Six Word Story Sequels

Legend says, Ernest Hemingway popularized the six word story with “For sale: Baby shoes, Never Worn.”

Haiku like
Not quite
Still amusing

For better or worse, here’s a few six word sequels.

Crackling fire
Cold sleet
No joke
.
Holding hands
Tender looks
Silent stars
.
Moonlight kissed
Warm breeze
Hearts stirred
.
Dawn’s coming
It’s Off
To Bed

At the Gym

Late in December at the gym, jogging around the track, trying to remember that one I was young.

I have outlived Matsuo Basho now for quite a few years. Eating well, lifting weights, writing poetry is my secret to success.

One is lifting weights

Grunting, barely holding on

Sadly, getting older

.

Those who are younger

Daily are getting stronger

And looking better

.

The weight of the world

Grows and grows all the time

Troubling one’s mind

.

Like Sisyphus one keeps at it. Like Basho one wanders from time to time.

Somebody farted

Variations on a fart by a smart feller. things not said in polite company.

Somebody farted,

Was it wind or a whisper?

Friends soon departed

.

Somebody farted

Hearing a sigh feeling a breeze ,

The room held its breath

.

Somebody farted

A cloud of mystery lingered

As I departed

.

Matsuo Basho ate radishes both because they were plentiful and because he had stomach problems for most of his life. No doubt he passed gas in polite company, but it was never mentioned.

Snow upon snow

It is said to have been written in the first year of the Jokyo Era (貞享), 1684. A compilation of poems including Basho’s had been published called Shriveled Chestnuts. And Basho was on the road on the Five Highways on the first of his four major wanderings.

Snow upon snow
Tonight, the last month is December
Is there a full moon or not?

雪と雪 . 今宵師走の . 名月か
Yuki to yuki . Koyoi shiwasu no . Meigetsu ya
— Matsuo Basho

Version Two, when there is a glimmer of hope.

Snow upon snow
Tonight, the last month
Is there a sliver of a moon or not?

The Moon 月

It has been said that this haiku was written to settle a disagreement between two individuals (snow upon snow), each part frozen and unwilling to compromise. The moon was supposed to mediate the differences, but the cloudy weather and the snow got in the way. Tsuki is any moon. Meigtsu, refers to a full moon. A sliver of a moon (mikazuki) seems appropriate if we are trying to patch up differences.

雪と雪 . 今宵師走の . 名月か
Yuki to yuki . Koyoi shiwasu no . Meigetsu ya
image, Wikipedia

Sunset Cove

Sunset Cove

Grand Cayman

December 2025

Sunset Cove on Seven Mile Beach, just north of George Town in the Grand Caymans, is beyond description. Sunrises and sunsets glow across gentle waves and warm breezes; white clouds wander slow beneath blue skies; tall palms lean over sandy beaches. Sea shells on the shore for children to gather.

Just another day in paradise.

Matsushima ya

Aa — Matsushima ya

Matsushima ya

松島や

ああ松島や

松島や

Matsushima!

Ah, Matsushima!

Matsushima!

Some modern blogs still present this as Bashō’s, but it isn’t.

The gentle waves—ah!

Endless rolling blue waves—ah,

Grand Cayman—ah!