Oh, season of hollow darkness and silence! When the blackbird sings before Christmas, she will cry before Candlemas, is how the saying goes; so I forgive the muted blackbird and thank the thrush for singing sweet promises of spring despite threats of frost and snow. Kim M. Russell, 12th January 2019 My response to Imaginary […]
Blackbird on White Snow
fluttering wings one black feather on white snow a shadow takes flight Kim M. Russell, 11th January 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1582 Black Birds (modern kigo) As we continue to explore kigo, words that point towards a season, we are being inspired today by a modern kigo taken from Jane Reichhold’s Dictionary of […]
Words and Feet
We welcomed them eighty years ago from the shadows of the night of broken glass to the streets of Britain and beyond, child refugees, hungry and scared, in need of homes. History should not be allowed to repeat itself; it’s our turn to act, to learn from the past and protect children fleeing conflict and […]
Setsubun
paper wishes fly in a blossom-scented breeze goodbye to winter Kim M. Russell, 10th January 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1581 Setsubun Today we are being inspired with a classical kigo: setsubun, the last day of winter, which features ritualistic chasing of devils out of the house, allowing good luck for the spring (the […]
Winter Moonlight
silver moonlight in a frosty serenade sonata on ice Kim M. Russell, 9th January 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1580 moonlight In a new episode of Carpe Diem’s Haiku Kai, our inspiration is a modern kigo extracted from Jane Reichhold’s Dictionary of Haiku, the online version: moonlight.
On the back of the bathroom door…
hangs the cosiest cardigan, the one I hug to me in the early morning; that embraces me while brewing the first cup of tea; that warms me as I write a chilly January poem; the one that shields me from the sneaky draught that evades the excluder and, unwarmed by the log burner, wraps itself […]
Bonfire
orange flames flicker we are drawn to bonfire heat sparks among the stars Kim M. Russell, 7th January 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1579 bonfire (takibi) This month we’re exploring modern and classical kigo (seasonwords) for winter. Today’s classical kigo is ‘bonfire’ (takibi).
Lonely Magpie
On a never-ending January day, the whole garden drips with silent grief. There are a few sparse, dried-up leaves clinging desperately to the willow, now pollarded and looking sorry for itself. No birds alight on its branches, not even the magpie, which has taken to haunting the silver birch right at the end near the […]
Amaryllis
a naked lady opening her lush petals with scarlet flourish Kim M. Russell, 6th January 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1578 Amaryllis (modern kigo) This month we are exploring classical and modern season words (kigo) for winter. Today’s modern kigo (taken from Jane Reichhold’s Dictionary of Haiku) is amaryllis.
In the Cathedral
I am not a member of an organised religion but I believe I am a spiritual person. Although I don’t attend church, I like to visit them, whether they are small local churches or cathedrals. I love the quiet, the smell of burning candles and incense, and stained glass windows. Many large cathedrals have crypts, […]
writing in north norfolk 