Late last night, I posted “protection for door-to-door purchasers” at shlep. I was inspired by reading Prof. Jeff Sovern’s Consumer Law & Policy Blog posting on the continuing relevance of regulation protecting consumers who make purchasers from “field sales” marketers. It seems that the success of Do Not Call lists has helped revive door-to-door selling (see CNN.com and NYT.) If you’d like to know more about Do Not Knock ordinances and the Federal Trade Commission’s Cooling Off Rule for home sales, head on over to shlep. But, first, join me in appreciating some door-oriented haiku from f/k/a‘s Honored Guest Poets and its Editor.
May morning
the door opens
before I knock
Mother’s Day
that first breath of air
outside the door
goblins at the door
in the darkness behind them
a cigarette flares
matinee
the summer sun
under the exit door
. . . . by John Stevenson
“May morning” and “goblins” from Some of the Silence
“Mother’s Day” and “matinee” from Quiet Enough
birdsong
opening the sliding door
in her red pajamas
almost dusk
an open door
to the lighthouse
. . . . by paul m.
“birdsong” – A New Resonance 2 & Frogpond XXII:1
“almost dusk” – The Heron’s Nest (Dec. 2003)
letting
the dog out–
the stars in
. . . . by Gary Hotham – breathmarks (Canon Press, 1999)
mud-spattered pickup-
four dogs watch
the tavern door
. . . by Billie Wilson – The Heron’s Nest (February 2001)
through the open door . . .
her smile doesn’t forgive
all my sins
. . . . by Randy Brooks – School’s Out (1999)
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opened door
the darkness lengthens
into a kitten
back door curve
the batter
exits
. . . . by Barry George
”back door curve” – Fan: “Haiku” Special Issue (1998)
“opened door” – The Heron’s Nest (Vol. 3, 2001)
screen door between angry words
. . . . by Tom Painting – A New Resonance 2 & Frogpond XXI:1
first night home from college
click of the latch
on her bedroom door
in the appliance store doorway
calling a Maytag box
home
. . . by Carolyn Hall – “first night home” A New Resonance 2
“appliance store” – from the haibun “Protective Coloration”
in The Loose Thread: RMA 2001; orig., stone frog.
“the rice cake man
is next door!”
the child announces
wiping their feet
on the baby grass…
doorway
the door latch
rusting scarlet…
winter rain
in dawn frost
at the bathhouse door
knocking
facing the river –
next door, it seems
is the deep north
pinching head lice
in a doorway…
spring fields
back door–
three spears of pampas grass
and Mr. and Mrs. Goose
back door–
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pissing scribbles
in the first ice
two doors down
from the moonflowers…
my house
. . . . by Kobayashi Issa, translated by David G. Lanoue
– for 53 “door” haiku from Issa – click here –
evening warmth —
latchkey kids play rummy
in the doorway
. . . by Rebecca Lilly – The Heron’s Nest (VIII:3)
first good
porch-settin’ day —
her outside voice at the door
the stale air
of an old man’s home —
opening my front door
“trick-or-treat!”
at every door but mine —
bittersweet binge
. . . . by dagosan