wheelchair bound
the veteran feeds
a one-legged bird

World Haiku Review
Vol. 7, Issue 1, March 2009

surrounded
and overwhelmed with love
of family members
on my birthday
wish she's still here today

alone again
on jacaranda lane
my birthday

Mother's day

mulling beside
her empty chair
Mother's day

Death of a friend

no bees or butterflies hover
on her orchids garden
in the silence of this gloomy day
they also mourn the death
of their green-thumbed owner

cherry blossoms
scatter in the wild wind
senseless shootings

the traffic cop
a little friendlier
Easter morning

a morning glory
greets the early dawn
Easter Sunday

peoples of the world unite
in their prayers
and condolences
to the countless victims
of Italy's earthquake

two deaths
in a long week
a tacit reminder
we’re mere sojourners
here on earth

Modern English Tanka
Vol. 3, No. 3, Spring 2009

Tagalog version

dalawang patay
sa isang linggo
ito ay paalaala
na tayo'y di magtatagal
sa mundong ito

he brings a dummy
in the carpool lane
April Fool’s day

not amused
the cop tickets him

not enough spring rain
there's still no news
of their runaway daughter

first lover's quarrel
the silence between them
is deafening

wildflowers viewing
can't stop to think
of his wayward daughter

and the capriciousness
of her mother

lack of spring rain
few flowers bloom
in the barren plain
not a word spoken
between them

Modern English Tanka
Volume 1, No. 3. Spring 2007

wrong trail turn
the scent and sight
of wildflowers

I dab perfume
on his favorite spots
R&R tonight

spring sunshine
the toothless smile
of a homeless girl

spring cleaning
she pauses to reread
his goodbye letter

sakura sways
with the waning winter wind
spring laughter

Vic Gendrano