On the water - August 19, 2023 Kent County

square photo of long stem creek plants with platter-sized green leaves in heart shape

Green heart of the creek
Every year turns sun to air
We breathe it deeply

square photo of toppled tree showing bleached roots at side of creek

Old tree now laid low
Still greets everyone passing by
August noon again

square photo of creek plants with large floating leaves and a single yellow bloom sticking above the waterline waiting to open

Yellow pond lily
The creek's bright badge of August
Sings a warm solo

square photo of white waterlily surrounded by large lilypads on dark creek

Water lily white
Makes turtle lilypad bright
Kerplop! Dives in

square photo of yellow kayak in front and cameraman's matching yellow bow in foreground on dark creek in bright afternoon sun

Happy paddlers we
Traveling the cool creek free
This bright August noon

creekside wooden dock on floats to rise or fall with water levels

Worn wood up and down
Hugs the creek in rain or drought
Awaiting boaters

kayaker reflection on dark creek with part of yellow kayak and bright red lifejacket visible

Mirrored on the creek
Quiet paddle strokes, drip drop
Gliding through August

Rustling cattails wave

While drifting in the current

The kayak passes

Noon Wabasis creek

Clear water moves through August

Wind on the wetlands

Comments

Defining "Photo Haiku," reflecting on " 写真俳句

https://shashin-haiku.org [added purple text] The webpage about "what is a photo haiku" stirs thoughts about some of the issues and considerations when putting visual and verbal layers together. The joining of word and picture is known in Japan by various references to the 5-7-5 structured image poems; for example, shahai , haisha , photo haiku, photo 575, and so on. The example in this screenshot from the webpage at https://shashin-haiku.org/写真俳句とは has a mother and child peering at the myriad koi (carp) filling a shady spot in a channel of moving water. One way to put the verse into English is: Mama and child / A moment at the streamside / Shining so brightly. Some people begin with their text and then seek a photo that relates somehow to the verbal "snapshot," either closely fitting the haiku, or more loosely associated with the feelings carried in the words. Others will see something that catches their eye for some reason and then later they come up with a ...

Between fall and winter's first hints

Visual haiku from October 6 to ice in birdbath 23 October 2023 Wet October bright Morning wetland colors true Shine in the cloudbreaks Too weary just now The cart can rest in the sun Mind preoccupied Leaves fall stiffly down The wet cement later dries Leaving time's traces Bodhisattva head Fluid essence now made hard Far from East Asia Fresh asphalt and paint Make riding such great pleasure Rolling through the days Racing morning clouds Fly over bright fall treetops Birds watch day breaking One tree so vivid Announcing cold days to come More colors ahead Myriad pond life Diverse microbiota Thrive in quiet rot Living roots' power Push through petroleum crust Thirsting for sunshine Fall color and sculpture Bathe in October sunshine Winter days coming White contrail above Streaks over the fall colors Apples bob below Dappling on green leaves Maples soon red flames to be The nights grow colder Glittering fall light Makes leaves of maple so bright Pushing winter back Pathway statue...

Mild February feels like March

Snow shovel at rest Winter takes a break these days Rising global heat Shaggy frost on stone Fades in the spring-like morning Comes again tonight A lone pine needle Bears the heavy frost for now Knowing it soon melts Winter sumac bows With frost its furry blanket Thinking of spring days Capped in copper frost No need to light the pathway Morning light is fine Gliding under ice Open water for breathing Chilly scales and tails Unmoving boulder Feels winter breaking a little Pines stand ever green Sun-bleached railings stand Zig-zagging across the pond Sumac on one side Boat landing frozen Eight or nine weeks yet to go Before it arrives Flutter in mild breeze February feels like March But winter stays still No baseball today It's still winter after all Teams come in two months Wetland boardwalk bright Buzzing drone high overhead Sees the baseball fields

Picturing Haiku

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