Haiku About Evening and Night
Evening haiku risk the oldest cliche in poetry, the sunset, and the poets here get around it by changing the noun. B.M. Ward lets the sun set GENTLY TO THEIR BACKS
over A FIELD OF MOTIONLESS WINDMILLS
, so that the sky is a stage and the machines are an audience. Lela Marie de la Garza turns it into a dessert: CLOUDS WHIPPED INTO CREAM STREAKED WITH CHERRY, LIME, AND PEACH
. Tyson West uses a vapor trail, a PINK NEEDLE SHOOTING INTO HEAVEN'S DEEP BLUE VEIN
, and for a moment the sky is a body.
R K Chowdary does it without a single comparison. The LIGHT OF PARADISE
is slowly disappearing THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF WEST
, and the last phrase makes the horizon into a house the light is leaving. Dusk, in these poems, is the hour when the sky tries on other identities.
When the light is strange
Hilde Kiernan places the NORTHERN LIGHTS
over SAND AND SALT
, and the final line turns cold with A DEAD WORLD
. The beauty is described so that you feel the lack of anyone to see it. A.J. Huffman moves the night indoors, where SHADOWS DRIP FROM CEILING FAN
, the nighttime of the sleepless.
Night as sleep
Rachel Blackbirdsong carries the hour into a dream of horses that pummel the pillows, and the feathers FALL LIKE CLOUDS
. The night here is mostly bedding and hooves, and the cloud simile belongs to the pillow as much as to the sky. Evening and night in haiku are also about what happens indoors.
The moon as a lantern
Mahima Giri has DARK BRANCHED SILHOUETTES
that PLAY HIDE AND SEEK
with the moon, which the poem calls a lantern for the earth. The children’s game gives the poem a light touch, and the lantern gives it a job.
Why so many comparisons
Evening is a light that changes quickly, and every poet is trying to catch it before it goes. A comparison is the fastest tool. It is also a good test. If you can swap the sunset for a dessert, a needle or a window, then the poem has found something the word sunset could not.
63 poems
A FIELD OF MOTIONLESSWINDMILLS- SUN SETSGENTLY TO THEIR BACKS
Issue #1, page 73
SUNSET HAIKU
CLOUDS WHIPPED INTO CREAMSTREAKED WITH CHERRY, LIME, AND PEACHSWIRLING THROUGH AMBER WINE
Issue #4, page 23
PINK NEEDLE
SUNSET VAPOR TRAILPINK NEEDLE SHOOTING INTOHEAVEN'S DEEP BLUE VEIN
Issue #5, page 37
TWILIGHT
LIGHT OF PARADISESLOWLY DISAPPEARING THROUGHTHE WINDOWS OF WEST
Issue #4, page 79
NORTHERN LIGHTS
NORTHERN LIGHTSSTILL DANCE ABOVE SAND AND SALT-A DEAD WORLD
Issue #10, page 43
BEYOND EYE'S LID
SHADOWS DRIP FROM CEILINGFAN, MEMORIESOF INSOMNIA’S CURSE
Issue #4, page 105
DARK BRANCHED SILHOUETTESPLAY HIDE AND SEEK WITH THE MOONLANTERN TO THE EARTH
Issue #1, page 91
LAST TUESDAY
DREAMS ABOUT HORSESPUMMELED MY PILLOWS. GOOSE FEATHERSFALL LIKE CLOUDS.
Issue #5, page 57
ON THIS TWILIGHT SKY,HOKUSAI MIGHT HAVE PAINTEDTHOSE BLACK BIRDS FLYING
Issue #4, page 85
AUTUMN TWILIGHTMY PARENTS IN SILENCEON THE SWING
Issue #2, page 27
LATE AUTUMN NIGHT
THE MOON HANGSLOW AS A RIPENING PEACH,SOON IT WILL BE PLUCKEDFROM A CHARCOAL SKY.
Issue #13, page 51
BLACKEST SUMMER NIGHTCLEAR LAKE TREMOLO ECHOESLOON PAIR ROMANCING
Issue #3, page 87
Show all 63 poems
ORION'S FIXED GAZE
ORION'S FIXED GAZEPIERCES THE DARKNESS-OUTRIGGER NIGHT WATCH
Issue #9, page 59
RIPPLES
RIPPLES DISPERSINGON A TIDEPOOL EVENINGWHERE DROWNS THE SUNSET
Issue #2, page 43
OUR FRIENDS SAW THE BEGINNING
WE PLAYED TETHERBALLAT SUNSET'S RADIANT RISEFELT WITH COLORED LEAVES.
Issue #2, page 55
STARS AND OWLS
STARS AND OWLSGROW FATBENEATH A STARVING MOON
Issue #2, page 87
DUSK. TONGUE EXTENDED,THE DOE FEEDS WHERE FINCHES FUSSEDUNDER MORNING SUN.
Issue #2, page 101
MIDNIGHT, HALF-WAYTHROUGH, CARESSING,HER SIDE OF THE BED
Issue #3, page 101
SUMMER EVENINGSWEET NECTARINE JUICESSTAIN THE SKY
Issue #3, page 107
LONG SHADOWS
LONG SHADOWS BRING GENTLESANTUBONG SUNSETSMONSOON DAYS CAN WAIT
Issue #6, page 69
IN MONSOON CLOUDS
IN MONSOON CLOUDSLONG SHADOWS FROM SKYVILLAHIDE FROM THE SUNSET
Issue #6, page 79
LATE NIGHT REFLECTIONSYOUR RING SPARKLES IN MY PALMON ANY CLEAR NIGHT
Issue #6, page 93
YOUR TRANQUILITYDEEPER STILLAFTER SUNSET
Issue #6, page 101
SACROSANCT
GEOMETRIC GIRLOBLIVION’S STARRY SKYMOORED TO NOTHINGNESS
Issue #7, page 17
IN HER ABSENCE
ON AN AUTUMN NIGHT,THE FIERY SUN GOD’S CLOAK BURNS.I WEAR SILK BOXERS.
Issue #7, page 23
DREAMLESS SLEEP
NO CLOUDS IN THE SKYPEOPLE STAY AWAKE WONDERINGWHAT THEIR DREAMS WOULD BE
Issue #7, page 25
LADY NACHT
NIGHTS COLD AS DIAMONDSARE LIKE PAPER TIGERS: SOFT,GLOWING WITH WARM LIGHT.
Issue #8, page 19
WANDERING GULLSHADOWY EVENING SHAKINGTHE SEA FATHER AWAY
Issue #8, page 29
RIVERS OF PINK, ORANGESPLASHING OVER THE WHITE CLOUDSSWALLOWED BY DARKNESS
Issue #8, page 37
IT YIELDS HER ETHYL WITNESS
IT YIELDS HER ETHYL WITNESSTHIS CLIPPING OF STARSAND THE BOTTLE - ABSOLVING
Issue #8, page 45
SAGEBRUSH RUSTLING
SAGEBRUSH RUSTLINGEVENING DESERT BREEZE RISINGSIDEWINDER STIRRING
Issue #8, page 77
CRINOLINE WINGSTAKE HOSTAGE MY LAMPLIGHTLAZY AUGUST NIGHT.
Issue #9, page 71
OAKS AND ELMS
OAKS CLOTHED IN LEAVES,ELMS UNCARING IN THEIR NUDITY--GRAY NIGHT WITH BLACK TREES
Issue #9, page 75
EXPOSURE
NIGHT-THUNDER CLIPSTHE QUIET SHADOWS OF THE PEAK -LIGHTNING X-RAY
Issue #9, page 83
NIGHT STORMSEDUCTIVE—PERSIMMON
Issue #10, page 79
CITY SUNSET
GOLDEN, ORANGE THREADSON FLOATING GRAY CLOUDSSUNSET HOVERING.
Issue #10, page 81
STARRY TWILIGHT
STARRY TWILIGHTA FALLEN PLUM SUCCUMBSTO MUSH
Issue #11, page 15
MOVIE NIGHTFROM A HILLOCKSUNSET
Issue #11, page 31
HAIKU 378
THE WIND FROM NOWHERESHAKES A RED OAK’S KNOBBY LIMBSNIGHT IN APRIL’S HANDS
Issue #11, page 33
OCEAN IN AIR
EVENING MIST CREEPSENDLESS VIEWS OF EERIE GLEAMLINGERING TILL DAWN.
Issue #11, page 37
THE NIGHT, A SOFT GLOW,THE FIREWORKS EXPLODING.HOT SUMMER EVENING.
Issue #11, page 77
RAIN FILLS THE STREETBRIGHT LAMP IN GRAY TWILIGHTON THE LAKE, A LONE COOT
Issue #11, page 79
APRIL HAIKU 1
SOMEHOW AT SUNSETNOT YET DEAD OR QUITE ALIVE,I CALL TO THE OWLS.
Issue #11, page 83
SUNSET’S RAYS TURNOLD CONCRETE OVERPASSGOLDEN
Issue #11, page 109
SUN LATE IN THE DAY -STRAIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUBUT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE
Issue #12, page 17
EVENSONG
EVENSONGPEEL BACK THE LAYERSNIGHTFALL
Issue #12, page 63
GHOST CRABS
GHOST CRABS SCURRY QUICKHUSKS LIT GREY BY BLANK MOONLIGHTHAUNTED TIDES GUSTING
Issue #13, page 18
SHADOWS SWALLOWING
SHADOWS SWALLOWINGCOPPER CANYON WALLSSEPTEMBER SUNSET
Issue #13, page 48
SUMMER IN THE CITY
MOWN LAWN IN SUMMER NIGHTFALLFIREFLIES FROM ABOVEPATROL FOR VANDAL CRICKET
Issue #13, page 49
EVENING
HYPNOTIZED BY HUESMOLDERING ESSENCE OF LIFEBURNING UP SLOWLYCONSUMING YOUR LOVE FOR WARMTHPASSIONATE GLOW OF THE NIGHT
Issue #13, page 50
EXHALE
NIGHT’S MEDITATIONMOONLIT FROSTED BREATH FLOWS OUTHAWKS INTO THE WIND
Issue #14, page 11
ALMOST LIGHTWALKING AWAY FROM WORKTHIS SPRING EVENING
Issue #14, page 20
WHITE FLORIDA BAY
SUNSET AT THE BAYWHERE FRESH AND SALT WATERS MEETUNION FORMS RIPPLES
Issue #14, page 37
ONE FRIDAY NIGHT
WHEN THE NIGHT IS YOUNGOUR EYES SPARKLE LIKE THE STARSLAUGHTER FILLS THE AIR
Issue #15, page 10
SUNSET IN SAN CLEMENTE
RED ORANGE SUN SETSTOUCHING THE SILVER WATERSWARM HUES WHICH CARESS
Issue #15, page 11
RAIN AT SUNSET ON A LATE SPRING EVENING
LAST DROPS OF RAIN FALL,SHIMMERING IN THE SUNSET.BEGINNING AND END.
Issue #15, page 30
HAIKU FOR THE END OF SPRING
PETALS GLIDE TO EARTHLIKE WINGS WITHOUT A SWALLOWSHADOW AT SUNSET
Issue #15, page 42
TWILIGHT
TWILIGHT DROPPED THE SUNAND IT SHATTERED INTO STARSDAWN CLEANS UP THE MESS
Issue #17, page 27
LIGHTS OFFLAKEA BLACK VELVET DRESS
Issue #18, page 9
A ‘LAWN’ HAIKU
EACH DUSK I WATERSKITTISH GRASS AND STUBBORN LOAMBY A WHEEL OF STARS
Issue #18, page 11
A QUIET NIGHT
LIVING ROOM SNORING,A BIRD SINGS SOFTLY AT NIGHT,SWEET DREAMS FAMILY.
Issue #18, page 29
HAIKU #2
DECIPHER THE NIGHTRUB DREAMS BETWEEN YOUR FINGERSCODED MESSAGES
Issue #18, page 34
SMALL HOURS
THE BEND IN MY ARM,STIFFENED BY THE STRETCH OF NIGHT,ACHES FOR YOUR YOUNG DAWN
Issue #18, page 50
Questions readers ask
Is a twilight haiku different from a night haiku?
They share a lot, but twilight poems are usually about change, with color and light moving, while night poems are usually about stillness or sleeplessness. This page holds both.
More themes to read
Moon and StarsSummerMorning and DawnPeace and StillnessLonelinessAll themes
Last reviewed November 2026. Poems are the work of the poets credited and link to their pages in the original issues.