All Hallows Eve

first frost

sun’s fingers stretch through
barren trees etching these fine
filigrees of frost
_______

the trees’ shadows shield
the sun’s warm wash etching these
filigrees of frost

I love seeing the patterns the sun creates when it rises upon a frosty morning. Some of the lines where the sun has melted away the frost can be quite sharp and detailed-at least for a while. The sun always has its way in the end, and thank God for that.

I wrote the second haiku to more accurately try to reflect the actual process of etching. The first is a bit more of a metaphorical conceit. It all began with the word frost, which is quite evocative in and of itself. And then came the wonderful “filigree.” Then a little personification for the first haiku and some internet research for the second-and we were in business.

There you go, just in case, you know, you were ever curious about my haiku writing process though I don’t always start at the end.

cold

cold fills the contours
of the city like water
in old block basements

cold like a late guest
comes through the unlocked door and
coughs for attention

Autumn Night

Leaves of Grass

Perfect Day

Carving

the years gather thick

the years gather thick
like bright leaves settling, pressed
into a dark loam

Leaf

If you click on the thumbnail, you will get a decent screensaver size.

Beauty in the Dying