6 June 2024 (blue flag irises)

blue flag irises

bend to the water

bend to the waterlilies

13 August 2021 (stream)

trailside stream

coolness lingers

on the back of my neck

1 August 2020 (damselflies)

mating damselflies

the teenager can’t resist

a wisecrack

August 13: Frog pond

water lilies
we don’t notice at first
all the frogs

July 25: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

I spent today leading a haiku workshop at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. We spent much of the afternoon out in the gardens being inspired to write haiku by the landscape and what's living in it. Here are some of mine that arose from today's activities, including some directed exercises:

slow down, ants
you're making me
anxious

stone labyrinth
those ants
aren't staying on the path

water lilies
even the dragonflies
seem entranced

bowing low
to smell the roses
haiku nose

December 17: Gardens Aglow

Trees strung with Christmas lights

illuminating in snow

the small tracks of voles.

October 7: Painted Ladies

Afternoon spent trying

to glimpse the undersides

of Painted Ladies

July 11: Haiku Workshop

Today I taught a day-long workshop on haiku at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. I was so grateful to have such a responsive group of students, open to paying attention, being creative, and sharing their poems. And we couldn't have asked for a better setting for a (partially) plein air class. The gardens are an endlessly inspiring landscape for the arts.

 

In the Five Senses Garden

 

A few of my in-the-moment jottings from our writing exercises out and about in the gardens:

 

(Five Senses Garden)

 

Stopping to touch

the black stone rabbit

warmed by sun.

 

Above the lily pond

black-and-white dragonflies

coordinate with her kimono.

 

Construction noise--

the dragonflies

go about their business.

 

(Children's Garden)

 

Rooted in mud

the yellow waterlily

seems to me perfect.

 

Junco visits our table

hoping for crumbs.

All I have are words.

 

Finding a small patch

of old-man's-whiskers

in the children's garden.

 

(Vayo Meditation Garden)

 

Purple love grass.

If only my life

could be so exciting.

 

Warbler still singing

in heat of the day.

Hay-scented ferns.

 

Alliums gone by

 

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November 17: Gardens Aglow!

After sunset's flare,

holding court above the lights--

supernal Venus.

 

 

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October 14: Meditation garden

Upon reflection

it all becomes clear:

pathos of floating fall leaves.

 

 

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August 2: Thinking of Basho

One of the classic haiku poet Basho's most famous poems:

 

old pond--

frog jumps in

splashing sound

 

Here's my response, after spending the day at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens admiring the water lilies (and many frogs) in the small ponds they've crafted there:

 

shallow garden pond--

enough lily pads

to hold up all the frogs

 

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