withered and brown clinging to a sappy twig last leaf on the tree Kim M. Russell, 17th January 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1586 withered leaves ‘Withered leaves’ is the modern kigo for today and it’s been taken from Jane Reichhold’s Dictionary of Haiku, section: winter, subsection: plants. We also have example haiku from […]
Icicles
naked branches spangled with light and music tinkling icicles Kim M. Russell, 16th January 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1585 icicles (tsurara) In today’s episode, we have a classical kigo for late winter: Icicles (tsurara), and two example haiku: yûkaze ya yashiro no tsurara hi no utsuru night wind — the shrine’s icicles reflect […]
A Need to Know Basis
You need to know, I have a fragile muse fashioned from Venetian glass, blown out and close to shattering. Despite that, we climb aboard a gondola and enter the shadow of the Bridge of Sighs, sighing and shivering from the sudden chill. But Venice has its own poetry. The city knows which form to use […]
Full Circle
winter dawn sounds of blowing snow sleeping birds bare branches bough with the weight […]
How Strange the Change
How strange is the change from those heavy gunmetal days that fall in the cracks between Christmas and New Year? How sweet the shift of chord from minor to major as mornings become lighter strewn with white and purple crocuses and a blackbird’s song! Kim M. Russell, 14th January 2019 My response to dVerse Poets […]
Winter Seclusion
voices are dispersed with a flurry of snowflakes silence is resumed Kim M. Russell, 13th January 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1583 winter seclusion (fuyugomori) Today’s classical kigo is ‘winter seclusion) (fuyugomori).
Apple Blossoms
branches fracture sun in spilling apple blossoms the valley awakes branches fracture sun awash with shiny spangles early morning dew in spilling apple blossoms a bumblebee cavorts with pollen’s sweetness the valley awakes a flood of pastel petals welcoming the day branches fracture sun they finger-paint the dawn sky with smudges of cloud awash with […]
A Hollow Season
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 […]
writing in north norfolk 