Wednesday 1 January 2014

Just for Fun... New Year's Haiku

Happy New Year! I hope 2014 brings you all everything you need or wish for :-).

In the interests of stretching my creativity, I have decided to include some haiku in my blog every month in 2014. Call it a New Year's Resolution!

Now, I know there are some rules around haiku, but from what I've read it seems that they aren't set in stone.  I understand the lines should flow into one another without stops and starts, although I have read many where this isn't the case. I hope you will forgive me any glaring errors in the form and it would be fabulous if you would like to contribute some haiku yourself in the comment box.

Yesterday, the last day of 2013, my husband and I took advantage of an hour or so's break in the persistent rain we have endured throughout the Christmas period and escaped to the countryside for some air.

Today's experiment is an offering of 5 haiku, inspired by yesterday's walk. (The photos were not taken yesterday, but on a December walk in the same place a couple of years ago.) Thanks for being here and for reading!

A Walk in the Country

Chilled beyond the bone,
bright cheeks, frozen toes and ears,
crisp grass underfoot.

A church spire, lonely,
spied across a furrowed field,
dark clods stiff with frost.

A soup of wet mud,
boots slipping in the scramble
to claim grassy verge.

Determined boxer,
face screwed, eyes wild with delight,
escapes to greet us.

Hot breath on cold air,
pub fire, conversations hum.
Refresh, refuel, thaw.





(The pictures are taken between Dedham and Flatford, the home of John Constable the artist and subject of many of his paintings.)

16 comments:

Dana said...

Lovely photos and haiku! I'm looking forward to reading more. ☺

Wishing you all the best in 2014. Happy New Year!

Melissa Amateis said...

Those were wonderful haikus! I felt like I was on the walk with you.

I hope that your 2014 is fantastic and full of success and love!

Rena said...

Fantastic Haikus and lovely photos. That area looks like mine should, but we haven't had any rain this season (very odd).

Happy New Year!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Very nice. Happy New Year, Linda!

TracyFells said...

I love haikus and these were all terrific. I try to stick to the 5,7,5 format but I don't think it matters! Great photos too. Today has been calm and sunny, but not for long according to BBC Weather...

Suzanne Furness said...

Glad you managed to get out in the fresh air. Love the Haiku.
Happy New Year, Linda.

Libby said...

What a picturesque walk, and what cool haikus. I've only written a couple for a writing conference. I'll see if I can't whip another one out someday... :)

Suze said...

Oh, Linda, I looove the last one on the heels of the ones that came before! Thank you so much for these.

Annalisa Crawford said...

The photos are great, and I love your haiku too. I've never tried to write one - I really HATE rules :-)

Tracy Jo said...

Awesome! I love the haiku and your photos are beautiful. Happy new year!

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Beautiful pictures and poems. I am such a horrid poem writer, so I am awed by you guys who do it well.

Patsy said...

Happy New Year, Linda.

Kyra Lennon said...

Lovely photos!

I can't do poetry in any form, so I'm impressed!

Tonja said...

That's a fun resolution. I think you did great. I love the pictures, especially the last one. It's beautiful there. We had a lot of snow yesterday and brutally cold temps today (9 degrees this morning).

Crystal Collier said...

Ooh! I love them, all of them. You can come paint words for me any day. =)

Happy 2014!

Barry King said...

I love it, a great way to write prose