I have started a Haiku Journal, which I will try to post fortnightly (approximately). Every day I jot down the haiku moments of that day – the moments where you feel really close to nature, moments that intake of breath that is a mixture of joy, surprise and wonder.
Many of my haiku moments are experienced visually and are expressed by me through photography rather than words. Journal 8 is devoted entirely to haiku photos. In this case they all relate to walks taken along the beach in Helensburgh during the time of Covid lockdown. One of the things about haiku moments is that … Continue reading Haiku Journal – 8
in tall pine gloom October’s filtering sun forms pools fathoms down Behold the Moon There’s a movement in Tai-Chi called ‘Behold the Moon.’ You slowly turn your torso and extend both arms sideways at an angle of 45% with lower hand palm upwards and upper hand palm downwards. This morning, as I did Tai-Chi on … Continue reading Haiku Journal – 7
Most of my haiku moments occur in nature and the outdoors, but here’s one from an antique shop in Helensburgh: mirrors mirroredmultiple reflectionsfront, back, all angles stray garden moggyattracted by tai chiSettles down to watch fill, lift, float and danceflitting over dark brown beachbright white plastic bag
Garden Pond Autumn is the time of year when flowers and leaves fall into my garden pond. They drift in constantly shifting patterns and juxtapositions of colour – amazingly beautiful natural happenings – each one a haiku moment. standing on the bankI’m sure the river flows South –birds know otherwise
There has always been an unresolved tension in gardening between the extent to which we feel the garden belongs to nature and the extent to which we feel it belongs to us: whether it is an expression of nature or of human artistic aspirations. It is a matter of how much domination and control over … Continue reading Haiku Journal – 4
Most of my haiku moments involve nature. But recently I was watching a recording of the cricket match between England and Pakistan. A young batsman by the name of Zak Crawley was making his début appearance for England. The grace, timing and balance of his flowing stroke-play produced in me the same kind of joy … Continue reading Haiku Journal – 3
The shadow of a berberis bush projected on my upturned kayak. The white hull and the black, angular shadows are like an ancient Chinese ink wash painting.
Week beginning Monday 2nd August: I was doing Tai-chi on the lawn at 6.30 on a fresh sunny morning when a cloud, a flock of birds (which I think were sparrows) rose above a bush, followed its contours, swooped down and then rose again following the outline of the next bush. On the beach when … Continue reading Haiku Journal – 1
