Haiku About Autumn

62 poems from the 18 issues of 50 Haikus

Most autumn haiku begin with a leaf, and the good ones are about what the leaf replaces. Mauricio Gonzalez writes that the yellow leaves FILL THE SPACE, WHERE THE SHADE USED TO BE. Nothing is missing from that picture except summer, and the poem never says so. It is the plainest kind of fall haiku: one fact, one subtraction, and the reader does the sad arithmetic. It also shows why autumn poems so often work in two tenses at once, with the leaves falling now and the shade remembered.

Other poets reach for a sharper tool. Jessica Hoard sends A BLADE OF GEESE across the sky, and the poem’s one verb, SLICE OPEN, does violence to a quiet afternoon. Tamara de Dominicis does the opposite and lets a color arrive slowly, with leaves that FLUSH, SLOWLY SCARLET as the wind whispers to the trees. Hoard needs only the sky to finish the picture; de Dominicis needs the wind to become a speaker, confessing to the trees, before any color can arrive. Read them side by side and you can see two ways to make a season move: cut it or blush it.

Harvest gets its own thread. Melinda Brasher watches wheat in a field and gives the plants a quiet kind of wisdom: THEY KNOW OF ENDINGS. The line works because it does not ask for sympathy. Ripe grain bows, and the speaker lets it. Annette Langlois Grunseth finds the same grace in a cranberry bog, where the berries rise through the water PLUMP AS PRAYER BEADS. The simile is exact and a little holy, and it makes a farm chore look like a small service.

Autumn on the street

TJ Lyons carries the season into the city, where MISSING PARTS OF ME LIVE IN THE ABSENCE OF LEAVES blowing down the street. Here the leaves stand in for the parts of a person that left, and the poem leaves those parts unnamed. The street is a place to lose them. Miriam Thor keeps it lighter: leaves DRIFT TO THE GROUND in A DANCE OF MANY COLORS and then go SUDDENLY STILL, a small performance that ends before anyone can clap.

Autumn in the kitchen

The season is also a taste. Ashley Swanson steps into a coffee break where THE FALL CHILL PAINTS DEATH and ends on BEAN BLOOD IN A MUG, a startling and slightly funny way to say that even a warm drink carries the dark time of year. It is a good example of how a haiku can hold a mood and a joke in the same breath.

62 poems

AUTUMN

THE YELLOW LEAVES FALLAND SLOWLY FILL THE SPACE, WHERETHE SHADE USED TO BE
Mauricio Gonzalez
Issue #1, page 87

CONFESSIONS

WHEN THE WIND WHISPERSITS CONFESSIONS TO THE TREES,LEAVES FLUSH, SLOWLY SCARLET.
Tamara De Dominicis
Issue #3, page 67

MIGRATION

A BLADE OF GEESESLICE OPENTHE AUTUMN SKY
Jessica Hoard
Issue #17, page 18

GOLD

FIELDS HEAVY WITH WHEATWISELY BOB THEIR GOLDEN HEADSTHEY KNOW OF ENDINGS
Melinda Brasher
Issue #16, page 24

CRANBERRIES AT HARVEST

CRANBERRIES AT HARVESTRISING THROUGH WATERPLUMP AS PRAYER BEADS
Annette Grunseth
Issue #15, page 44
MISSING PARTS OF MELIVE IN THE ABSENCE OF LEAVESBLOWING DOWN THE STREET
TJ Lyons
Issue #4, page 55

AUTUMN

LEAVES DRIFT TO THE GROUNDA DANCE OF MANY COLORSTHEN SUDDENLY STILL
Miriam Thor
Issue #14, page 39

THURSDAY COFFEE BREAK

THE FALL CHILL PAINTS DEATHSMOOTH ESSENCE OF FOREIGN LANDSBEAN BLOOD IN A MUG
Ashley Swanson
Issue #10, page 101
AUTUMN NIGHTHANDS REACHING DOWN FOR WATERSCOOP UP THE MOON
K.A. Cummings
Issue #1, page 107
AUTUMN TWILIGHTMY PARENTS IN SILENCEON THE SWING
Ramesh Anand
Issue #2, page 27
RADIATING CRISP LEAVESVIBRANTLY OCTOBERBURNING RUSTY-ORANGE
Audrey Samuelson
Issue #6, page 63

SOFT CARPET OF LEAVES

SOFT CARPET OF LEAVESLIFE-FORCE GOES BACK TO THE SOILBUT WE MUST FALL TOO
Colin Campbell
Issue #7, page 37
Show all 62 poems

YELLOW LEAVES

YELLOW LEAVESFALL INTO MY TEA‒ZEST OF LEMON
Jackie Maugh Robinson
Issue #7, page 57

GREEN MAPLE LEAF

GREEN MAPLE LEAFFADES TO BRITTLE BROWN --HER LAUGHTER
JR Vork
Issue #9, page 21

LATE AUTUMN NIGHT

THE MOON HANGSLOW AS A RIPENING PEACH,SOON IT WILL BE PLUCKEDFROM A CHARCOAL SKY.
M.P. Carver
Issue #13, page 51

DECAY

THE LEAVES HAVE DIED. BRIGHTAS TEARS, THEY ESCAPE ONTHE STREAM’S CURRENT ASSWIFTLY AS THEY FIRST UNFURLEDIN SPRING, WHEN YOU WERE HERE.
Virginia Thomas
Issue #13, page 45

LIGHT WIND IN TALL GRASS

LIGHT WIND IN TALL GRASSHEAVY SEEDS ON SLENDER STEMSNOW GREEN TURNING GOLD
Colin W Campbell
Issue #1, page 27
RICE FIELD HARVEST TIMELANDSCAPE AMBIGUITYLESSONS FOR THE HEART
Paul Hellweg
Issue #1, page 69

SQUASH FLOWERING

AWAITING FIRST FROSTBRIGHT SQUASH BLOSSOMS BREATH GOLDENBEES BRUSH YOUR GREY LOCKS
Tyson West
Issue #1, page 105

OUR FRIENDS SAW THE BEGINNING

WE PLAYED TETHERBALLAT SUNSET'S RADIANT RISEFELT WITH COLORED LEAVES.
Frank Geurrandeno
Issue #2, page 55

...PARTING

A WALL AHEAD OF USNO MORE PATH TO WALK ON-RED LEAVES BLOWN AWAY.
Darlyn
Issue #2, page 83
AUTUMN LEAF TWIRLINGSWIFTLY DOWN THE LANE, BOUND TODANCE BY THE NORTH WIND.
Deborah Seewald
Issue #3, page 93

FALL RIVER

COLOR DRIFTING ONA LIQUID CANVAS - WIND GIVESFALL RIVER RECEIVES
Lea Booth
Issue #4, page 99
A MILLION DEADFLOWERS- THE WINDA USEFUL RAKE
BM Ward
Issue #5, page 31

AUTUMN BIRCH

MOTTLED AUTUMN BIRCHLEANING ON THE SKY"NOW IF I WERE YOU..."
Leggett Charles
Issue #5, page 93

THE BEAUTY IN DEATH

GREEN TREES CATCH ON FIREGLASS LEAVES SHATTERED BENEATH FEETRED AND ORANGE DEATH.
Liz Moore
Issue #7, page 33

AUTUMN LEAVES RESEMBLANCE TO FLAMES

ORANGE AND YELLOW AUTUMN LEAVESHANGING ON TREES SURROUNDED BY FOGRESEMBLE FLAMES IN A SMOKE CLOUD
Kasha Nystrand
Issue #7, page 59
MY TREELESS BACKYARDIS DUSTEDWITH WINDBLOWN LEAVES
Christopher Gusek
Issue #7, page 67
A CHANGEABLE WINDBENDING THE BARLEYHER DRYING TEARS
Gavin Austin
Issue #8, page 51

THE FALL

PARTING WAYSTHE FOLIAGE OF OUR PASTOVERGROWN
Jorge Gutierrez
Issue #8, page 67

FALL

DUE EAST COMES THE STORMWIND SHARP AS A BUTCHER’S BLADETHE TREES STIR WHISPER
Alexis Henderson
Issue #8, page 107
IN AUTUMN SHE BLOOMSTHE PALE SHADOW OF SUMMERAND READY FOR DEATH
Brea McConnal
Issue #9, page 13

FALL 2

LEAVES LIKE A SHATTEREDPEACH. BRANCHES DARK RIVERS, LIKEMICROSCOPE KIWI.
Eliza Callard
Issue #9, page 31
RUSTLING LEAVESPUMPKIN PIEWITH MOON DOLLOP
Anna Cates
Issue #10, page 27

TRADITION

THE GINKGO WAVES LEAVESLIKE THE GEISHA WITH HER FANS.COY, THE FLESH IS SWEET.
David Anthony Sam
Issue #10, page 53

FALL THOUGHTS

RED-YELLOW FALL LEAVESDROP ON VACANT PARK BENCHESAUTUMN NOSTALGIA
Susan Gentry
Issue #10, page 95

AUTUMN HOME

RAIN SPATTERED SIDEWALKSBLACK ANTS WRITING THEIR WAY HOMEI WALK ON THE LAWN.
Ann Randlette
Issue #10, page 109

FALL ILLUSION

THE TRANSLUCENT HAZEOF AUTUMN’S SOFTENED SUNLIGHTWARNS OF WINTER CHILL
Bill Melton
Issue #11, page 21

MARCHING BAND

MARCHING BAND PRACTICEOFF IN THE DISTANCEAUTUMN MEMORIES
Erin Jones
Issue #11, page 23

FALL LEAF

FALL LEAFFLUTTERS ON GROUNDBUTSPRING
JR Vork
Issue #11, page 75
AGED LEAVES CLINGINGREMEMBERING YOUNGER DAYSREINCARNATION
Thomas Locicero
Issue #12, page 13

UNTITLED 42

THE BROKEN BRANCHESTORN SCATTERED SMALL RED BIG LEAVESTHE SEASON HAS COMEFROM BRANCHES TO HATETHE TWISTED BLOSSOMING LOVESHALL CARRY OUR FATEI HUNTED HEAVENNO MISTAKE THOUGHT OF SO WRONG.SPEAK, SHADOW ANGELS,OPEN THE SHUTTERSUMBRELLA ME YOUR WET TEARSREVEAL ALL YOUR SCARS
Victoria Valle
Issue #12, page 35

SUMMER’S HALF OVER

SUMMER’S HALF OVERSTIFLING HEAT AND THUNDERSTORMSLOOKING TOWARD THE FALL
Bruce Levine
Issue #12, page 79

THANKSGIVING

JUNCOS SCATTER DUFFUNDER AVOCADO TREESMAKE FESTIVE FALL DAYS
Mark Grinyer
Issue #12, page 81
LOOKING AT GRAY CLOUDSBROWN LEAF IN A PUDDLEREMEMBERS THE TREE
Karen Shepherd
Issue #12, page 103

HAIKU # 57

RELUCTANT LEAVES FALLFROM THE OLD TREE SHOWERINGAN OLD MAN WALKING.
Len Carber
Issue #13, page 37

STOPPING BY ROBBY'S HOUSE

LEAVES ARE ANKLE DEEP.THE MILES I WALKED TO MY RESTWERE THROUGH HIS DEEP WOODS.
James Bethel
Issue #13, page 38

PAINTING THE SKY

TURNING LEAVESFALCON WINGS BRUSH THE SKYRACING WINTER’S CLOUD
Matthew Cowles
Issue #13, page 52
A LEAF PIROUETTESSPINNING, DANCING SILENTLYON A PLACID POND
Bill Melton
Issue #13, page 57

LEAVES

VEINS IN LEAVESLIKE TRACKS OF BIRD’S FEETRAIN CEMENTED TO THE STREET
Nicholas Campbell
Issue #14, page 26

LATE EVENING

DREAMY AUTUMN EYESCOFFEE WITH YOU AND CRISP LEAVESA LOST MEMORY
Kaycee Wilson
Issue #14, page 27
FALLING ACORNS-AUTUMN DANCE IN GRASSOAK SWAYS IN TIME
Joanna Friedman
Issue #15, page 21
AUTUMN LIGHTTHE RED FLOWERBLEEDING THE WEEDS
Daniel Birnbaum
Issue #15, page 27

LAST REGRET

DO ME A KINDNESS:TELL SPRING I LOVED HER DEARLY-FALL IS AWAITING.
Thomas Dollbaum
Issue #15, page 39

AUTUMN SHOWER

A SOFT MIST CRAWLS INPURPLE FLOWERS SHOWER, ANTSTUCK AWAY UNDER SHADE
Hermelinda Hernandez Monjaras
Issue #16, page 13
YELLOW DEAD END SIGNAGAINST THE RED AUTUMN LEAVES —WINTER DOWN THE ROAD
Stephen Jackson
Issue #16, page 29

YEARNING

LEAVES TURNED TO LIGHT BROWNMY FOOTPRINTS BURIED IN YOUWAITING BEHIND GLASS
Angelica Cabral
Issue #16, page 34
WIND FREED LEAFSOMERSAULTING TO THE GROUNDNATURES ACROBAT
Nicholas Gentile
Issue #17, page 48
FALL LEAVES TURN COLORSBECKONING THEY LEAD THE WAYCARPETING THE PATH
Bruce Levine
Issue #18, page 13

AN AUTUMN MORNING

THE NOVEMBER CHILLSSWEEP ME AWAY WITH THEIR WINDAS THE LEAVES STILL FALL
Ryan Gallagher
Issue #18, page 17

GEESE FLEW SOUTH BY NIGHT

SILVER ARROW PIERCEDTHE SORRY MOON AND VANISHEDINTO BRILLIANCE
Ella Shively
Issue #18, page 30

IN DEFERENCE TO OUR MOTHER

AUTUMN’S DAYS DWINDLE.TREES ABLAZE IN EULOGY.BARE, THEIR MOURNING CLOTHES.
Megan Nicholson
Issue #18, page 36

Questions readers ask

Is it fall or autumn in a haiku?

Either. Traditional haiku use a season word to place the poem in the year, and English-language poets use both names without any rule about it. In this archive Jessica Hoard names the autumn sky outright, while Tamara de Dominicis never names the season at all, because the scarlet leaves do it for the poem.

Do autumn haiku have to be sad?

No. The season invites a feeling of endings, but Melinda Brasher’s wheat is calm about it, and Ashley Swanson’s coffee is half a joke. What the poems share is attention to a change already under way.

What images come up again and again?

Leaves above all, then geese, harvest crops and low light. The interest is in how a poet makes a familiar image do something new, as with a blade of geese or a space where shade used to be.

More themes to read

WinterSpringMoon and StarsTime and AgingTrees and ForestsAll themes

Last reviewed November 2026. Poems are the work of the poets credited and link to their pages in the original issues.