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The 40th. WHA Haiga Contest (12/2006) Natalia L. Rudychev

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Japanese translation by Ban'ya Natsuishi
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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev

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dragon cloud
stands still
in the darkening blue
your breath
warms my hands
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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev

tanka first published in Ribbons, Volume 2, Number 4, Winter 2006

The Smile and "Hello, Dear"

I've known her for as long as I can remember. We met almost every day but we both were too shy to introduce ourselves. For me her name was the smile and invariable "hello, dear". She was well advanced in years, slim, and tidy. Her clothes showed signs of wear but the overall impression was very pleasing. We talked only once when my Irish setter ran to her and insisted on smelling her pockets. She did not protest. She was worried and a little confused. She said, "Dear, I don't have any treats just some sunflower seeds". I explained that my dog was fond of sunflower seeds. She gave him a handful. While he was eating I could tell that she was happy because she could afford to treat somebody. I thanked her and we parted ways. Afterwards I could not stop smiling. Her happiness filled me with joy. I left for college a week later. This year somebody told me that she passed away.

the sky clears

rainbow bridges

two riverbanks

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All rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev.

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Fist published in Contemporary Haibun Online, December 2006, vol 2 no 4.

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http://contemporaryhaibunonline.com/pages24/Natalia_Rudychev.html

indian summer...

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indian summer

sparrow in a puddle

plays with its mate

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First published in Asahi, Oct 7-8, 2006

All rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev

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SOMEONE LOST

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Dry twigs of placid days are feeding fire,

illuminating stretch of long-deserted shore,

as leaves are dancing night away with shadows,

paced by the tunes of high and low tide.

The wreath of nameless herbs is twined to crown

the halo of the ever-changing moon

that lights the line of lonely tanka verses

where sea can't reach the rumpled page of sand.

Beneath the tangled labyrinth of branches,

the path is writhing in the claws of roots

to home where the worn armchair is waiting

to rock the pain of someone lost all night.

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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev

First published in SP Quill, Fall 2006, Volume 12, 33.

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GENTLY, EVER SO GENTLY

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all rights reserved © Natalia L. Rudychev
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The 37th WHA Haiga Contest