feel the burn

Haiku by Laura Brincat, Joy Hallinan, Tuyet Van Do, Louise Hopewell, and Ruth Holzer

In Gratitude

Thanks to the following contributors for their tip jar contributions this week:

Wilda Morris
Veronica Hosking

Thanks also to Melissa Dennison for her editorial efforts this week.

Sun burnt tourists pass
The cold bones of the martyrs
On the ancient way

Laura Brincat
Rome, Italy

scent of burnt toast
our fig tree alight
with blue jays

Joy Hallinan
Atlanta, Georgia, USA

scorching afternoon
a glass of soda lemon
not enough

Tuyet Van Do

scorched valley
the first shoot
of a blackened branch

Louise Hopewell
Melbourne, Australia

northeast wind
smoke from Nova Scotia
fills our sky

Ruth Holzer
Potomac Falls, Virginia, USA

Editor Bio: Melissa Dennison writes Japanese short-form poetry inspired by the natural world, particularly the little creatures that share her space. She has been widely published in journals and online publications, such as Presence, Blithe Spirit, Under the Bashō, Five Fleas Itchy Poetry, FreshOutMag, Prune Juice, Poetry Pea, and The Pan Haiku Review. Her poems have been included in various anthologies as well. Melissa has been nominated for a Touchstone award and is a 2025 Golden Pea Award winner for best senryū. She is also one of the co-hosts at The Haiku Foundation’s re:Virals.

Tip Jar

Haiku Girl Summer will always be a free publication. If you want to make a financial contribution, please visit Allyson Whipple’s Buy Me a Coffee page. Mention Haiku Girl Summer in the comment box and your donation will go into a pool that will be divided among the guest editors at the end of the 2026 editorial run.

Merch

If you want to even more ways to share the summer love, you can check out the Haiku Girl Summer merch shop. We have T-shirts and tank tops along with hats, mugs, buttons, and a spiral notebook. Email me if there are other items you’d like to see!