in the suddenness of a November downpour he offers rainbows kisses and sanctuary dry under his umbrella © Kim M. Russell, 2016 Image found on Pinterest My response to Carpe Diem Tanka Splendor #3 rain I’m enjoying this Sunday morning catch-up! I’ve got to day three of Tanka Splendour and the topic is so fitting – […]
Smoke and Breath
smoke curls from chimneys mingling with smouldering leaves and nebulous breath © Kim M. Russell, 2016 Image found on Pinterest My response to Carpe Diem Universal Jane #5 autumn scenes In this week’s Universal Jane, a special feature as a tribute to Jane Reichhold, Chèvrefeuille has shared some of her autumn haiku for inspiration: October beach […]
Sea Roving Mist
rolling off shore misty banks of white tendrils soggy white fingers lure with promise of treasure disguised as an autumn day © Kim M. Russell, 2016 My response to Carpe Diem Tanka Splendor #2 Mist I’m just catching up with the second day of Ten Tanka Writing Techniques by Teika, in which Chèvrefeuille has challenged us […]
Heron at Twilight
lens of fading light freezes sky-borne silhouette a pterodactyl serrated shadowy wings trailing heron’s gangly legs © Kim M. Russell, 2016 Image found on Pinterest My response to Carpe Diem Special Japanese Poetry In The Lowlands #1 Jeanine Hoedemakers’ This month Chèvrefeuille is introducing us to Dutch haiku poets and the first episode is about Jeanine Hoedemakers, […]
Single Black Feather
among high branches at the end of the garden silhouettes of crows a single black feather falls in kaleidoscope of leaves © Kim M. Russell, 2016 Image found on Pinterest My response to Carpe Diem Tanka Splendor #1 Teika’s first of Ten Tanka Writing Techniques “Mystery and Depth” I have arrived super late to the first […]
Robin Song
On bleak mornings in November, when birdsong is muted and rare, the robin is the only bird that sings throughout the year. In the bleak gloom of winter, more wistful than in spring, a robin’s song is ‘wildly tender’ – Emily Bronte wasn’t wrong. © Kim M. Russell, 2016 My response to dVerse Poets Pub Open […]
The Keeper of Time
I know that this is a little late for Halloween but I only just found out that it was unsuccessful in a short story competition, so I thought I’d post it now. She had been walking for just over an hour. Her thighs burned and her calves ached. Blisters had erupted on the little toe […]
Whispering Walls at Dragon Hall
I am named after a dragon carved on one of my rafters in fourteen twenty seven. I started life proud and tall, born from a thousand English oaks as a medieval trading hall. I was a shop, warehouse and meeting place for wealthy traders of wines and spices, worsted cloth and pottery, conjuring money in their finery. […]
Spanning Centuries
My name is Charles Bridge. I was conceived and born in 1357. I have survived floods and seen many changes, wars and revolution. I live in the centre of Prague. During the day, I am entertained by the musicians and pedlars that attract tourists and citizens whose footsteps wear and smooth my stone on their […]
After the Clocks Go Back
Shadows spill into living rooms; at four o’clock, car headlights blaze, terrace windows glow and televisions flicker. The trees know: their sap retreats, they shed their leaves, drops of colour pooling where they stand, swirls of colour blowing in the wind. Every afternoon, well before three, I pull on hat, gloves and Wellington greens for […]