Charles Trumbull

tapas bar
measuring out
three-fifths of a shrimp            

Kingfisher 9 (April 2024)

driving through the res —
a billboard promises
“Permanent Hair Removal” 

Agnes Eva Savich, ed., A Charm of Finches: Haiku Society of America Southwest Region 2022 Members’ Anthology (2022)

Westminster Abbey:
the bench in Poet’s Corner
worn shiny       

Kingfisher 1 (June 2020)

Russian tango records —
the old spy’s eyes gently close
as he hums along       

Robert Epstein, ed., All the Way Home: Aging in Haiku (2019)

retired pro
on the feet of his walker
yellow tennis balls      

Prune Juice 27 (March 2019)

at rest
between Newton and Darwin
Hawking            

Haiku Forum 1:1 (October 2018)

all the way down
to low E, the trombonist’s
eyebrows          

Tinywords, May 15, 2018

dentist visit:
probing into
my deep pockets         

Modern Haiku 48:1 (Winter–Spring 2017)

choral concert:
the elaborate arrangement
of “Simple Gifts”          

Frogpond 38:3 (Autumn 2015)

. . . ACCUAACU . . .
  the twisted pattern
        of my life  

Trumbull, Of an Age (self-published sheet, 2014)

tarot reading
the madame discovers
a card is missing         

Trumbull, Transit of Venus: New Haiku & Senryu (self-published sheet, 2012)

for Double-Word score
I add an “s” to “haiku” . . .
distant thunder             

Frogpond 34:2 (Spring/Summer 2011); Jim Kacian et al., eds. Carving Darkness (Red Moon Anthology 2011)

Intercity Express:
the clickety-clack
of computer keys         

Chrysanthemum 7 (April 2010)

cute salesgirl
at the bait shop
flirting

Trumbull, Between the Chimes (2010)

Roman fashion model:
her nose more prominent
than her breasts           

Prune Juice 1 (January 2009)

in memoriam:
a moment of silence
for the fallen mime
                    Marcel Marceau (1923–2007)       

LeRoy Gorman, ed., Geese Landing (Haiku Canada Members’ Anthology 2008)

another teachers’ strike
sometimes I think
they’ll never learn      

Trumbull, A Flurry of Maple Keys (self- published sheet, 2007)

a pile
of adobe bricks
she won’t change her mind   

Roadrunner VI:4 (November 2006)

with his arthritic hands   bonsai        

Trumbull, Lunar Eclipse: Senryu (self-published sheet) (2005); Bottle Rockets 12 (2005)

small shopping bag
from Victoria’s secret
woman in burqa          

Trumbull, Lunar Eclipse: Senryu (self-published sheet, 2005)

orchestra warmup
a baby cries out
in concert A    

Trumbull, Lunar Eclipse: Senryu (self-published sheet, 2005)

alone
with my Cheerios
and another missing child     

The Heron’s Nest 5:5 (May 2003)

strewn through the garden
lady’s slippers and
bachelors’ buttons . . .            

LeRoy Gorman, ed., These Silent Rooms (Haiku Canada Members’ Anthology 2002–2003)

male frigate bird:
his bold display attracts a female
photographer 

Tundra 2 (2001)

click of the shutter
the whole family
exhales together          

Acorn 4 (Spring 2000); Jim Kacian et al., eds., A Glimpse of Red (Red Moon Anthology 2000)

welcoming me home
at the commuter station
someone else’s basset            

Snapshots 6 (October 1999)

our CEO
eyeing me
eyeing his girlfriend   

21st Hawaii Education Association Haiku Contest, 1999, Humorous Section, 5th Honorable Mention

grocery line —
the dancer’s feet
in first position              

Frogpond 20:3 (December 1997)

speaking of Satan
the preacher stabs at the air
with his salad fork       

Shiki Internet Kukai, November 9, 1997, Free-format Section, Second Place (tie)

on a diet;
I weigh myself again
after shaving  

Canadian Writer’s Journal International Poetry Contest, Haiku Category, 1997, 1st Honourable Mention; Canadian Writer's Journal 14:3 (Fall 1997)