haikuworld: Remembering Paul O. Williams

Remembering Paul O. Williams

Paul O. Williams was one of the most faithful participants in the Shiki Monthly Kukai during the years we've been privileged to host at haikuworld. Since his first entry in August of 2003, we've received submissions to the kukai in fifty-three separate months from Paul! His very first submission to us didn't receive rave reviews, but shared his whimsical spirit:

all those sunflowers
watching the slow tennis match
of the sun

Paul O. Williams
August 12, 2003

He won our contest in March 2008 with this entry:

near dusk--
a tadpole surfacing
bursts the moon

P. O. Williams
March 6, 2008
(3,7,9) = 32 points

We received word from his wife, KerryLynn Blau, that he is no longer with us:

DEAR HAIKU FRIENDS,

I REGRET ADVISING YOU LIKE THIS, BUT IT'S BEST FOR ME.

I'VE LOST MY PRECIOUS PAUL TUE 6/2.
HE HAD AN AORTIC DISSECTION AND WAS GONE IN 4 HOURS.

I'M NOT UP REALLY TO TAKING CALLS, BUT EVENTUALLY WILL READ EMAILS.
I'M NUMB AND IN DENIAL,

KERRYLYNN BLAU/WILLIAMS

Remembrances and kind words can be sent to KerryLynn at:

klblau at aol.com

Paul was a friend to all of us at Haikuworld, and he will be missed.

Gary, Robert, Jennie, and George

Shiki Monthly Kukai Entries of Paul O. Williams

September 2003

grateful the spider
not still in the bathtub
this morning

Paul O. Williams
(0,1,3 = 5)

February 2004

beyond the campfire
not flickering
the winter moon

Paul O. Williams
(0,2,3) = 7

April 2004

from across the pond
another bullfrog answers--
spring evening

Paul O. Williams
(0,0,3) = 3

August 2004

his tongue hangs out
twice as long as usual--
these dog days

Paul O. Williams
(0,1,3) = 5

August 2004

picking cookie crumbs
from my shirt pocket lint--
that hungry

Paul O. Williams
(0,1,2) = 4

September 2004

through my closed eyelids
the flashes
of late lightning

Paul O. Williams
(0,2,1) = 5 pts

September 2004

the museum pool--
some turtles bronze,
some real

Paul O. Williams
(0,0,7) = 7 pts

January 2005

my manuscript back,
a coffee ring on page two--
someone got that far

Paul O. Williams
(0,0,6) = 6

February 2005

at the small lake
two coots and I--
winter dusk

Paul O. Williams
(0,0,4) = 4

February 2005

the acacia
bursting with yellow blooms
sick of winter cold

Paul O. Williams
(1,0,0) = 3

March 2005

mowing around
all the wildflowers--
a patchy lawn

Paul O. Williams
(0,0,3) = 3

April 2005

a bearpaw buckle--
his fat hand hooked
on it

Paul O. Williams
(1,0,1) = 4

May 2005

the smell of mown grass--
a robin singing
his rain song

Paul O. Willliams
(0,1,3) = 5 Points

July 2005

wind in the swamp--
the only still thing
the old blue heron

Paul O. Williams
(0,0,4) = 4 pts

January 2006

midwinter rain--
poised to dash outdoors the cat
changes his mind

Paul O. Williams
(0,1,3) = 5 pts

January 2006

slant window light
adding to the muscles
of the Rodin piece

Paul O. Williams
(0,1,1) = 3 pts

February 2006

early thaw
down at the forest stream
new fairy shrimp

Paul O. Williams
(0,1,3) = 5 pts

March 2006

morning rain-
taking my creaking knee bones
into the kitchen

Paul Williams
(0,1,2)=4 pts

September 2006

a cold, wet spring
and this year few apples--
the war continues

Paul O. Williams
(0,0,3) = 3 pts

September 2006

he speaks of
weeding a victory garden--
dating himself

Paul O. Williams
(0,2,2) = 6 pts

January 2008

in spite of its name
the old plum tree not nearly
vertical

Paul O. Williams
(0,1,2) = 4 pts

March 2008
First Place – 32 Points

near dusk--
a tadpole surfacing
bursts the moon

P. O. Williams
(3,7,9) = 32 pts

May 2008

finishing breakfast —
the lily on the table
loses a petal

Paul O. Williams
(0,4,7) = 15 Pts

May 2008

round tuba tones,
nearly as round
as the player

Paul O. Williams
(0,0,3) = 3 Pts

June 2008

bush cherries all gone —
and I never even saw
the birds

Paul O. Williams
(0,1,3) = 5 Pts.

July 2008

forty-eight years now
safe in my underwear drawer
my PhD

Paul O. Williams
(0,0,3) = 3 Pts

September 2008

ferocious heat —
now the orange and white
swirled in this rock

Paul O. Williams
(0,1,1) = 3 Pts

September 2008

so much season
in the reedy voice
of the cricket

Paul O. Williams
(0,1,2) = 4 Pts

December 2008

rabbit
and kitten
touching white whiskers

Paul O. Williams
(2,2,3) = 13 Pts

white on the mountain
after last night's storm
all rained away

Paul O. Williams
5 pt
Special Toku, Jan. 2009

the land darkens,
clouds still full of pink light--
today's last birds

Paul O. Williams
3pt
Special Toku, Jan. 2009

a blue crocus
pokes up through the spring snow--
April fool!

Paul O. Williams
(0,0,2) = 2 pts
April, 2009

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