The blackbirds declarethem an unlikely pair:the quince tree with herhunchback of a trunkand gnarly branchesand the ivy-covered plum,all winter silhouetted againsta cloudy sky. Now blossomcrowns them with haloes of whiteblessed with spring sunlight. Kim M. Russell, 31st March 2021 My response to Poets and Storytellers United Weekly Scribblings #63: Trees Rommy says that one of […]
Tag: Trees
North Norfolk Trees
They cling to flat horizonsonly to be bent and wizened by the north wind’s blastthat steams in from the coast. It sculpts them into humps and twiststhat loom from drifting sea mists as giants, witches and hobgoblins,wild animals and dragons. Here and there they come together,huddling against the weather, hedgerows, small woods, copsesand swathes of […]
Topiary
Trees whisper wintry secrets in the bare bones of their topiary, rubbing limbs with knurly suppleness, embracing silhouettes in their lacy canopy, growing side by side, content in their long marriage of species, a symphony of bark and knots, of sap and long-awaited buds. Kim M. Russell, 8th February 2021 My response to dVerse Poets […]
Do you name your trees?
Late afternoon sunlight blinkslike my gold molar when I laugh. It jokes among the honeysuckle leavesthat hug the cherry tree. They are mapped with age spots and veins,frustrated at their fading. On the third shelf up,surrounded by fiction books and poetry, the photograph of my mother as a little girlstares from a frame made of […]
Writing on the Pavement
On 2nd April I posted a poem called ‘Writing on the Wall’. This morning on Twitter, I saw photographs of something that’s happening around London: someone is writing the names and descriptions of trees below them in chalk. Now that’s what I call poetry!
Poetry Pea Podcast: Trees
Patricia has kindly included two of my haiku in the latest Poetry Pea Podcast Series 2 Episode 14: Trees. There are some stunning tree haiku from around the world, and Patricia reads them beautifully. You can listen to the podcast as well as read the notes to accompany it on the Poetry Pea website.
Ghazal of Trees
I marvel at the strength and grace of the green sinewy limbs of trees. There’s a frisson of surprise and joy when a flock of birds explodes from trees. I’m hypnotised by the dance of shadow and light when evening thrills through trees. My imagination takes flight when I see silhouettes of storm-blasted trees. I […]
House of Trees
Many branches have been lost. Storm scars heal and leaves rain. Strong-standing trees twinkle with sunlight again, billowing autumn with colourful drifts and crunch of acorns underfoot. In the heart of oaken breasts, squirrels busily stock their nests, warm and winter ready. We too have taken stock: logs are stacked and kindling’s chopped; soon there […]
Phoenix Trees
(to be read from the roots up) into a fresh spring breeze. pump pollen and on bare branches wriggle will catkins and new green leaves Soon roots and shoots. branches, slender resilient and stubborn spread storm, by a over bowled toppled, having trunks, Crumbling Kim M. Russell, 2017 Jennifer Vranes – “New Beginnings” My response […]
Leafless
bashful branches hide bare behind a shroud of mist cold comfort © Kim M. Russell, 2016 My response to Carpe Diem #1069 leafless trees This is the last episode of our tribute to Jane month, which concludes with the last modern kigo of winter from Jane’s “A Dictionary of Haiku”. Today ‘leafless trees’ is the prompt, for […]
