HAIKU DIALOGUE – door to door – doorknob
With a nod to ‘Haiku Windows’, a past feature from when I first began this column, & also an idea suggested a long time ago by poet Laurie Greer, for the next several weeks we will explore some concepts relating to doors. Be inspired by these prompts – I can’t wait to read where they take you – & please note that there is no requirement to include the words of the prompt in the poems… enjoy! kj
next week’s theme: doormat
The welcome mat at the entrance to a building, where you are invited to wipe your shoes before entering – & this word can also be used to describe a submissive person…
I look forward to reading your submissions.
The deadline is midnight Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday May 15, 2021.
Please use the Haiku Dialogue submission form below to enter one or two original unpublished haiku inspired by the week’s theme, and then press Submit to send your entry. (The Submit button will not be available until the Name, Email, and Place of Residence fields are filled in.) With your poem, please include any special formatting requirements & your name as you would like it to appear in the column. A few haiku will be selected for commentary each week. Please note that by submitting, you agree that your work may appear in the column – neither acknowledgment nor acceptance emails will be sent. All communication about the poems that are posted in the column will be added as blog comments.
below is the commentary for doorknob:
I will begin my comments with a note submitted by Jim Kacian of The Haiku Foundation:
This is just a reminder of Matsuo Allard’s classic poem (from his 1978 chapbook of monoku “Bird Day Afternoon”):
alone at 3:00 a.m. – the door knob turning slowly
Thank you Jim!
(find the chapbook here: https://thehaikufoundation.org/omeka/items/show/2433)
long before
the doorknob’s movement…
dog’s tailMirela Brăilean
Romania
Many dogs will demonstrate their superior sense of smell, sight, or, in this case, probably, hearing – they can be an effective alert system to identify both friend & foe…
my little boy
skipping out of the kitchen
sticky doorknobPaul Geiger
Sebastopol CA
In this delightful scene, the poet captures a form of childhood innocence – the child unaware of mess left behind – & the reader left to imagine the honey or peanut butter trail, & whatever happens next!
a long flight
the sliding doorknob
still says “occupied”Sari Grandstaff
Saugerties, NY
A reader may be nostalgic for the days of air travel, but not for this situation – even on a short flight! The extra detail conveyed through word choice – ‘long’, ‘sliding’, ‘still’ – add to this poem, as well as the uncommon location of the scene – this may have been the only airplane in the submissions this week…
coronavirus
a bag with food
on the doorknobSlobodan Pupovac
Zagreb, Croatia
Whether giving or receiving, wherever one resides in the world, this timely pandemic poem will resonate. Let it remind us all to be kind to one another, & to be grateful for our friends, family, & neighbours…
turn of the knob a new life
Tiffany Shaw-Diaz
United States
Most one-line haiku require a degree of interpretation, & can therefore often be interpreted different ways. Here, the poet makes it sound so easy – just walk through that door – but one gets the impression that there is a lot more to this story, on the path to that ‘new life’…
& here are the rest of my selections:
low winter sunstill warm after she leftthe rusty doorknobAgus Maulana SunjayaTangerang, Banten, Indonesiaturning the knob backto his youth…old country farmhouseAlan HarveyTacoma, WAdoorknobpushed and pulledall these yearsAlan PeatBiddulph, United Kingdomturning the handlefor a moment I’m backat the old houseAlex FyffeUnited Statesheating plant –on a frozen doorknobthe sun reflectionAljoša VukovićŠibenik, Croatiadoorknob…I still hang onto his wordsAna DrobotRomaniaquarantinethe serpent-shaped doorknobalmost hissesAnitha VarmaKerala, Indiawishing lifewere doorknob simpleDo Not DisturbAnn K. SchwaderWestminster, COrecluse –her shaky hand lingerson the doorknobAnna CatesWilmington, Ohiosliding doorsno doorknob requiredfor memoriesAnna Maria Domburg-SancristoforoThe Hagueclaw printson the doorknob –guests to my old houseAnna YinOntario Canadaporch dust…a to do list danglingfrom the doorknobArvinder KaurChandigarh, Indiasqueaky doorknob –the giggly twinspretend to sleepBaisali Chatterjee DuttKolkata, Indiaabandoned farm housewildflowersand tulip door knobsBill FayFox Island, WA, USAgrandma’s welcome signon the doorknob –breaking isolationBona M. SantosLos Angeles, CApublic restroomthe wetdoorknobBryan RickertBelleville, Illinois USAclass project –doorknobsnow coat hooksCarol ReynoldsAustraliastuck at the doorknob –plucking courageto face the musicCristina PoveroItalyjust the ivyholds the doorknob –old houseDaniela Lăcrămioara CapotăRomaniahomecoming –a bag of walnutson the doorknobDaniela MissoItalydoor handleI give her anelbow greetingDeborah Karl-BrandtBonn, Germanyspare roomthe doorknob falls offin her handDeborah P KolodjiTemple City, CaliforniaLockdownthe sun sometimes peeksthrough the cloudsDejan IvanovicLazarevac, Serbiaafter a stormshe turns the doorknobwith shaky handsDevoshruti MandalIndiachangei reach for thedoorknobDidimay D. DimacaliNorwalk, California USAon the doorknobtraces of their visit –sticky fingersDorothy BurrowsUnited KingdomMother’s Daya bunch of lavenderon the doorknobElisa AlloSwitzerlandwashing your fingerprintsfrom my doorknobearly summer rainEva LimbachDeutschlanddo not disturb signtwo butterflies matingon the doorknobflorin c. ciobicaRomaniaon the tiptoes –a toddler reaches forthe worldFranjo OrdanićCroatiathird door needsa knobanother budgetGermina MeliusSaint Luciaafter an argumentlovingly the doorknobopens the doorGordana KurtovićCroatiamoving dayI lock our old housefor the last timeGreer WoodwardWaimea, HIbrass doorknobthe shineof many handsHelen OgdenPacific Grove, CApricking up her earsthe stable door’s iron latchstiff with rustIngrid BaluchiNorth Macedoniadoorknob…my old passwordspring kanjiIvan GaćinaZadar, CroatiadoorknobI’m raising my grandsonto open the door for usIvica MlinarCroatiathe doorknob trackswho’s come…who’s goneJim NiffenSouth Dakota USwhodunnit dream…i wake up with a starthearing the doorknob turnJoe SebastianChennaileavingone turn is allit takesJohn S GreenBellingham, WAuncle’s arrivalthe rusty latchto his walletJohn HawkheadUKknobsturningtimeKanjini DeviThe Far North, Aotearoa NZno need to hanga do not disturb signisolation rulesKaren HarveyNorth Walesdoorknob –only the pushand pullkash poetIndiamy wish to livein the emerald cityour amethyst doorknobKath Abela WilsonUSAnight hospitalthe cold glossof morgue’s doorknobKeiko IzawaJapanworn brass knobturning and returninga catch in her throatKeith EvettsThames Ditton, UKwedding toastthe clink of new ringson new doorknobsLaurie GreerWashington, DCclosing timethe back soon signtangled in cobwebsLouise HopewellAustralialocked door the doorknob somehow turningM. R. DefibaughVirginialifting the childto turn the doorknobher triumphant smileMadhuri PillaiAustraliaSelf-Quarantinemy neighbor’s dog pawsat the doorknobManoj SharmaKathmandu, Nepaldoorknob –a bag of chokosneighbour’s harvestMargaret MahonyAustraliaadjoining roomthe doorknobslowly turnsMargaret WalkerLincoln, NE, USAguests at home –perfume of sanitizeron the doorknobMaria Teresa PirasSerrenti, Italiaturningwith our elbowsdoorknobMarilyn Ashbaughusahow smallthis doorknobafter allMarion ClarkeWarrenpoint, Northern Irelandtarnished reputation…polishing the doorknobwith white cotton fingersMark GilbertUKEastern bluebird’s songI forget to sanitizethe door knobsMaya DanevaThe Netherlandsuncle’s funeral…the rusted doorknobof our ancestral homeMeera RehmUKdummy doorknobspins childhood memoriesJack & Jill bathroomMelanie VanceUSAnewspaperthe thump on the doorbrings more worryMichael S BrockTennesseedangling from the door knobmy daughter’s baby toothsufficiently looseMichael Henry LeeSaint Augustine Floridalong gonecurdled verdigrison the doorknobMike GallagherIrelandkey is with me –note with a shoestringon her front doorknobMilan RajkumarImphal, Indiagrandma’s roomthe doorknob rustedwithout useMinal SaroshAhmedabad, Indiarusty doorknobat the parental homethe only soundMira JungićSisak, Croatiafamily house…the doorknobI never changedMohammad Azim KhanPeshawar, Pakistanthe open signon the salon’s doorknobfinally…Mona BediIndia, Delhidull nightthe shiny doorknobof the pubMona IordanBucharest, Romaniaantique doorknobthe skeletonsin her closetNancy BradyHuron, Ohio, USAchildhood homehand on the doorknobI unlock memoriesNeena SinghChandigarh, Indiaa touch of classin an old friend’s new homeglass doorknobsOlivier SchopferGeneva, Switzerlandstretching sleeves to open doorsP. H. FischerVancouver, Canadaa brass doorknobshines through the debris8.1 earthquakePadma RajeswariMumbai, Indiaold farmhousea coat on everydoorknobPat DavisPembroke, NH USAsleigh bellsstill on the door knobmerry Cinco de MayoPeggy Hale BilbroHuntsville, Alabamadoorknobturningthe worldPippa PhillipsUnited Statestrees trimmed –solicitors hang outall down the streetPris CampbellUSAbutterflyon the doorknobspring reflectionsRavi KiranHyderabad, Indiadoorknobcircular flow in the human headRefika DedićBihać, Bosnia and Herzegovinawhite sockon the doorknobcollege traditionRehn KovacicMesa, AZblack brahanging from the doorknobretiredRon ScullyManchester NHbrass beehivesand the eighth door handlelignum vitaesimonjUKcoming back aloneI turnthe sticky doorknobSrinivasa Rao SambangiHyderabad, Indiafamily reunionthe stick of the door locknow and thenStephen A. PetersBellingham, Wa. USAdoorknobs –we shake hands with themon entry and exitStoianka BoianovaBulgariafinalhair makeuppolished doorknobSubir NingthoujaImphal, Indiaderelict buildingfrom the doorknob’s holea fresh twigSudebi SinghaKolkata, Indiafrom knob to lever accommodationSusan FarnerUnited Statesthe doorknob turnsas she slips into light…last stopSushama KapurPune, Indiaworn-out card key –hesitating to turnthe doorknobTeiichi SuzukiJapanfarm auctionthe crystal door knobbrings two dollarsTom BierovicDeLand, FL, USAthe one doorknobhe forgot to wipe down…a killer caughtTracy DavidsonWarwickshire, UKmoving dayI pull the door shuton my childhoodValentina Ranaldi-AdamsFairlawn, Ohio USAdoorknob ballet slippersthe daughter who will nevercome homeVeronika Zora NovakToronto, Canadathis timethey tell usthe doorknob falls outWendy C. Bialekaz, usathe door knob turnsthe pain of knowingit’s not youWendy GentUKthe new neighborsand a new gossip –golden door knobsWiesław KarlińskiNamysłów, Polanda doorknobancestors’ printson my fingersZdenka MlinarHrvatska
Lori Zajkowski is the Post Manager for Haiku Dialogue. A novice haiku poet, she lives in New York City.
Managing Editor Katherine Munro lives in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, and publishes under the name kjmunro. She is Membership Secretary for Haiku Canada, and her debut poetry collection is contractions (Red Moon Press, 2019). Find her at: kjmunro1560.wordpress.com.
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This Post Has 38 Comments
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Many thanks to Kj for including my poem in this week’s column and to Lori for the administration.
Congratulations to all the poets for another great read! There were so many poems to admire . Two that I particularly enjoyed were….
homecoming –
a bag of walnuts
on the doorknob
Daniela Misso
Italy
A lovely image that, for me, evokes fond memories of friends, neighbours and my friend’s abundant walnut tree!
the new neighbors
and a new gossip –
golden door knobs
Wiesław Karliński
Namysłów, Poland
Humorous and oh so true! Wonderful!
I look forward to reading next week’s column.
Congratulations to all poets!
I particularly enjoyed the following as it reminds me of Harry Potter’s Portkey where an ordinary object, once bewitched, allows a wizard to be transported to a pre- determined destination when touched. This one poem/doorknob makes us travel through time (memories) which is great!
***
farm auction
the crystal door knob
brings two dollars
Tom Bierovic
***
fish image
doormat in the bedroom
the cat continued to stare
Nani Mariani
Australia
Use the form at the,beginning of the column to submit for next week’s prompt, Nano.
Nani…darn autocorrect.
I enjoyed reading this week’s collection. Thanks again for putting this together each week!
Thank you KJ for publishing mine! I really enjoyed reading all the selections. Some so evocative. Congrats to all!
I particularly loved yours Zdenka
a doorknob
ancestors’ prints
on my fingers
I am happy to be again in Haiku Dialogue. Thank you KJ! Enjoy reading all the selections. Congrats to all.
farm auction
the crystal door knob
brings two dollars
/
Tom Bierovic
DeLand, FL, USA
/
In the house I grew up in, the kitchen door had crystal door knobs. I always wondered why that was the only door that did. Thank-you for the memory, Tom.
Dear KJ,
I am delightful to be again in Haiku Dialogue. Thank you a lot!
Anna Maria
Thank you, KJ Munro, for publishing my haiku. Congratulations to all those featured with their poems. Just a couple of them that stood out for me:
doorknob…
I still hang on
to his words
Ana Drobot
Romania
leaving
one turn is all
it takes
John S Green
Bellingham, WA
Lovely collection… enjoyed reading them. Thanks a bunch for selecting mine.
Cheers,
Padma.
What a great collection of haiku about one of the humblest taken-for-granted objects in our lives!
I enjoyed them all, especially:
moving day
I pull the door shut
on my childhood
Valentina Ranaldi-Adams
.
dangling from the door knob
my daughter’s baby tooth
sufficiently loose
Michael Henry Lee
.
lifting the child
to turn the doorknob
her triumphant smile
Madhuri Pillai
Marietta, I am glad you enjoyed mine.
Congratulations to all. Obviously, everyone found the key to use.
the one doorknob
he forgot to wipe down…
a killer caught
/
Tracy Davidson
Warwickshire, UK
/
This is the first haiku that I ever seen that is written about murder.
this poem brought me fond memories – I had the good fortune to work with my friend, the late crime author Jessica Simon, to co-edit an anthology of killer ‘ku called Body of Evidence – published by Catkin Press in Canada in 2017 – not just murder but all kinds of crimes… details can be found on my website… thanks, kj
A beautiful collection here, thanks for publishing mine. Especially loved Arvinder kaur’s haiku.
Thanks for your appreciation Mona! Value so much !
kj – thank you for publishing my “ku” — was thrilled to see it posted among so many outstanding poems and poets.
Dear kJ
Thankyou so much for including my poem in this amazing collection. Neena Singh’s poem really resonated with me. Enjoyed reading all ‘
Thanks a ton dear Arvinder. So glad my haiku resonated with you! Its a joy to read all the ku posted by such talented poets.
Thank you so much Kathy for choosing my haiku for commentary! I am grateful. Congratulations to all the haiku poets here this week! I think this collection really opens a lot of doors into the way of haiku. These four haiku really stood out for me:
porch dust…
a to do list dangling
from the doorknob
Arvinder Kaur
Chandigarh, India
dull night
the shiny doorknob
of the pub
Mona Iordan
Bucharest, Romania
antique doorknob
the skeletons
in her closet
Nancy Brady
Huron, Ohio, USA
turning the handle
for a moment I’m back
at the old house
Alex Fyffe
United States
Thanks a lot Sari for your appreciation.
Many thanks, Sari, for appreciating my haiku.
Your poem, well-deserving a commentary, made me smile!
Thank you too Mona!
Thanks Sari for noticing my haiku among all these evocative haiku on the subject. This column has helped me so much in the past several years, keeping me thinking in different ways.
Thank you, Sari, for showing your appreciation for my poem! It means a lot that it connected with you.
Thank you Kathy for including my haiku. Love this week’s collection.
Dear kj,
Thanks for the lovely collection of ku on “doorknob”, grateful for publishing mine. Congratulations to all featured poets. This one resonated with me deeply, as I see my dog in it:
long before
the doorknob’s movement…
dog’s tail
Mirela Brăilean
Romania
Thanks so much for Jim Kacian’s chapbook.
We had covered doormat before…in case you have forgotten.
Warmly, Neena
Hello, Neena,
I do believe
the doorman rang the doorbell
beside the revolving door,
turned the doorknob,
and slipped on the doorstep
because there was no doormat
Very ingenious your door-related poem, Ingrid. It should be posted at the end of this session as a summary!
Love this Ingrid!
So creative … thanks for penning this ‘themed’ poem!
Take care!
Oh! I was mistaken kj we had done doorstep earlier. My bad! Thanks Ingrid for the clue!
no worries – this is a lovely thread! thanks, kj
A few ku that I really enjoyed this week:
turn of the knob a new life
Tiffany Shaw-Diaz
United States
doorknob…
my old password
spring kanji
Ivan Gaćina
Zadar, Croatia
long gone
curdled verdigris
on the doorknob
Mike Gallagher
Ireland
Thank-you Kathy for publishing mine. Congrats to my fellow Ohio poets
Tiffany Shaw Diaz, Anna Cates, and Nancy Brady. Congrats to all the other poets also.
Dear Kjmunro,
In these tough times…we take recluse in platforms like Haiku Dialogue. All we got is prayers and poems and literature. So many friends and near and dear ones were sick but never returned back except a few. Yet we linger…hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. Thanks again for considering my work in Haiku Dialogue.
Warm regards,
Milan Rajkumar
Imphal, India
p.s. Stay safe