Three haikus of observation.
Nature’s alchemy
Still a mystery to us all:
(Except scientists).
Lushness of April
Transformed by summer sunshine
Neatly into wheat.
Harvest will be soon-
A bounty from precious Earth,
Awaiting winter
Green to Gold
haiku
Incipient Inspiration?
Today I am free of any commitments, chores or meetings: a day in which I can indulge myself in creative writing. So why do I stare at a blank page, devoid of anything imaginative, provocative or contemplative? This is a universal law which some refer to as Sod’s: that force of Nature that determines an inertia when Time is spread invitingly before us but with an absence of any impetus or motivation to propel us forward.
A stream of consciousness – or unconsciousness in this case – is therefore called for.
**
A congeal of cloud cover
has dispelled thoughts of a walk,
despite the garlanded hedgerows
and lanes of this May day.
A cry for help it seems.
An impassioned plea
to free my mind from a self-imposed stricture
to produce something- anything.
Toying with words is an absurd notion.
Scattering sentences in the hope
that the senses will fill
a vacuous void.
I have previously toyed with this concept
and the more inevitably becomes less.
**
A scatter of words,
Like the seeds spread before birds,
Are soon forgotten.
© Wally Smith 2022
Green Route
This well-trodden track
leads to a cloud-clustered sky,
and whatever else?
Travel is finding
and learning about the world,
and often ourselves.
This path is quite short,
edged by Nature’s greenery,
but one of many.
©Wally Smith 2022
Vigil
The recent storms Dudley and Eunice have left a lot of havoc in their wake with damage to buildings and destruction of property and trees. Apart from very high winds in the part of the country where I live, we escaped much of the horrendous gusts that tore through the south and south west of England. However, it was on a walk this afternoon in my neighbourhood that I came across the sad sight of a young tree uprooted. The picture I took shows a circle of early daffodils as if they are trying to comprehend the catastrophe. It inspired a haiku.
Their totem toppled
They stand in silent vigil
Awaiting Spring’s calm
©Wally Smith 2022
A Dying Art
Finally sunshine and the burnished bronze colour of leaves. Despite the colder weather, the game of tennis this morning was very enjoyable. The sharp breeze provided some interesting shots but it was the same for everyone. The picture inspired another haiku.
The turn of the leaf
Heralds the change of season
Death will bring new life
Pond – Life
Heavy showers this morning turned the garden into a bog and the path into a pond. It seems to have been the same story through the rest of the country. No respite for the next few days, but it’s what we wish for in the dry summer months.
Ponds of rainwater
Reflect the light of the day
The source of all life
Sun Sets an Example
It is still very mild for autumn and I cannot remember a time when the leaves on trees took so long to turn colour. The warmer conditions seem to effect everything from migrating birdlife to plants and ice caps. Golden sunsets appear to be reminding the woodlands to change their appearance.
Gold amongst the grey
Array of autumn colour
As sky shows the way
Tree Oddity
I came across this tree in the parkland of a stately home. The size suggested it was quite old, but the strange thing about it was the shape. It looked as though some giant had twisted it like a piece of toffee. It is almost as though it was frozen whilst in the act of dancing, with its branches twirling around itself like arms.
A twist of nature
Celebration of living
Timeless reminder
Sky View
Very changeable weather just now but staying fairly mild for late October. It’s so nice to get out and about and enjoy the open air and countryside. There is something about clouds that is fascinating; imagining shapes and faces in the ever-changing forms. Almost day dreaming, which is probably why the phrase ‘head in the clouds’ was created.
White milky masses
Tumbling towards horizons
Always changing shape
Greens and Browns
I am visiting my brother at the moment to celebrate his birthday. The weather has been particularly fine and he suggested that he and I go for a game of golf. Although I have played before, I play far too infrequently to provide a good opponent for my brother, as the day proved. However, the sun shone and the leaves that were turning colour with the season appeared far more beautiful to observe than my golf shots. Hence the picture here.
Breeze caresses leaves
Golden atop the soft greens
Where they lie scattered
Wally Smith 