a haiku year                                                             John Bailey      

 

Autumn

against a black cloud
yellow leaves
catch the sun

among playing squirrels
one stands still
what has he seen?

cat stalks sparrow -
only his tail
is angry

clouds move fast
how dark! how light! --
moon rise

dandelion seeds
float away -
time's up!

dry paper seed heads
rain filled sky
-- hedgerow harvest

early morning
frosty dew
a spider web shines

falling leaves
hide the path
so quietly

fat grey goose
fat grey poet --
both reflecting idly

first geese flying southwards
come back!
come back!

foolish poet
sweeps his path --
contented smile

from the rowan tree
one leaf falls --
trail blazing

heavy moon
silver trees --
listen!

in the breeze
slatted blinds
rat-a-tat!

in the darkening garden
piano music
plays to shadows

in the evening
cool air
whispers autumn

in the gloaming
one white owl flies
on silent wings

in the morning mist
a seagull on the high pole
coughs

in the stream
one large stone
diverts floating leaves

in the sunset
grazing sheep
stand in mist

moor mist flows downhill
lonely pine breaks the tide --
no one sees

night silence -
only streetlamps
buzz

old grey poet
kicks dry leaves --
what fun!

old poet plays with words
pick pock
clock ticks on

on the other bank
loud voices -
how insensitive!

on the window pane
one stray leaf
waits for wind

over the still pond
late midges
dance a shorter day

racing up the slope
red deer stir the wind --
the bracken closes

standing in the stream
the heron
is only fishing

straw bales pile high
on farmer's trailer --
loose strands in the slipstream

sunny garden
leaves not falling
today

tired caterpillar
spins silken coat
in the spring, a butterfly!

village street
sweet apple logs
smoke again

wary squirrel stops
how still!
how quiet!

weather map shows
northern frosts --
grasshoppers sing on regardless

 

Somerset 2001

 

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