Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Lonesome Crow's Lament




A lone crow settles
on the arched limb
of my silver birch.

He scans the sky,
then swoops to feast
on scraps and seeds.

I watch him sidestep
along the garden table,
peck at a crust
rise into the dusk
leaving behind
a single black feather.

I watch him roost
in the Scots Pine,
shelter for the night
from the numbing cold
of this bleak winter’s day.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Visiting my father on 16 December

photo with dad
his panic button goes off
excitement


photo with dad
his face
in mine


Trip to Cork haiku 15 December 2011

snow cascades mountains
pine forests circle
bracken hills

ragged hedgerows
along shredded fields --
winter's day

mistletoe on trees --
too cold
for kissing

wind blown meadows --
the twisted branches
of winter


snow peaks --
the clear blue
of winter skies


pain in his chest --
I inhale deeply
in response

Saturday, December 10, 2011

snail haiku again

pruning ivy
sucked to the wall
a snail dynasty

frosty sunrise haiku

winter frost
tangerine flames blaze
a citrus dawn


frost carpets the land
candy stripe ribbons
flame the dawn


winter sunrise
orange blaze burns
a frozen day





Friday, December 9, 2011

Winter haiku

winter squall
a dried hydrangea head
rolling gardens lost

through the window
in my bathroom
winter gales


winter pruning
clinging to the wall
a snail family