a crimson leaf twirls among windfalls and mist the woods are rusting Kim M. Russell, 20th January 2020 My response to Carpe Diem #1800 New Beginnings: first leaf falling We have passed the half-way mark in our month of ‘New Beginnings’ and today our challenge is to create Japanese poetry on the theme of ‘first […]
Sketching with Shiki
sketching from life — eggplants are harder to do than pumpkins Masaoka Shiki shapely drops of glossy purple among rotund orange globes Kim M. Russell, 19th January 2020 My response to Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #112 Transformation: sketching from life (Shiki’s Shasei technique) In this weekend’s […]
Preparatory Sketch – a poem in Visual Verse
I’m happy to have started the poetic year with a poem in the January 2020 issue, Vol. 7, Chapter 3 of the online Visual Verse anthology. You can find my poem on page 27 or you can link directly to the poem, entitled ‘Preparatory Sketch’. Also linked to Poets and Storytellers United Writers’ Pantry.
Sky-clad
the new-born arrives wrapped in stormy clouds and waves a precious life the new-born arrives with wrinkles and eyes shut tight an ancient soul wrapped in stormy clouds and waves long-awaited cry stirs a mother’s love a precious life the first part of their journey together Kim M. Russell, 17th January 2020 My response to […]
A Welcome Pause after December Rain
At the window, I watch a sparrow strip berries from the hedgerow. The magpie has ceased its chatter, contemplating things that matter before giving its opinions on the day. And now the sparrow has flown away. Except for a cat that gently purrs, I sit here at my desk alone, my fingers chilled to the […]
Overwintering
in silken safety chrysalises dream of wings awaiting spring sun Kim M. Russell, 16th January 2020 My response to Carpe Diem #1798 New Beginnings: Metamorphosis In today’s episode of New Beginnings, we enter the world of insects and butterflies. The challenge is to write about ‘metamorphosis’.
Queen of Winter
Cailleach, the Celtic winter queen, atop the Cliffs of Moher, her domain the time from Samhainn to Bealltainn, strikes the ground with her frosty staff, freezing the tops of hill and mountain. From her creel drop curious stones carved with magic, the ancient bones of her husbands and her many children, promises of fertile field […]
Shiki’s Persimmon
when I ate a persimmon the bell rang the Horyuji temple Shiki in a grove of sunset fruit the hum of evening prayer Kim M. Russell, 15th January 2020 My response to Carpe Diem’s Tan Renga Wednesday (9): I ate a persimmon It’s Tan Renga Wednesday and our challenge is to […]
Wonderful Alien
Wide-eyed and full of wonder, you hold my hand and guide me through your world. I can only blunder, an ancient alien who has lived here too long to appreciate a single leaf, a muddy pebble or the sun on water. Now I have your eyes to discover the beautiful among the fearful, forget for […]
First Flake of Snow
single snowflake falls sparkling white in the dark night the pale moon shivers Kim M. Russell, 14th January 2020 My response to Carpe Diem #1797 New Beginnings: First Snow Today’s prompt is ‘first snow’”, a classical kigo for winter. Our challenge is to create a classical haiku or tanka. Our examples are from Basho and […]
writing in north norfolk 