Twenty-five years ago, the cherry tree in our garden was young and still quite small. We could see sky through lithe branches.
Now our cherry tree is so tall she reaches out to touch the roof and taps on the gutter in stormy weather. Honeysuckle has crept up her trunk and covered her, so that we can only sometimes see scraps of sky.
Each year she delights us with pom-poms of pink blossom, cheering on spring. Within a week or two, they are gone.
cheerleader pom-poms
snatched and scattered by the breeze
pink confetti blush
Kim M. Russell, 28th April 2025
It’s Haibun Monday with Frank at the dVerse Poets Pub, and on this last Monday of April, we’re embracing a traditional Spring kigo: late cherry blossom.
writing in north norfolk 
Kim, I like the affectionate way you write about the cherry tree, like she’s family. You’ve watched her grow as if she was a child growing to adulthood.
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Thank you, Lisa. That’s exactly how I feel about all the trees in our garden.
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❤
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I love the thought of the flowers as pompoms
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I’m looking out of my window now, and they look just like pompoms!
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Your post beautifully captures the slow, inevitable passage of time through the life of the cherry tree — from openness and growth to entanglement and endurance. The haiku at the end distills this perfectly: a moment of vivid celebration snatched away almost as soon as it blooms, just as seasons, years, and lives pass. And, of course, how else to celebrate sakura than with a haiku?
So, in the spirit of Saigyō and the Buddhist tension between between appearance and emptiness, between here’s one for you:
Written Beneath Clouded Skies
breeze smears thinning cloud—
petals drift in scented swirls,
spring dreams of self.
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Thank you so much. I commented on your post. I especially love the thought of spring dreaming of self.
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lovely haibun
much♡love
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Thank you, Gillena, and much love to you!
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Thank you for sharing.
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Beautiful photographs of your tree. 25 years of growing – that’s something.
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Thank you! We are lucky to have trees and shrubs in our garden, with mainly wild flowers.
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I’ll second what Li says. We had one in my house growing up. Beautiful tree
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They are beautiful, Eric, but I also love apple blossom, which we also have in our garden.
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A beautiful tree and haibun! Fleeting beauty.
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Thank you, Nolcha. The weather’s good at the moment, so the blossom is holding on.
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Ah, the poignancy of a mature Cherry Tree offering it’s transcient treasure. A heartfelt haibun, Kim!
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Thank you so much, Frank!
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Thank you for your haibun. I love the Pom-poms image.
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Thank you, Arraon, I’m pleased you love that image.
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Delightfully told, Kim~
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Thank you, Jennifer.
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Beautiful! 😍
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Thank you, Tiffany!
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Kim, I really enjoyed this tribute to your cherry tree and how you describe the evolution from “We could see sky through lithe branches” to “Honeysuckle has crept up her trunk and covered her, so that we can only sometimes see scraps of sky.” I also love the comparison to “pom-poms”!
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Many thanks, Mish. I am very fond of out cherry tree.
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Oh, I would be too! 🙂
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Beautiful poem and pictures, Kim!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
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Thanks so much, Yvette! 😊
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