A Year in Haiku...

...on my country estate.

Composed in my head at the time and on the spot, these can be seen as an alternative to camera snapshots, hopefully involving more senses than sight. The 'traditional' form of three lines of 5,7 and 5 syllables is used here, and while composing I would count them out on my fingers. Recently I've read of a 'better' way to do this (i.e. more in tune with how Japanese haiku are set out), which is two have three lines of 2,3 and 2 stresses, which tends to give 12 syllables or so. For example the second verse here could be set out as 

setting sun

lights larch tops - 

absent thrushes

but it's too late now!

Given their genesis, both nature and the seasons feature strongly, and I have also kept the idea of a 'cut' to "implicitly contrast and compare two events, images or situations", as Wikipedia puts it.

cold north wind, brittle sun -

bullfinches in the hedgerows

of muted colours

fire in the larch tops

kindled by the setting sun -

few winter thrushes

distant hills and shores

no sails on the shining sea -

gleaming green ivy

wind in fir needles -

boots crunch on dead leaves and trip

on clinging brambles

celandine hedges

windy buzzards wheel and cry -

dreams of sunny spain

eager chaffinches

grey slate red tile pink blossom -

an upturned canoe

the first celandines

cower beneath cool grey clouds -

rain on yellow gorse

woodpile, trapped queen wasps

waiting patiently for light -

gone in seconds, hup!

the sunshine of spring

lilac leaves, blackthorn blossom -

cool clear dappled hills

high sun forty greens

blackcaps singing windy trees -

apple blossom storm

mid may, ocean air

days rain, swollen streams -

breaking hawthorn blossom

blue haze beech green wind

from the butterscotch valley -

distant picnic sounds

buzzard leads the way

tree dimmed track, shower dimmed trees -

older by a year

orion fading

nail paring moon in turquoise

bird sounds - bike wheel song

warm woods ears alert

for garden and wood warblers -

at butterfly speed

after morning rain

scudding clouds muted birdsong -

trumpets of the sun

late august my feet

are cool in plastic sandals -

go and find some socks!

gazing at the sea

like fulmars over green fields -

fish out of water.

in between the tent

and the smoking brazier

summer leaves glow green

in the august woods

looking for fritillaries -

rocky stream below

alone, out of sight

i can wear my hat backwards -

sunshine and showers

blackberry autumn
birds talking of africa -
the smell of night rain

golden treetop wind
draws up the damp stick day fire -
quiet acorn plop

glenarm thick with sloes -
flames of grey cloud going north
a hard rain easing.

hawk call, wild water.
signs of nature on the run -
i have no towel!

after the tempest
hydrangea heads in the pond -
sweet sweet feverfew