spring thunder:
a lily pad trembles
... amidst liquid clouds


a frog jumps:
startled koi
scurry in the shallows


for the Showcase Haiku Haijin, Sketchbook, March/April 2012 issue



dragonfly summer:
shards of colour
flit across the pond

chosen as part of Editor John Daleiden's choices as well as part of Guest Editor Bernard Gieske's choices from the "pond life" haiku thread, Sketchbook March/April 2012 issue.


Image taken from 123rf.com

following the footsteps
of the spring breeze --
scattered petals


Asahi Shimbun (20 April 2012 issue)

spring storm:
a large raindrop
scatters the tadpoles ...

for the March 2012 "Spring" kigo Shiki Monthly Kukai


daybreak !
still reflecting on
what could have been ...

for the March 2012 "Dream / Reverie" free format theme Shiki Monthly Kukai

dragonfly summer:
shards of colour
flit across the pond

sunbathing:
a stack of turtles
keels over!

a waterstrider
and its image
waltz in unison

after the storm:
... a koi fish peeks
from behind a lily pad

for the Sketchbook Mar/Apr 2012 "pond life" haiku thread

the daffodil
nods at its reflection—
waters of spring

First place in the "waters of spring" kukai, Sketchbook Jan/Feb 2012


purple cascade
rivulets of violets:
waters of spring

Also, for the "waters of spring" kukai, Sketchbook Jan/Feb 2012

Image from http://www.somethingaboutclairey.co.uk

The promise of Spring .....

I just thought I would post one of my favourite German poems on Spring and the hope it inspires:

Frühlingsglaube

Die linden Lüfte sind erwacht,
Sie säuseln und wehen Tag und Nacht,
Sie schaffen an allen Enden.
O frischer Duft, o neuer Klang!
Nun, armes Herze, sei nicht bang!
Nun muss sich alles, alles wenden.

Die Welt wird schönermit jedem Tag,
Man weiß nicht, was noch werden mag,
Das Blühen will nicht enden.
Es blüht das fernste, tiefste Tal:
Nun, armes Herz, vergiss der Qual!
Nun muss sich alles, alles wenden.

-- von Ludwig Uhland


Here's the English translation by Hyde Flippo:

The gentle winds are awakened,
They murmur and waft
day and night,
They create in every corner.
Oh fresh scent, oh new sound!
Now, poor dear [heart], fear not!
Now everything, everything must change.

The world becomes more beautiful
with each day,
One does not know
what may yet happen,
The blooming doesn't want to end.
The farthest, deepest valley blooms:
Now, poor dear, forget the pain!
Now everything, everything must change.

lingering cold:
she paints the flame
a brighter yellow !

the answering machine
yet again:
... lingering cold

for the Shiki Monthly Kukai Feb 2012

blackout:
suddenly we see
a shooting star !

meteor shower:
I try to wish away
the clouds overhead

for the Shiki Monthly Kukai Feb 2012