On the street
wind is reading a newspaper
- page by page.
wind is reading a newspaper
- page by page.
An evening of play
- through the children's fingers shines
the light of the fireflies.
- through the children's fingers shines
the light of the fireflies.
On the wall, behind
long icicles - a sign:
"House for sale."
long icicles - a sign:
"House for sale."
Looking at the bridge,
from the leafless tall poplar
trees - a group of crows.
from the leafless tall poplar
trees - a group of crows.
At the level crossing
- a dog follows every train and car
with a glance.
- a dog follows every train and car
with a glance.
A child, crying,
attempts to escape
from its shadow.
attempts to escape
from its shadow.
A sleeping flower
awaits the morning sun
to wake it up.
awaits the morning sun
to wake it up.
Behind a sign:
“Beware of the dog”
- A fluffy kitten.
“Beware of the dog”
- A fluffy kitten.
The furrow depths,
left behind by a tractor
- are surveyed by a storks beak.
left behind by a tractor
- are surveyed by a storks beak.
A candle on the table
separates with its life
- in tears.
separates with its life
- in tears.
In lite rain
- two dogs in a merry-go-round
play with a branch.
- two dogs in a merry-go-round
play with a branch.
Underneath the veranda
lost in thought, two dogs stare
at the rain.
lost in thought, two dogs stare
at the rain.
A herd of horses
in a gallop - only one of them
decorated by birds.
in a gallop - only one of them
decorated by birds.
Frosty morning.
A dog watches his reflection
in the baker's window.
A dog watches his reflection
in the baker's window.
With a big step
through a freshly ploughed field
- a heron!
through a freshly ploughed field
- a heron!
A sudden gun-shot.
The sheep stand their ground
- not the pigeons!
The sheep stand their ground
- not the pigeons!
Ripened grapes
- the winemaker sings
an opera aria.
- the winemaker sings
an opera aria.
An old tree
affectionately embraced
by poison ivy.
affectionately embraced
by poison ivy.
A field of tobacco
is decorated by
one sunflower.
is decorated by
one sunflower.
In the morning fog
- two young roosters are
training for a fight.
- two young roosters are
training for a fight.
In disbelief
an old man examines books
left by a dumpster.
an old man examines books
left by a dumpster.
Beneath a billboard
with a politician’s face
- sheep graze, unimpressed.
with a politician’s face
- sheep graze, unimpressed.
Half open door,
an uninvited guest arrives
- a big nosy fly.
an uninvited guest arrives
- a big nosy fly.
Morning sun.
Rows of sunflowers
- their heads bowed.
Rows of sunflowers
- their heads bowed.
Corn shelled.
From a big pumpkin,
the cat stalks its prey.
From a big pumpkin,
the cat stalks its prey.
A harvester leaves
devastation in the wheat-field
- the stork follows it.
devastation in the wheat-field
- the stork follows it.
A raised ramp
at the level crossing
- the chicken crosses.
at the level crossing
- the chicken crosses.
Covered in white,
orchards and meadows,
- and two lambs.
orchards and meadows,
- and two lambs.
A bus stops,
its arrival anxiously awaited,
by a couple of chickens.
its arrival anxiously awaited,
by a couple of chickens.
Hundreds of holes
in the field are waiting for
their tenants.
in the field are waiting for
their tenants.
A hawk in the sky
and in an instant - every
rabbit in its hole.
and in an instant - every
rabbit in its hole.
Two cinders
pass through the night
- the cat’s eyes.
pass through the night
- the cat’s eyes.
Underneath blossoming
branches, in a flowery meadow,
children are playing.
branches, in a flowery meadow,
children are playing.
Short Biography
Olivera Poletan was born 4th March 1964, in Zenica, former Yugoslavia. Presently, she lives in Novi Sad, Serbia. Her haiku verses have been published in various literary anthologies and journals, in Serbian, English and Japanese. She participated in two haiku contests in Japan and both times received an award: at The 10th Itoen Haiku Contest in Tokyo, Japan in 1999, and at Genkissu! Spirits Up! World Wide Hekinan Haiku Contest, Japan in 2008.
Contact Form
for all enquires please use the contact form below:
© 2026 Olivera Poletan – All Rights Reserved.