As if announcing the perfect snow fall that arrived here in the southern Missouri Ozarks last week, a flock of chubby American robins arrived first, to peck among the native grasses in the orchard behind the cabin.
They reminded me of the first time I saw them on the creekside lawns of my previous home. And that reminded me about the simple expressions of joy that haiku poetry can offer. Here are some of my winter haiku, along with art photos taken of the recent snow fall.
*These haiku are written in traditional 5, 7, 5 syllable pattern.
They reminded me of the first time I saw them on the creekside lawns of my previous home. And that reminded me about the simple expressions of joy that haiku poetry can offer. Here are some of my winter haiku, along with art photos taken of the recent snow fall.
*These haiku are written in traditional 5, 7, 5 syllable pattern.
the robins are here!
sturdy and rosy bodies
confident of spring
sturdy and rosy bodies
confident of spring
raspberry pink stains
the snow where small birds have been
feasting not fighting
a thicket of sticks
dotted with red cardinals
sparks a fire of hope
frost outlines the grass
like fine-etchings on frosted glass,
look now - it won't last
globs of water move
through passages under the ice:
finding a way through
crystal pendulums
dangle over the water:
balanced perfection
glowing messengers:
a scatter of yellow rocks
embedded in snow
reckless winter
spilt milk on the rocky bluffs:
who will lap it up?
30 Jan. 2010
smoke from the hot tub
moves through the forest like mist
on a winter's night
31 Jan. 2010
the snow white face of
the earth dimples softly when
the sun touches her
the snow white face of
the earth dimples softly when
the sun touches her
1 Feb. 2010
moon threads herself through
the ribbons of dawn clouds and
falls gently to sleep
moon threads herself through
the ribbons of dawn clouds and
falls gently to sleep
See also February mornings (2009) for more winter poems.
