First Haibun

I'm awake late this morning as usual, and I open the blinds to converse with the sun. A sliding glass door keeps me in, but the sunlit view floods into my dining room like an old friend in no need of an invitation. Delighted with the company, I stand and enjoy my good fortune. My full coffee mug warms me, but my bones ache at the sight of the cold beauty in front of me. Everything is just where it was yesterday morning, but today's visitor is unlike any other.

surrounded by wood
frozen and snow-capped in line
nails in a bare deck

Haiku in my Journal

climbing trees with friends
playing king of the forest
young poison ivy

hurry up!
white clouds race across
the blue sky

the red leaf defies
the inevitable fall
clinging to life

loud and indignant
the crow protests my presence
as if I can't hear

Sweet Song

how sweet should he sing?
what lyrics would fill his tune?
little hummingbird

the peering

snow glows all quiet
like the peering of a deer
in the darkish night

Nature Poetry Worth Remembering

The bright moon lights the path
through the gray woods
From the unlit depths of the hollow
comes the soft sound of broken water
A faint brightness
or is it a low cloud
within the eastern sky
The earth is hushed

Harlan Hubbard
from his journal entry for February 2, 1953

The View Through My Railing

snow stacked up neatly
icicles hung in a row
Winter brings order

On My Deck

ice is all abloom
on dead chrysanthemum stalks
Winter is reborn

The fall of Winter

frozen flecks of white
on fallen color swatches
autumnal snowfall

Waxing and Waning

dropping down into
waning colors of sunset
waxing crescent moon

The Shadow's Crow

the crow followed his shadow everywhere
and when his shadow disappeared
the crow sat down and rested

lightning strike
the approaching promise of
summer rain

smell of wild garlic
common blue violets fade
under the twilight

nature neatly trimmed
with everything in its place
sound of a mower

thunder rolls above
sound of rain in the darkness
water runs away

thunderous shower
the rain is smelling louder
on a spring evening

"Killdeer" piercing air
"Follow me" and "Stay away"
diligent parent

food web made more artful
glistening decorations
Argiope spider

motionless rabbit
staring aside with one eye
waiting on dinner

hickory leaves fall
yellow all consumed by brown
eating a Bosc pear