this
And timed with this day

Bracketing timing
around annual event
chanting as planting

Attuned to the cycles
for their sowing and harvest
in pulse with the Sun.

[FoodFuser]

Can of tinned tuna
Soon freed with canopener
water drained, pressed lid.

Talk could stop right here
with just opened fish gleaming
can...tuna... lid.

Then stir of mayo
Aligning with canned fish
Hint of black pepper.

Good to be stirred up,
and ate straight from the can.
scented with mayo.

Spoon cleanses down
and seeks clean aluminum
Leaving cleaned can.

[goodhealthgourmet]

for all you haiku writers, i just saw this in the latest Zagat Buzz e-newsletter...a contest to write a Haiku about the Top Chef contestant we all love to hate, a.k.a. the one who shall remain nameless :) strange that the prize kit isn't more geared toward molecular gastronomy, but it's still a prize...

http://www.zagat.com/buzz/write-a-hai...

[FoodFuser]

Thanks Hope no offense. I will check it, but probably opt out
only because this dip of the toe
into pool of the haiku
has shown that its strictures
are calming, focusing,
and quite the antithesis
of hyped up TV.

[FoodFuser]

Perfect round onion
rests heaves on the cutting board
waits cleave with steel knife.

Sharp blade freshly honed
on GrandDad's hundred year stone.
in heavy iron case

Then blade edge de-burred
with some ring singing passes
across honing steel.

The knife is a given
but this beautiful onion
specimen of gift.

Rootlets at one pole
Trimmed tufted leaves at the other.
Unblemished dried skin.

Picture most perfect
as I seek place of first cut
to merge with the Allium.

Base end first to go
then the dried leaves at the top
The hefty work done.

Lifting the trimmed globe
to my palm to peruse it
in seek of best keel.

Hand gripping knifepoint
I finally penetrate.
Scent, soft sounds abound.

Fingers slide right down
Dried exterior skin but
fresh onion springs below.

Flip of the knife blade
first layer pops free and peels
revealing good onion.

Depending on dish
you are going to prepare
need decide slicing.

I try to preserve
the beauty and marvel of
those concentric rings.

Sound of one hand clapping
can occur when we're cutting
good lowly onion.

[buttertart]

Bravo! Gorgeous.

[FoodFuser]

Gift from good onion
just lending sweet spherical.
Rings to dried skin.

[buttertart]

What I particularly love about your onion ode was the description of the process. That would be fun to do with other cooking processes...hmm...

[FoodFuser]

The metered approach
set soft deep in appreciation
Goes way past one onion.

Each encounter had
whether it calls for sharp blade
Deserves heft in hand.

And also perusal
along with will to proceed
with dance of the slice.

Theme universal
ranging farther than just food.
Love of encounter

With all senses honed
allows us the full broad range
of goodness of life.

[buttertart]

Indeed.

[FoodFuser]

To all, call to In Deed.

[FoodFuser]

Spring. Warm Earth. Dandelions.
Clipped, and tossed with vinegar.
Greens of the season.

But some left to flower
We descend, pluck the seedhead.
One puff, back to childhood.

Seeds floating as dreams
thumbnails crimping hollow stems.
More than just greens.

To see world again
from level of dandelion.....
just greens, seed, and wind.

[TheHuntress]

Food Fuser, I know you've heard it before, but I have to say it too. You have one hell of a talent.

[mamachef]

Isn't he just amazing?

[FoodFuser]

I post up my poetry
because it relaxes me.
Find joy in the verse
of the universe.

But this here thread on haiku has really been good for me
to confine to restraints on the count of the syllabary
when my normal style is just redneck rhyme.

[mamachef]

Crisp chocolate cookie
Nothing like the taste of it
Oreos are love.
: )
Ok, so not a vegetable, but fun anyway.

[buttertart]

Oreos aren't fruit? Now you tell me?

[mamachef]

Here's my rationale, honey. Chocolate is a bean, correct? And beans are legumes, correct?
Therefore, a box of oreos is equivalent to several servings of beans, and you can know for sure that your're doing something good for yourself.

[buttertart]

Works for me, dearie! Anything that increases the sum of human happiness is OK with me under any circumstances.

[mamachef]

Hey, I LIKE this thread. I can't believe how much talent I'm seeing here. Haiku's not an easy poetry form!
Disgusting bitter
Kerala, if you buy it
Will make your brain bleed : )

Ok, now for reals:
Comes the time for corn
Is the sight I am seeing
Golden moon-faces?

[FoodFuser]

Mamachef takes me on journey of segue
to deal in haiku with damned alphabet soup.

Soup sculpted in letters
helped us learn our a,b,c''s
but bad textured pasta.

It spent too many months
with it goodness exuding
to cheap broth in can.

Folks Montessori
would have never allowed it
those vowels and pasta becanned.

Instead they'd insist
the pasta be crisp and stiff,
canned consonants.

But hey, what the hell
Kids and joy sweep in that swell
give giggles as well

Accord it full status
as instructional pasta
never minding the nature of gummed consonants and vowels.

Note Bene that counters of precise haiku'd syllables
will find themselves beached in a wee disappointment.

FoodFuser is not one to hijack a thread
and respects the constraints of the haiku.

It's just all those alphabets mixed up in my soup
seemed give a full freedom from canter to gallop..
of consonants, vowels, that we love and begroup..

[buttertart]

Great. Both.

[FoodFuser]

For sure it's refreshing and cleansing to compress thoughts to haiku.

Even with gummied letters of alphabet soup.

haiku:

a,b,c d,e,
pasta imprints float before me
letters, broth, and bowl.

Yearning and learning
that there might be f and g
transfixes the soul.

Stupor gone super
quest for what letters are next.
All this from Campbell's bowl.

Imagine indeed
the vocab of bounty
might be had in DelMonte.

or even the steps
to those heights literatti
found in bowl of Progresso.

[FoodFuser]

Alphabet apogee
Zen in this full lettered bowl
absolute ecstasy

Spoon has encountered
amongst these gummy noodles
ultimate letter "Z".

Shudders of pleasure
precede pasta's imbibement....
Devoured now "Z".

Refreshment of soul
can be had from the bowl
Alpha to Zeta.

[FoodFuser]

Hiss of the cabbage
Sings in descent to deep bowl
passed across sharp blade.

Leaves open flowered
wait for some kind of dressing
Then loving devoured..

Great conversation
to talk with the cabbage
Meld with pass over blade.

[beevod]

I eat, therefore I yam.

[mariacarmen]

crispy-skinned chicken
so common, so exotic
excruciating

[FoodFuser]

....but yields well to gnaw
and delivers good fibers
of a good lean protein.

The trick is the broil
that yields tender meat but also
a well crisp'ed skin.

[grocerytrekker]

Wonderful, MC & FF.

Ah, there's this gem, not exactly chicken, but worth mentioning, by the master, Basho. (Are water rails edible??)

http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/2011/01/boxed-lunch-series-11-wrinkled-chicken_07.html

...and some fun with chicken:
http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/20...

[buttertart]

V nice, mc and FF.

[mamachef]

This one kills it, mc.

[buttertart]

Becalmed in an airline seat recently and for once not thinking of my default topic when detained against my will (sex, try it in the dentist's chair), I came up with the following -

red bumpy outside
white juicy smoothness within
rose-scented litchi

blue-black rubbery
skin encloses sweet gel
Kyoho grape treat

lovely lilikoi
hundred flavor fruit passion
sour and beguiling

dragon fruit diva
lipstick pink skin, boring flesh
pretty face no taste

mango betrayer
reel me in with your sweet scent
make me itch all over

tooth pierces thin suede
mouth welcomes succulent flesh
perfection of peach

biting hard juice runs
crunchy fragrant flesh revealed
autumn's first apple

diminutive red
or black gold white raspberry
perfumed happiness

make up your mind which
apricot or plum pluot
misbegotten fruit

cheery red plumpness
daintily attached in pairs
sour cherry earrings

hard red-black beauties
two bites' worth around the pit
black cherry madness

[mariacarmen]

time well spent BT!! love it. especially fond of:
the peach, for beauty;
the dragon fruit, for truth; and
the apricot/pluot, for humor.

well done! better get back to it... since you've just upped the ante!

[FoodFuser]

BT has offered a fun hefty string
of the 5-7-5 thing.

Such gift from the tubular
well riveted aluminar
fuselage of a plane,

Good work.

[buttertart]

Thanks, esteemed companions! I like the mango best because it's so unfortunately true for me.

[grocerytrekker]

Truly impressive, everyone. I do find myself thinking in haiku these days. Yes, the dentist's chair...

My favorite fruit offerings: banana and golden peach
http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/2011/01/banana.html
http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/20...

[buttertart]

Glorious pic of the sliced peach - and kawaii city on the banana pics...was uninspired by the banana myself. Pineapple might be fun. And this 5-7-5 is seriously addicting, have even come up with some on my other favorite topic! ;-)

[mariacarmen]

armadillo fruit
ardent tang of yellow flesh
perfume of tropics

[ricepad]

In a dentist's chair?? With or without the spitbowl?

[buttertart]

Take it as it comes, baby. Gets your mind off what's being done to you.

[c oliver]

I think you're way overdue for a teeth cleaning. Haven't seen a spitbowl in years and years :)

[ricepad]

Actually, my rather recently retired dentist had spitbowls all the way up to the end...'course, he practiced in the same location for nearly 50 years...was my dentist for better than 40 of those years, too!

[mamachef]

Dayam, bt. Nice work. Let me try one:

Tomato bursting
From the vine it grew up on
Juicy is the heart.

[buttertart]

V nice.
Do one on the tomato vine dirty nice smell.

[BobB]

Tomato leaf torn
Stings the nose, teases the tongue
Transmutated sun.

[buttertart]

I love this. You made my day. Thank you.

[mamachef]

Beeeyoootiful, BobB. It just evokes that sharp green smell.....

[mariacarmen]

ah wow just saw this. really nice!

[buttertart]

It is super.

[CapreseStacy]

Sun-warmed, now fresh-sliced
The flesh I tickle with salt
Glorious red prize

[CapreseStacy]

Sun, soil, bees, water
I honor their fine result
With mozzarella

[mamachef]

Suddenly, she feels warm..

[ricepad]

Smoke spirals upward
Pork fat intoxicates me
My tongues is smiling

[FoodFuser]

Even in oven
Where pork fat is crisping
we twirl tongue await.

First cut of the knife
is to charred fat and gristle
beauty of pork steak.

The slab is but butt
of greasy pork shoulder
but fat gets real crisp.

[mariacarmen]

plump cherimoya
sweet crocodile velvet skin
custard elation

[buttertart]

That is absolutely delicious, mc.

[mariacarmen]

thx!

[ricepad]

I wait by the fire
The smoke wafts around my face
These are some fine butts

[FoodFuser]

For slow smoldered pork
Pavlov himself salivates
Time to ring dinnerbell

No meat for the dogs,
this is serious business
of meat and paper

As napkins are used
for both saliva and grease
Lard runs down our face

Pavlovian drool
Yields to really great chewing
To hell with clean chins.

[grocerytrekker]

You are a poet!

On my list: more meat.

Here's one on sukiyaki:
http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/20...

[FoodFuser]

S'kiyaki has swish
twirled in the simmering broth
with each diner's hashi.

Then the enoki
with firm cubes of good tofu
a dish most delish.

If meat was done right
tongues give a dance of delight
home cooking at best.

[grocerytrekker]

Speaking of butts, here's one:

http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/20...

[ricepad]

Here's a somewhat meatier haiku:

Faint wispy blue smoke
Succulent meat in the pit
Pavlov's bell has rung.

[grocerytrekker]

Mouthwatering!

Here's one about chashu pork:
http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/20...

[WNYamateur]

Gourmet magazine published this from a mourning reader:

Julia Child is dead,
I cried tears of real butter
into the souffle

[grocerytrekker]

I think more people should try food haiku. It is so much fun.

[buttertart]

"Honey mushroom bushelful" and the jelly fish one are particularly wonderful.

[grocerytrekker]

Thank you!

Honey mushroom:
http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/2011/01/honey-mushroom-armillaria-mellea.html

Jellyfish:
http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/20...

[buttertart]

I especially liked the mushroom one because it reminded me of my father once getting 2 paper grocery bags full of morels in the woods near our cottage.

[grocerytrekker]

Morel is definitely my favorite mushroom. Also, impossible to mistake for something else :)

I don't know if there are any haiku for morels, I doubt it, but I'll look.

Check out this wondrous red mushroom, "egg mushroom":
http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/2011/01/egg-mushroom-half-dyed-slender-caesar.html

Here's another favorite of mine. Pine mushroom:
http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/20...

[buttertart]

Gorgeous, both.

Forest fire one spring
Forest full of morels next
Man happy with haul

[grocerytrekker]

I see. Morels thrive where forests are scorched.

No morel haiku yet... but I will do more mushrooms, for sure.

Here's enoki:
http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/2011/01/enoki-mushroom-enokitake.html

tree ears:
http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/2011/01/tree-ear-mushroom-kikurage.html

and something I've never tried, bracket fungus:
http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/20...

[buttertart]

I've eaten fresh tree ears (from Taiwan Nat'l U ag station) but never seen them in situ. V interesting.

[FoodFuser]

Bunched hanging Daikon
Dangled strands of Persimmons
Joyous Fall Harvest.

..........................

Your blog is just wonderful.

[grocerytrekker]

Daikon WITH persimmons!

Thank you. Here are mine:

Daikon radishes / Pulling hands imparted with / Evening sun's red glow
Setting sun lingers / In the vicinity of / Drying persimmons

http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/2011/02/large-white-radish-daikon.html
http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/20...

[mariacarmen]

yes, these are fantastic! i love the arctic surf clam one.
second fave is the poor shitaki.

my first attempt:

ankimo so plump / only uni is as feared / misunderstood flesh

[mariacarmen]

but i have a question: what is the rule about "be faithful to the poet's intent as much as possible" mean? you're the poet when composing these, aren't you?

what i love about haiku's is what appears to me (with my complete lack of sophistication and knowledge of poetry) the turn the third stanza takes - the sort of surprise veering to a related but yet new realm. am i completely wrong about that? (and i know i didn't follow that myself in my first lame attempt at food haiku!)

[grocerytrekker]

Maria,

Thank you for the ankimo addition :)
My uni haiku with pictures: http://grocerytrekker.blogspot.com/20...

When I discovered these precious gems, I searched the internet for translations. NONE! So I decided to attempt it myself. Yes, these are my poems, but they are based on original Japanese texts, which are wonderfully witty and clever. Now, with the word orders being different, and with my 5.7.5. syllables structural constraint, sometimes I do have to do a bit of rearranging to convey the essence of the poet's moment.

Do another one! You are good at it.

[mariacarmen]

oh yes, i did read that you were doing translations, so i should have understood what you meant about the poet's intent. great pics - made me hungry.

thanks! i will try my hand at some more and if i like any i'll post them. thanks for sharing this!

[DonShirer]

I like the jellyfish. I'm impressed...I can't write Haiku since your'e not suppose to include subjective arguments and they somehow sneak in when I'm not looking, i.e.
Beans or lack of beans / Never ending argument / Chili con Carne.

[grocerytrekker]

Thank you!

I've decided to forego any traditional rules. BUT I do adhere to these rules: 1) Be faithful to the poet's intent as much as possible 2) No exceptions to 5.7.5. syllable structure (unless I count wrong!)

I've discovered that these constraints actually make the results satisfying indeed.

And yes, the jellyfish one makes me chuckle.

(Thank for for the bean addition!)

[TheHuntress]

This is a seriously awesome project! I love it! A friend and I construct haiku, but ours have not featured food (his idea of a good meal is a pie over a bin to catch the crumbs). So for my favourite I will vote for the first one, I love the association of pistachios with libidinous gods - how sensual!

[grocerytrekker]

Thank you!
The first one is my current favorite, too :)