Taking

The following “Haiku from Index Cards” are not exactly giving.

taking a red leaf

back and forth

the ambulance wiper

             (written 2011, published 2013)

taking dictation Putin’s secretary

             (written 2015, published 2023; originally written with Castro instead of Putin)

taking invisible tickets

at the foot of the basement stairs—

child’s magic show

             (written 1994, published 1996; see “From The Haiku Anthology”)