She stood weeping at the cross- roads, a delicate English rose, torn by the thorns of a troubled life, seeking balm in the bubble of a fragrant garden and the answer to the age-old dilemma, the decision we all have to make: which path should I take? Kim M. Russell, 1st February 2019 My response […]
Morning Tea
for his morning tea a monk sits down in utter silence- confronted by chrysanthemums Matsuo Basho (Tr. unknown) in fragrant steam from a bowl rise flower globes of sunshine Kim M. Russell, 1st February 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1597 Tan Renga Challenge Month February 2019 […]
Like Marilyn
In those old photographs, I see a teenager, pale and lacking confidence, happy to allow mother or sister-in-law to take over for a while, united in womanhood, your blonde hair curled around your face, like Marilyn’s. I arrived too soon. The sparkle of the glamorous life you hoped for faded into monochrome. You grew up […]
Woken by Birdsong
This morning I was woken by the sound of birdsong, a faint and distant tiny tin whistle of a song, as I lay in the cosy comfort of my warm bed and contemplated getting up and whistling along. Pulling a woolly sweater over my tousled head, I stepped outside, where a two-toned light began to […]
Darkness of Childhood
Darkness is the murk where a monster lurks and the gulp of sky in the depths of night when no stars glisten and no moon listens to the hoot of an owl or a wild wolf’s howl. Darkness is the smother beneath the covers when you get it in your head something’s under the bed […]
Black Forest
white snow fades to grey night smothers remains of day in black forest pines Kim M. Russell, 31st January 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1596 Black Forest In the final episode of January 2019, in which we have explored classical and modern kigo (season words) for winter, we I have a modern kigo taken […]
Unfettered
Snowdrops bring (de) light to the darkest, coldest months of winter: one day, tentatively poking green heads through hard soil; the next, trickling into a snowdrift of white flowers, gentle harbingers of unfettered reproduction and the joyous riot of spring. Kim M. Russell, 29th January 2019 My response to dVerse Poets Pub Poetics: Harbinger, also […]
Hawk
the hawk’s glissando silenced by fresh snow at dusk run home little mouse Kim M. Russell, 29th January 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1595 hawk (taka) In the penultimate episode of January 2019, in which we’ve been exploring kigo (season words) for winter, we have a classical kigo to work with, which has been […]
Cliffs
sea spray the cliff laced by crystal gulls swirl – a grey thundercloud […]
Tea this Afternoon
Fill the kettle, click the switch. take the mug (with the words: ‘Some people make the world more special just by being in it’), and steep a lemon, ginger and manuka honey teabag in boiling water. Don’t sip yet, just breathe its aromatic hug. Kim M. Russell, 28th January 2019 My response to dVerse Poets […]
writing in north norfolk 