solitary quinceamong semi-bare branchestoo few leaves to hidethe only source of sunshinefloodlights the dying season Kim M. Russell, 19th November 2020 My response to dVerse Poets Pub Meeting the Bar: Jisei (Japanese Death Poems) Frank is our host today for Meeting the Bar, inviting us to revisit the Jisei (Japanese […]
Category: Tanka
A phoenix poem must first burn
one ember ignitesinto undaunted new linesphoenix wings aflamepoems learn to fly againleaving their ashes behind Kim M. Russell, 9th September 2020 My response to Poets and Storytellers United Weekly Scribblings #36: ‘a phoenix first must burn’ Magaly is back this Wednesday, inviting us to birth new poetry or prose inspired by the phrase ‘a phoenix […]
Breath
an inhalationpenetrating lungs and soulexhaled as a breathmolecules of life and deathrecycled in sweet repose Kim M. Russell, 2nd September 2020 My response to Poets and Storytellers United Weekly Scribblings #35: The Joy of Rest Rommy says that, in today’s over-busy world, we sometimes forget the importance of taking a break, and she would […]
Love Notes from a Courtesan
aromatic steam rises from a matcha bowl waiting for your lips to press against porcelain sweet taste of jasmine flowers our tantric dancing trips the light of galaxies we are earth and moon cheek to cheek and face to face inhaling each other’s breath when we last parted soft drumming of rain on leaves was […]
Karumi Chrysanthemum
white chrysanthemum I look holding it straight no dust at all Basho no bee has penetrated this light-filled orb of petals Kim M. Russell, 5th Match 2020 My response to Carpe Diem Tan […]
Cherry Tree in Full Bloom
early spring sunset blossom flutters on the breeze a cloud of pink moths Kim M. Russell, 26th February 2020 shadows become longer cherry tree in full bloom grows […]
Wisteria Beans
wisteria beans let’s make that a theme for haikai a flower fruit Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold) dreaming of heady fragrance until small brown seeds take root Kim M. Russell, 19th February 2020 My response to Carpe Diem Tan Renga Wednesday #14: Wisteria Beans In today’s episode of the special feature, Tan Renga Wednesday, our challenge […]
Winter Chrysanthemum
winter chrysanthemum, wearing nothing but its own light Mizuhara Shūōshi (1892-1981) fragile from the bitter frost radiant smiling sunshine Kim M. Russell, 12th February 2020 My response to Carpe Diem Tan Renga Wednesday #13: Winter Chrysanthemum In today’s episode of Tan Renga Wednesday, our goal is to create a […]
Just another Cicada
on a stone pillow only the dead sleep soundly a cicada cries seventeen sad syllables carried away on the breeze Kim M. Russell, 8th February 2020 My response to Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #115 Transformation: a stone for a pillow This weekend our challenge is a Transformation special feature, in which the goal is to […]
Autumn and Winter Duet
a last leaf swirls on the wind towards the east – first snow falls gently Chèvrefeuille the seasons dance a duet until everything is white Kim M. Russell, 6th February 2020 My response to Carpe Diem Tan Renga Wednesday #12: a last leaf This Tan Renga Wednesday, our challenge is to complete a haiku from […]
writing in north norfolk 