Dad was surrounded all his life by sisters, mother, daughters and a wife; I never saw up close the bond between a father and son. I often wondered how Dad would have been if he’d had a son to kick a ball about, swing a bat at cricket, to rough and tumble play-fight. I tried […]
Swimming
caress of water rippling and trickling on skin the play of sunlight Kim M. Russell, 15th June 2018 My response to Carpe Diem #1454 swimming (oyogi) Today our kigo is swimming (oyogi).
What is the Essence of a Cat?
Is it a purr or the brush of fur against a human cheek? Is it the curl of a curious tail or the tongue that licks it sleek? Is it a velvet paw, the kneading of sharp claws or a pleading squeak? Is it the surprise of a pair of jade or amber eyes and […]
Of Age and Cherry Trees
inside the temple visitors cannot know cherries are blooming their ephemeral flowers blushing like youthful geisha the old woman a cherry tree blooming in old age is something to remember branches laden with blossom trembling in a brisk spring breeze what a sprout a dewdrop seeps down the nodes of generations of bamboo youthful innocence […]
Suzushi
beneath a willow breeze-blown shadows elongate a pattern of leaves Kim M. Russell, 14th June 2018 My response to Carpe Diem #1452 cool (suzushi) Another classical summer kigo: cool (suzushi)m which is normally used as a kigo for the summer evening in Japan.
Dripping
buttercup meadow single drop of spring water evaporating Kim M. Russell, 14th June 2018 My response to Carpe Diem #1453 dripping (spring-water) (shitatari) Throughout June we are exploring the beauty of the classical kigo as used in Japanese poetry and today’s kigo has been taken from the Saijiki division summer, sub-division Earth: dripping (spring-water)(shitatari).
Nature Always Finds a Way
In the hedgerow, a robin spills its joy at weeds and wildflowers unfurling and greening cracks in the pavement, graveyards and verges. It cocks its head and blinks its eye at a trembling of finches in the sky with flashes of yellow and bursts of twittering. Nature always finds a way: midsummer’s insects are only […]
Wild Bird Tamed
When I was a teenager, I felt that I was caged by my parents, by school and by petty rules of society: wear suitable clothes, don’t smoke, don’t drink, be home by ten, that sort of thing. I rebelled, escaped from the cage and did my own thing. Later, I felt trapped by responsibility: earning […]
Waka Kaede
birthed in green and gold maple leaves burst into flame samaras spread wings Kim M. Russell, 11th June 2018 My response to Carpe Diem #1451 young maple-leaves (waka kaede) Today we have another summer kigo from the sub-division ‘plants’: maple-leaves (waka kaeda). *A samara is a type of fruit in which a flattened wing of fibrous, papery […]
Moonflower
pale moonflower blooms potent with fragrant pollen a fluttering moth Kim M. Russell, 10th June 2018 My response to Carpe Diem #1450 Moonflower (yuugao) For today’s prompt we have another classical summer kigo, taken from the sub-division ‘plants’: moonflower (yuugao). Chèvrefeuille has shared a few example haiku by Basho (including the first haiku he wrote […]
writing in north norfolk 