Winter Haiku

Wintering Waders, A Haiku Trio

Resting weary wings

On Exe and Clyst confluence

Fresh and salty meet

~~~

Beware the buzzard

In the reserve of marshland

Safety in numbers

~~~

Wintering waders

Gather strength for long haul flight

Global migration

Marsh

This post was inspired by a visit to Green Mackenzie. Although Seonaid focussed on the cold night, she made me think about writing some wintery haiku. I’m a long way south of Seonaid and winter has only just begun, so this photo was taken last January at Bowling Green Marsh, a nature reserve and resting place for migratory birds.  You can click for a bigger view,  I was too far away to get a clear shot, but I believe these are mostly Dunlin, Godwit and Oystercatchers. The estuary is known for its Avocets, the symbol of the RSPB.

If you don’t know Seonaid, I know you’ll find peace and inspiration here.

http://breathofgreenair.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/one-light/

Madiba

To Madiba

From small steps in Xhosa land

You made strides around the world

Who could fail to love you

You led so many by the hand

Rolihlahla  without you the world would  be a different place

We are blessed and thankful

For the kind of trouble that you made

Because Great Father, you saved an entire  race.

South Africa, South Africa he still holds you in his arms

His longest walk is over now and he is safe from harm

Mvezo, your greatest son has passed

But his spirit will ever last.

Heaven has called you to freedom

Rest well now Madiba

Weekly Writing Challenge: Haiku Catchoo Friday

And day five, I’ve made it to the end of the challenge. To be honest I’ve really enjoyed it and I think I’m getting addicted! Here is my last attempt.

haiku 2

Future Swathe

Surrounded by vine

seat bound and tightly entwined

 overwhelming growth

You can do all five days in one if you want! http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/challenge-haiku/

 

Weekly Writing Challenge: Haiku Catchoo Thursday

And as I’m a lazy poet on Thursdays – and every other day, it’s two in one!

haiku 4

Fern

Shelter in its shade

ancient and mysterious

grand Dicksonia.

Micro Climate

Dark pinnated fronds

pride of Devon’s gardeners

make yourselves at home.

This is day four of the Daily Post’s challenge but there’s still time,

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/challenge-haiku/

Weekly Writing Challenge: Haiku Catchoo Wednesday

Day three of the five day Haiku challenge from Krista at the Daily Post. Here is the photo I used for inspiration.haiku5

Next Generation

Red heart full of seeds

burst spread your bounty and then

disintegrate

There’s still time to join in because you can post five days in one if you like!

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/challenge-haiku/comment-page-3/#comment-271080

Weekly Writing Challenge: Haiku Catchoo

Krista over at The Daily Post says,

‘Your challenge, should you choose to accept it

In the words of Ray Bradbury, “Just write every day of your life…”. Your mission is to write five haikus — one for each of the five days leading up to this Friday when we will choose some entries and feature them on Freshly Pressed.

Of course, you can modify this challenge to suit your needs — you can write two haikus one day and three the next, or five all in one day, or one haiku every day from today through Friday — the choice is entirely up to you. If haikus don’t inspire you, you’re welcome to write a paragraph of prose instead. As always, the challenges are meant to be malleable so that they suit your needs.

While traditional haikus tend to focus on things found in nature — anything goes for this haiku challenge. You can write haikus about your dog, your house, your cat, your great aunt Tilly — anything that captures your muse. The object is to try a new form and put some variety into your writing projects.’

I really like this challenge. As some of you know I regularly write a Lazy Poets Haiku, Tanka or poem on Thursdays and I always use one of my own photos as inspiration. I really am a lazy poet, an undisciplined dabbler, so the Japanese short forms really appeal to me. From now until Friday I will attempt to match a haiku to a photo, here is day one.

haiku 1

Tutu’d white ladies

will you dance in the forest

glowing pas de deux

To join in or read some more polished work, http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/challenge-haiku/