a wandering crow its old nest has become a plum tree © Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold) sprouted from an old fruit stone abandoned in the garden its chicks are long flown hungry yellow mouths are beaks that feed their own scattering coal dust feathers in new nests in other trees a wandering crow observing […]
Kintsugi
Most people like their gardens to be neat and tidy, organised into geometrical flowerbeds and manicured lawns. Any plant that shows signs of running riot is tamed into submission and so-called weeds are relentlessly chopped and ripped out of soil. Not so in our garden. We allow it to grow in its own way, creating […]
Pines – May Tan Renga
wind in the pines swirls upward to heaven whispered prayers © Candy freeze into snowflake crystals icing on fragrant needles Kim M. Russell, 2017 Image found on Pinterest My response to Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge Month 2017 #17 wind in the pines (Candy) Chèvrefeuille has reminded us that Tan Renga Challenge […]
Ascension
shadow silhouette of a bird of prey ascends – my soul leaps and soars above spring-warmed earth heat glows sun-silvered and bird-haunted Kim M. Russell, 2017 Image found on Pinterest My response to Carpe Diem Namasté The Spiritual Way – Ascension In this new episode, Chèvrefeuille challenges us to create haiku, tanka or another Japanese […]
Granddad’s Garden
Confined to house and wireworks walls, he was a caged animal picking tiny nuggets of copper from boot soles like thorns from paws. Every week day, at one for dinner and at five for tea, deep in the fabric of his work clothes and his very being, he carried home the metallic tang of blood […]
Falling Angel
“He’s an angel, not a saint.” – Michael He didn’t ask to be her guardian angel, he didn’t want to fall to earth, he didn’t know it would be so painful to hide his wings and surrender his heart. He pays attention to her every word, tries to stop his feathers rustling like a bird, […]
Battle Royal
Above warm earth where gilt sun glows, a message writ in scrawl of wings, jet black on silver as they rose: a raven and a peregrine. At war with plunges and with throes, two handsome birds beloved by kings; a storm of plumage in the sky marks battle fought for mastery. Kim M. Russell, 2017 […]
A Drop of Dew – May Tan Renga
a drop of dew sits on a rock like a diamond © Kawabata Bosha its sparkles fading slowly in the heat of midday sun Kim M. Russell, 2017 Image found on Pinterest My response to Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge Month 2017 #16 a drop of dew (Bosha) Today’s ‘hokku’ is by a lesser […]
Ancient Road – May Tan Renga
ancient road… the trails of the masters absorbed in fallen leaves © Adjei Agyei-Baah the past clings to naked feet walking in ancestors’ dust Kim M. Russell, 2017 Image found on Getty Images My response to Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge Month 2017 #15 ancient road (Adjei Agyei Baah) Today we have another ‘hokku’ by […]
Going Underground
swept down rain-wet steps at the Broadway shoes slip surfing the crowd going underground Oyster swipes through the […]
writing in north norfolk 