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.