It’s not too late to enter your own poetry in our haiku contest, part of the Hillside Festival 2022. Email your entries to davidsweinstein@yahoo.com
Here are the latest additions:
Gwyneth A., age 8.
Not too hot or cold.
I feel the sun on my face.
Grass around me sways.
***
Barbara Birch
“The Overlook”
There’s a rustic bench
off the path and to the side,
where someone can rest.
***
Rowan I., age 5
I love the hillside.
The hillside is a great place.
Good place to hike, too.
The hillside is good
‘cause leaves, trees, rocks, plants and dirt.
Do you think so, too?
***
Walter Schweikert
People are happy,
hillside is recovering,
Weinstein at his best
***
Jared N. Age: 17
Haiku #1:
beautiful, rocky
scenery, water crashing on shore
island paradise
Haiku #2:
war, violence, death
solution to solve them all
a treaty of peace
Haiku #3:
laughter fills the air
giant smiles from cheek to cheek
endless joy of life
***
Pamela Lim
Above the city,
Beneath canopy of leaves
Trekking the hillside.
Golden sunshine smiles
Fresh air, family and friends,
Fun-filled memories.
Thirsty mosquitoes,
Keep your fangs away from me–
I will bite you back!
***
Serena S., Age 13
A faint breeze whisks by
With sun caressing my skin
Flowers twirl with me
Serena Allen
Poppies
Rays stroke dew-drenched hill
Petals dry and awaken
Soft faces kiss sky.
Foggy Day
Fingers of fog drift
Damp embrace blankets the trees
Steep slopes, calm and still.
Labyrinth
Round and round we go
Mirroring nature’s spirals
Treasure-filled center
***
Lois Switzer
Birds, Flowers, Sounds, Smells
Oaks, woods; careful poison oak!
Hillside has it all
___
Views on a clear day
Nature hike just steps away
Glad Hillside is close
___
Wind can be blowing
Geology to observe
Remove invasive French broom!
***
Candy Smallwood
Standing on the hill
Cacophony of bird song
I welcome the peace.
Up here on the peak
Big cities in the distance
I love my hamlet
Deer crossing the road
Turkeys in all their glory
Skunks are my favorite
***
Daniel Ari
New green reaches out
into unknown sunlight
above a sea of city.
Dry trail dust kicked up
smells like you will never
have to go back to work.
Blue beach glass, how
did you get back home?
Now you come home with me.
***
Belen R. age: HS senior
The quizzical bird
Bluejays. Stealthily hopping
The bug is gone now
Nodding poppies bend
Whistling wind. Sharp. Blowing
Everything’s tilted
The fog rolls down with
Extended fingers, reaching
The hills are shrouded
***
Kristianna Bertelsen
Bounded on all sides
the hillside stream flows quickly
maintaining neutrality
***
Genevieve M., age 10
A PURPLE FLOWER
A purple flower blooms strong,
facing towards the city view,
such a place to bloom.
CACTUS
Cactus plant so low,
relaxing in the hot sun,
relaxing all day.
***
Darcy W., Age 10
I pull my hat over my head
And see the nature
Through tiny holes
***
Gemma S., Age 10
The tiny inchworm
Under the shade of the tree
Sheltered from the sun
The purple flower
Swaying in the gentle breeze
Welcoming the bees
Cheep! Cheep! Sing the birds
I wonder what they’re saying
With their charming songs
***
Lindsay Z., Age: 10
1. The Rock
On top of the rock
To look across the long grass
Feeling the calm wind
2. The Tree
Their leaves sway calmly
Swaying in the fresh cold breeze
Their flowers feel peace
3. The Mountain Range
Across the mountains
Across into the unknown
The animals rule
***
Paul Steuerwald
contested lands
Oak, and laurel stand;
stone and rock, and ocean winds;
Spring night coyotes yip.
***
Saksham D.
age:12
Queen
Depressing nighttime
A beautiful, crazed queen chirps
enjoying the king.
Friend
Sluggish Summertime
An only, passion friend stings
because of a girl
Leaf
Sunshiny Cockcrow
A single, perfect leaf sings
In spite of the tree.
***
Richard Schwartz
So old- you feel it?
So quiet- do you hear it?
The breath of El Cerrito
Under your foot step
Sensed by your soles, your belly
history rumbles.
They are there still
They are still there receiving songs
Old Indian villages do not sleep
***
Bernie Kellman
El Cerrito. Home.
Calm and safe for our children,
Swam upstream to spawn !
Corner Store/ Tienda a la Esquina
In small letter: food
In bigger letters: Ice
The biggest sign: Beer
poco: comidas
y mas grande: hielo
grande: cerveza
***
Jeannine Cuevas
Parched oaks yearn for rain
Embrace the path with lacy shade
A beetle’s respite
***
Gwyneth A., age 8
A Misty Day
pretty lace flowers,
blue purple yellow take up rain
fungus mushrooms dig deep
fungus fun to find
dig deep on a misty day
mushrooms don’t eat them
***
Barbara Birch
touch trees brown rough bark
my trekking poles pull me up
gasp clean scented air
labyrinth circle
step in with namaste hands
sudden devotion
***
James Carl
Hiking
Step steep step upwards
Pebbles, tree seeds, flowers, weeds
Amazing bay views
FIRE DANGER
Hear my sincere plea
Mighty eucalyptus tree
Do not burn for me
THE BENCH
Silently I rest
Pondering bridge, hills and bay.
Thanks George and Carol.
***
Marta Belanger
1975
Hill, dry grass, cardboard
El Cerrito kids flying
No supervision
Patrol
Red-tail hawk gyres up
Crows converge in loud protest
Relentless murder
***
Makena T.
Age: 10
#1
Trees sway with the wind
The crunch of leaves underfoot
For this is my home
#2
Trees all around me
The wind blowing in my face
This the little hill
***
Opal Franklin
Poem #1.
My hands move mountains
Swing low and carry my pain
The brush keeps me warm
Poem #2.
El Cerrito’s home
A clear view of my whole life
The little hillside
Poem #3
I walk a clear path
A friendly smile greets me
I will always feel grounded
***
Amalia Lorentz Cunningham
Brown leaves coat the path
Urban nature getaway
Tall grasses swaying
Huff and puff uphill;
Rewarding gorgeous vista.
The dog doesn’t care.
Quarry walls frame the
Recycling Center’s bustle.
I’m above it all.
***
Henry C.,
age 13
Hiking with my dog
He loves the breeze in his scruff
He loves the hillside.
***
El Cerrito Trail Trekkers 