Open Calls Haiku

" Open Calls Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Archival surveys
like positive departures
non-profit spaces

II

Polycultural
inventively erotic
squat and muscular

III

With a teardrop beard
essentially reactive
established, scattered

IV

Convening again
skim gleaming with rubbed-in oil
continent leaping

V

Ancient ivory
spanning geographic turf
sometimes obliquely

VI

Tackling censorship
splayed forelegs, struggling to stand
during open calls...

Accompaniment Haiku

" Accompaniment Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

While going gaga
with a likability
busily plotted

II

Politely naughty
off-kilter, narrow hallways
trying for noir

III

Awkwardly talking
in tiara and lipstick
deeply committed

IV

Accompaniment
rosy, happy family
limited palette

V

Dynamic shadings
interspersed with the sacred
emanating waves

VI

Soaring male chorus
anonymously mournful
dense shimmers, whisper...

In the Interim Haiku

" In the Interim Haiku "

I

In the interim
a sentimental story
spoken long before

II

Planning carefully
without creating havoc
in a packing crate

III

Sharp-witted, sharp-toothed
shouted out into the clouds
captured attention

IV

Practically dreading
elaborate tick-tack-toes
single, "X" and "0's"

V

Not enough hard drive
confused shtick and attitudes
a painting looted

VI

A puff of white tulle
minor and silly sounding
whooping openly

VII

Grand opening splash
whirring sounds in the background
triumphant climax

VIII

What "it" means to "be"
featuring online streaming
with murky stirrings

IX

Cinched visual wit
simplicity with meaning
vehement evenings...

The Brass Latch

" The Brass Latch "

by Suzán Jiván

Maybe
it's un-
intentional
and some-
what anti-
intellectual
or perhaps
even un-
conventional
as well how-
ever dis-
played
in a large
glass case
so close
to the ground
that you have
to crouch down
in order to open
the brass latch
of the hinged lid
while convulsing
with each syllable...

Particularly Fitting

" Particularly Fitting "

by Suzán Jiván

A particularly fitting addition
for an inaugural exhibition
with greater tactility
in contrast to near and far
more fluid than solid
resembling sea charts
with spreading horizons
radical or not
remaining fairly constant
while on a trip to Mars...

Seabird Haiku

" Seabird Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

A rare visitor
feeds on squid and fish at night
seen following ships

II

Occurs far off shore
often rests on the water
remote islands, breed

III

Black mantle, wings back
an even rarer vagrant
a single egg laid...

Havoc Haiku

" Havoc Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Handmade attractions
particularly haptic
transporting you back

II

Ashore to face off
wreak havoc on history
fingerprinted whorls

III

Rag-tag talking back
stick a whale knife in the ribs
lives locked in limbo

IV

Irritated, bored
blinking overlong lashes
hand-picked, back-lit tails...

In a Lineup

" In a Lineup "

by Suzán Jiván

A complete overhaul
as preparatory
as prehistory
while needing
to spend time
in a lineup

about to vanish
by shifting the balance
with exposed strands
brisk but flexibly embellished
lively and inventive

big subjects
in little words
quietly assured
softly slippery
like lithe techniques
of abrupt vibrancy...

Fleetingly Crinkly

" Fleetingly Crinkly "

by Suzán Jiván

Jury-rigged
news releases
fleetingly crinkly
zeroes reigned in
by imperfect tens

slippery when wet
unwritten, unskilled
puckishly unpublished
and disgruntled
like floor runners

with lessons from the den
while lighting cigarettes
behind semi-circular desks
in poetic recitation
as legacies become questioned...

Cricket Haiku

" Cricket Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

Males sing mating songs
remarkably velvety
ridges of forewings...

Mayfly Haiku

" Mayfly Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Soft body, long legs
typically two pairs of wings
upwards and outwards

II

Swarms at dawn and dusk
surviving for just one day
females drop their eggs

III

Three terminal tails
submerged plants and animals
sub-imago stage

IV

Leaving the water
revealing, final molting
shiny-winged adults...