|
autumn sunset . . . perched among the last leaves the restless crow Surely this autumn crow, shared by Bruce Ross in his 1994 chapbook among floating duckweed, is meant to counter Basho’s famous crow: on a withered branch / a crow has settled / autumn evening (translation by David Landis Barnhill). Rather than the bleak, still scene depicted in Basho’s haiku, in Ross’s haiku the almost-bare branches are backlit by the colors of sunset. The “settled” crow has become “restless,” implying pent-up energy and motion. Ross shares a different kind of autumn haiku moment, one that reminds us that the year’s end can be a time of inspiration, when we can see the leafless trees as bleak and bereft, or as hauntingly beautiful. And it’s the space around their empty branches, the visual white space offered by snow and ice, that opens now to give us the room we might need to breath, expand, and create. The haiku in this issue capture beautifully this spectrum of moods and tones that we find in the autumn and winter seasons, from the motion inherent in the migration of birds and butterflies, to the wind’s chilly chaos; from frosts and owls calling in the dark, to the stillness of snowfall, “days of seclusion” and “meditative walk[s].” These are moments in which the interplay of light and darkness takes on new significance, in which our very breath manifests in the cold. We settle and turn inward now, like a hibernating wood frog frozen till spring, and/or we “give the snow globe another shake” and indulge our restless spirit, turning outward to “the vixen’s bark” and the clarity of winter stars. May our readers find some inner fuel for getting through this challenging time of year—and this challenging time in human history—in the depth and emotional resonance of the haiku shared here. Kristen Lindquist Maine, USA, December 2025 tumbleweed claiming the empty dunes . . . solitude Wanda Amos, Australia a girlish twirl in her tail long-legged bobcat Cynthia Anderson, USA autumn wind flights of starlings follow the virga labyrinth walk with each turn a changing leaf Marilyn Ashbaugh, USA meditative walk the fallen leaves swirl around my feet فکر انگیز واک گرے ہوئے پتے گھومتے ہیں میرے پاؤں کے ارد گرد Hifsa Ashraf, Pakistan winter hour the long breath of darkness Joanna Ashwell, UK courting a shard of sunlight winter willow Gavin Austin, Australia Strings of jasmine my mother's crumpled aanchal rests on dad’s shoulder *aanchal: The loose end or pallu of a sari that drapes over the shoulder Laila B, USA persimmons slicing winterlight Michael Battisto, USA yellow-rumped warblers in a little waterfall – gifts of migration Jane Beal, USA alpine winds the soft timbre of fresh snow Mona Bedi, India warm spell I give the snow globe another shake Millicent Bee, USA dark early . . . delicata crescents roasting in the oven Brad Bennett, USA first snowfall my niece’s laughter today’s blessing première neige le rire de ma nièce la grâce du jour Maxianne Berger, Canada Salish sea— his long prayer from the death row Shiva Bhusal, USA/Nepal harvest dust settling on now fallow fields fallen leaves muffle a spring peeper's fall echo Sally Biggar, USA upland walk the horsefly and I stop for a picnic Bisshie, Switzerland eons on the forest floor the autumn sun dawn moon a subtle sound from the snowy egrets Shawn Blair, USA autumn storm competing with my piano the raindrops есенна буря в състезание с моето пиано дъждовните капки Boryana Boteva, Bulgaria open arms . . . that old scarecrow's a wide perch brett brady, USA autumn migration a monarch butterfly lands on her finger Nancy Brady, USA horse pasture - a fence around grazing geese Karen Bramblett, USA parting ways the river catches a leaf Max Breedlove, USA there they go racing their shadows upriver-- fast flying geese! John Brehm, USA home for the holidays a quiet snow softens campus streets Randy Brooks, USA late summer rains the rare red leaves of autumn aspens a paint horse hovers above the pasture ground fog Alanna C. Burke, USA after rain... looking down on the sky Marylyn Burridge, USA the hazy light of an autumn dawn wistful memory relishing the joy of remission - Indian summer Paul Callus, Malta sunflowers stand in the blizzard this struggle for peace s'innalzano nella bufera i girasoli questa lotta per la pace Monday blues the sudden choir of the larks tristezza del lunedì improvviso il coro delle allodole Mariangela Canzi, Italy grandmother's wardrobe – among the clothes a few sprigs of dried lavender dulapul bunicii – printre haine câteva fire de lavandă uscată Daniela Lăcrămioara Capotă, Romania fallen seed the towhees’ first chewink Matthew Caretti, USA/American Samoa migrating monarchs grandma waving a No Kings sign Archie G. Carlos, USA pondering a leaf placed under a stone Tim Chamberlain, Japan old garden gloves the shape of his hand holding mine lost in thought I miss the neighbor waving Issa's radish Eleanor Channell, USA winter wind what’s on my mind missed calls from my mother 冬 風 何は 私の心 母からの不在着信 fuyu kaze nani wa watashi no kokoro Haha kara no fuzai chakushin autumn day my mother’s music in my heart 秋の日 母の音楽 心の中に aki no hi haha no ongaku kokoro no naka ni Manasa Reddy Chichili, India autumn stars the time between a cricket's chirps autumn sun a cicada shell attached in samsara Tom Clausen, USA moonlight the dragonfly's wings fold gentian blue returning home between cloud and mountain the raven adrift Ria Collins, Ireland sun on the sycamore shadow branches scale a snowy bank Mary Ann Conley, USA no use chatting massed choir of cicadas booked the canyon Julie Constable, Australia autumn breeze a dream that has remained closed in the drawer brezza autunnale un sogno rimasto chiuso in un cassetto Maria Concetta Conti, Italy flooded cranberries a wolf spider halfway up my thigh Bill Cooper, USA just for a moment the throb of a thrush’s heart in my hands standing tall in moonlight . . . a white lily Sue Courtney, New Zealand autumn blues the busker’s hat fills with rain lungkot ng taglagas sombrero ng mang-aawit napupuno ng ulan the end of visiting hours cold moon ang katapusan ng oras ng pagbisita malamig na buwan Alvin B. Cruz, The Philippines autumn tastes just the same baked quinces Maya Daneva, The Netherlands playground the snow angel with one wing light snow the breath of a bison over its calf Pat Davis, USA delta autumn summer lingers in falling leaves Shyla Davis, USA walking where so many have walked Silk Road marchant où tant de gens ont marché Route de la soie Marie Derley, Belgium swirling leaves . . . the importance of a solid tai chi stance Ed Dewar, Canada daytime moon leaves form a circle beneath the dogwood Carmela Dolce, USA winter midday dragged by a cat’s tail a sunbeam зимно пладне котарак влачи с опашката си слънчев лъч Radostina Dragostinova, Bulgaria beachfront property entering a new home the hermit crab John J. Dunphy, USA first frost a dandelion sprouting through pavement Tim Dwyer, Northern Ireland brittle branches beneath the elm rainless autumn Lynn Edge, USA an old oak defrosts the scent of rain . . . Adele Evershed, USA crusted with frost the bright red crab-apples grown for jelly Keith Evetts, UK first snow a barred owl's twilight dirge Colleen Farrelly, USA the tilted head of a titmouse – morning news Barbara Feehrer, USA first snow she realizes how old I am Sean Felix, USA Settlers Bay Cemetery the shell that held me blue of the bay the hills cradle an unseen ache Jenny Fraser, New Zealand autumn sunset a cluster of bees deep in the goldenrod Jay Friedenberg, USA heart of winter . . . an arrowslit lets in the moonlight Seth Friedman, USA the hammock alone swings – autumn daybreak la hamaca sola se balancea – mañanita de otoño winter moon – in the city a policeman watches it luna de invierno – en la ciudad la mira un policía Rafael Garcìa Bidò, Dominican Republic winter coldness-- putting my mom in a nursing home zimska hladnoća-- stavljajući moju majku u starački dom Goran Gatalica, Croatia the crow cracks a walnut in perfect halves autumnal equinox враната чупи орех на перфектни половинки есенно равноденствие Ivan Georgiev, Bulgaria/Germany a bear rolls down the slope rumble of thunder Mark Gilbert, UK sliding down the driveway street unplowed we go all day without break Andrew Grossman, USA semester break my mother's starting to grow distant semesterferien meine mutter beginnt zu fremdeln Alexander Groth, Germany late winter storm a rain-soaked deck covered with plum blossoms Johnnie Johnson Hafernik, USA autumn sky raking the leaves I raked yesterday Violet Avery Hall, USA bare trees an abandoned squirrel nest beneath grey sky light snow the fox romping with a boot Lev Hart, Canada dawn choral a blackbird fills the ivy with notes of light tilling the land the earth turns slowly under our feet John Hawkhead, UK stick weather huddling in the brambles a cardinal's red Deborah Burke Henderson, USA headlights heading this way! crow in the rain chad henry, USA outstretched wings turkey vultures enlarge the sky Jeff Hoagland, USA cool moonlight the blackberry bushes picked clean Ruth Holzer, USA swirl of leaves a squirrel pats the earth flat autumn light a tiny moth finds the kitchen Frank Hooven, USA windless night the koel’s constant calls muddles our dreams Marilyn Humbert, Australia bare trees the last leaf of the calendar copaci golași ultima foaie din calendar forest bathing just the rustle of leaves with every step baie de pădure doar foșnetul frunzelor la fiece pas Mona Iordan, Romania shadows lengthening longhorns leave for the outer meadow Erica Ison, UK drawing class she puts back the brown crayon for next autumn Lakshmi Iyer, India fig compote left to cool in the pan evening stars イチジクコンポート冷えゆく夕の星 ichijiku kompōto hieyuku yū no hoshi yellow ginkgoes a community cat on the old man’s lap 銀杏いろづき老人の膝の猫 ichō irozuki rōjin no hiza no neko Keiko Izawa, Japan hunger moon shadows crossing a withered field wandering soul a butterfly in the salad bowl Rick Jackofsky, USA forced retirement a winter buck sheds his antlers AJ Johnson, USA autumn yard walk scent of night jasmine mingled with moonlight शरद आँगन टहल रात की रानी की सुगंध चाँदनी से मिली हुई Govind Joshi, India letting go . . . ripe in the bottle gourd a garland of notes जाने देना . . . लौकी में पकी हुई सुरों की माला Monica Kakkar, India/USA Buzzing faintly an autumn mosquito . . . daytime moon 秋の蚊のか細き声や昼の月 Arabesque drawn by withered ivies on the mud wall 枯蔦の土塀に描きしアラベスク Satoru Kanematsu, Japan fragrant white rose startled from their dreams two earwigs Deborah Karl-Brandt, Germany on my window sill a pair of willy wagtails - tick tock, tick tock Keitha Keyes, Australia moonlight the colourlessness of autumn leaves Ravi Kiran, India Lowering the coffin to rest, a bee lands on the wreath. Mens kista senkes i jorda, setter en bie seg på kransen. Joakim Kjørsvik, Norway (transl. Harry Man) where the river bends the s-curve of a heron's neck Kim Klugh, USA child's squealing . . . tiny boots drive the sun out of the puddle cika djeteta . . . čizmice tjeraju sunce iz lokvice Nina Kovačić, Croatia snowdrifts - thyme tea reminds me there’s a garden below závěje – tymiánový čaj mi připomíná zahradu pod nimi Hynek Koziol, Czech Republic the last steps of a little mouse . . . wingprints in the snow Kimberly Kuchar, USA a step out . . . into morning darkness and bird song Jill Lange, USA fallen branch - autumn leaves aging in place Barrie Levine, USA winter stars in the small hours a low tremor through the rails Kathryn Liebowitz, USA winter fog heavier than expected father's ashes 冬霧 比預想的更沉重 父親的骨灰 Chen-ou Liu, Canada almost melted this morning’s peninsula of snow Robert Lowes, USA winter morning – a curtain of fog behind the glass and a cold will zimsko jutro – zastor magle iza stakla i hladna volja Brigita Lukina, Croatia first snow – from the forest an owl’s hoot u užarenoj peći sagorijevaju cjepanice – ugođaj doma Glorija Lukina, Croatia a dead leaf still suspended in mid-air - frozen spiderweb una foglia morta ancora sospesa a mezz'aria - ragnatela gelata Oscar Luparia, Italy a stone streaked with coral fossils . . . surf after the storm Hannah Mahoney, USA surgery room the colors all the same . . . like my fears sala operatoria i colori tutti uguali . . . come le mie paure Antonio Mangiameli, Italy autumn silence the pianist's hands hover over the keys jesienna cisza jeszcze nad klawiszami dłonie pianisty winter morning only my face in the shards of our mirror zimowy ranek w naszym stłuczonym lustrze tylko moja twarz Urszula Marciniak, Poland late fall removing the thorns from the rose fine autunno togliendo le spine dalla rosa Carmela Marino, Italy september rain grandad's wheelchair becomes lighter rujanska kiša djedova kolica postadu lakša Martina Matijević, Croatia rusty chairs the creak of autumn folded in Richard L. Matta, USA snuggled up in bed rain becomes a lullaby Mary McCormack, USA wool tags snagged on barbed wire late winter Jo McInerney, Australia this night without a moon one small candle MJ Mello, USA Steaming greetings from behind the scarves Winter Monday Tras las bufandas humean los saludos Lunes de invierno Lía Miersch, Argentina moonshine straight from the mason jar stars in the river winter solstice the scent of juniper cleansing the house Rowan Beckett Minor, USA my face blurred in a reflection . . . autumn leaves il mio viso sfumato in un riflesso . . . foglie autunnali Daniela Misso, Italy September sun through the cottonwood leaves a goldfinch's cap Katie Montagna, Ireland unhoused – a blanket of snow for warmth harvest moon – I see the world in a new light Joanne Morcom, Canada neither cold nor dark . . . magic spell of wintersweet ne' freddo ne' buio . . . l' incantesimo del calicanto d'inverno Luciana Moretto, Italy mittens joined by a length of yarn – winter closeness falling snow – tailfeathers tipped with yellow Laurie D. Morrissey, USA sunset trees with the last light the owl's eyes copaci la apus cu ultima rază de lumină ochii bufniţei Florian Munteanu, Romania pale blue sky crows take the place of leaves Sean Murphy, USA crossing over a country stile winter fog Gareth Nurden, Wales, UK dry creek bed a dipper bird pecks the pavement Nola Obee, Canada headlong into a web - the spider's eight legs, eight eyes na glavo v mrežo - pajkovih osem nog, osem oči Polona Oblak, Slovenia harvest moon a buck and his doe grazing the light Helen Ogden, USA rain-washed sunflowers the orbweaver rebuilds her world clouded moon the vixen's bark turns down our street Ben Oliver, England, UK a hint of autumn in goldfinch feathers waste yarn Debbie Olson, USA paddling a river of stars the wild calling of loons Nancy Orr, USA as if on cue a squirrel scampers through leaves – haiku workshop Maeve O’Sullivan, Ireland warmth's final notes echo off the horizon - prairie wren song Scott Packer, Canada sunrise across the pews slow rainbows John Pappas, USA taliban winter muffled sound of water under the ice predawn mist a rescue boat turns back for another round Vandana Parashar, India Celtic triskelion a burial mound gathers the winter light Marianne Paul, Canada coyote tracks around a dead deer -- the urge to interpret M. R. Pelletier, USA work to do the spotted thick-knee feigns injury Gregory Piko, Australia simmering soup the disappearing sound of garden magpies cradling in her arms an empty nest . . . bare pin oak Madhuri Pillai, Australia falling snow rampant plywood horses in the old pasture Andrew Pineo, USA black Friday . . . the blind man's cup still empty farewell . . . the elm's golden leaves fall into dad's chair Marion Alice Poirier, USA rising tide the skerry’s last cormorant heads out into the bay Thomas Powell, N. Ireland first snow – I hold my mother’s lace embroidery prima neve – serbo i ricami in pizzo di mia madre Maria Cristina Pulvirenti, Italy 70th birthday crossing over the monkey bridge high school reunion the seaside carousel spinning too fast Tony Pupello, USA autumn dusk - the empty swing still warm empty garden - a leaf trembles in the birdbath sky Vaishnavi Pusapati, India snowy night silence settles into bed beside me autumn walk gold leaves drift in and out of my daydream Kristen Radden, USA feeling a chill the scarlet maple spills out of itself snow came softly at dawn a neon cardinal in the blue cedar Carol Raisfeld, USA millipede crossing – a tailorbird waits at the weep hole Vaishnavi Ramaswamy, India harvest moon taste of ripe plums in our talks Bhawana Rathore, India in the birdbath a feather and its shadow falling leaves moment of warmth autumn’s last yellowjacket sips from the birdbath Dian Duchin Reed, USA the rhythm of a squirrel's back-and-forth falling chestnuts Meera Rehm, UK /Nepal loving like I did as a child hoopoes compassion mantra that one leafless September tree Sam Renda, South Africa first frost our breaths meet between words Valincia Richard, USA shrine garden a butterfly takes off – no time to dream Duncan Richardson, Australia empty bench the winter wind welcomes us Edward J. Rielly, USA cloudy afternoon bird calls fill the willow winter rains . . . out of itself the creek makes its own way Aron Rothstein, USA a stray dog amidst my pile of leaves pas skitnica na mojoj hrpi lišća D. V. Rozic, Croatia frosty breath hangs before my face wishing to take back those words bare branches above a quilt of leaves one shriveled peach Janet Ruth, USA cracked church wall - the perfect shapes in mother’s handwriting Canadian geese migrating at dusk the blur of her name Jacob D. Salzer, USA autumn loneliness hearing the mourning dove out Kelly Sargent, USA goosebumps floating leaves quilt together Agnes Eva Savich, USA autumn deepens an uproar of sandhill cranes losing habitat late term my best bud blossoms to fruit harvest moon Bonnie J Scherer, USA a wrinkled hand reaches for a dangling apple this chilly morning Albert Schlaht, USA not the same as things used to be falling leaves les choses ne sont plus comme avant chute des feuilles Olivier Schopfer, Switzerland morning prayers the rooster’s leg lifted higher in the frosty grass Dan Schwerin, USA slant autumn light a pocket of silence save for the crow Julie Schwerin, USA early light a sparrow nipping the teasel frost deep in the hush of winter . . . heart of a wood frog Paula Sears, USA winter beach a fish crow's lazy walk Manoj Sharma, Nepal fading light a moth’s wing rests on the prayer stone Nalini Shetty, India In a sunny spot lots of glistening beads - dew on the grass 日当たりに粒なす光露葎 Wild geese in sleep - pedal boats moving through the pond 鴨浮き寝足漕ぎ舟の動く池 Kyoko Shimizu, Japan baby in wonder of the first snowflakes amazing world бебе в почуда от първите снежинки удивителен свят starry night far from the town Leonids звездна нощ далеч от града Леониди Tsanka Shishkova, Bulgaria autumn sky how we’ve changed over the years शरद ऋतु का आकाश . . . इतने सालों में हम कितने बदल गए twilight river - the heron’s reflection takes flight गोधूलि नदी— बगुले का प्रतिबिंब उड़ान भरे Neena Singh, India only light in the refugee camp autumn moon Neha Singh Soni, India his frayed green jacket slouched on its hook scent of harvesting fills the house hospice vigil sunflower art covers the wall Helen Sokolsky, USA winter solstice the old cat circles back to its sunny spot Bob Stewart, USA falling leaves missing the company of old friends birds in flight wish I could see what you see Stephenie Story, USA graveside service my sister's unmade bed of snow Debbie Strange, Canada awake at first light morning star Sarah Strong, USA evergreen bough her darling pearls worn one last time Leon Tefft, USA autumn dusk . . . the moment shadow consumes light capturing wind song with autumn's palette the shape of the sky Angela Terry, USA saltwater taffies the scent of sea she never tasted Padma Thampatty, USA two names carved into one bark dripping sap zwei namen geritzt in eine rinde tropfendes harz Ulrike Titelbach, Austria autumn fog – that sense of uncertainty everywhere nebbia d'autunno – quel senso d'incertezza in ogni dove Maria Tosti, Italy rising moon we place the salmon's bones back in the river Xenia Tran, Scotland, UK dusk the river turns lighter than its ice that hill we climbed last summer stubble shadows on snow Barbara Ungar, USA colors of autumn contemplating the path not taken change of season the realm of memory begins to shrink Kevin Valentine, USA tired of my head my hat has gone to play with the wild wind wait for me! Mark Valentine, England, UK lone sunflower where does it turn to at night één zonnebloem waarheen wendt zij zich als het nacht is Joanne van Helvoort, The Netherlands winter dusk – my father’s voice in the woodpile Thomas L. Vaultonburg, USA milky moon leaves floating from me to you luna lactee frunze zboară de la mine spre tine fall cleanup . . . a bird is patching its nest near the traffic light curățenie de toamnă . . . o pasăre-și peticește cuibul lângă semafor Steliana Voicu, Romania stranger asleep on a rocky beach seaweed footsteps E. C. Voorhis, USA autumn end I write . . . a long silence Anirudh Vyas, India a slight sifting of flour as i pat the dough . . . more snow falling noon thaw the snowman becomes a trickle Marilyn Appl Walker, USA wind driven snow in the deer tracks a fading memory David Watts, USA weekend cabin a draft pulls a bird's song down the chimney Joseph Wechselberger, USA frozen lake a Canada goose stands on one leg Diane Webster, USA tide pool practicing to vanish Gezeitenbecken eine Übung im Vergehen empty chair rocking . . . yellow leaves cling to their branch Schaukelstuhl wiegt leer . . . die gelben Blätter hängen noch am Zweig Lucas Weissenborn, Norway the translucence of lotus petals floating candles Christine Wenk-Harrison, USA clouds scudding above the wind whipped flag a lone kestrel Mary White, Ireland paper votives the flare of everything we can’t take with us Jane Williams, Australia a chill tonight we say goodbye to the flowers Tony Williams, Scotland, UK a snowy owl in a fading dream dementia Robert Witmer, Japan searching for the snooze button at half-past woodpecker Valorie Woerdehoff, USA running toward the sun the winged seeds I follow Alan Yan, USA wandering dunes bones of a whale haunted by wind days of seclusion eating the roots scars and all Susan Yavaniski, USA apple picking a soft flush of sunshine on her face John Zheng, USA leaves begin to turn in my palm the softness of her ash J. Zimmerman, USA |
Editorial Staff:
Founder (emeritus): Bruce Ross Editors: Astrid Andreescu Kristen Lindquist Art: Murray D. Ross Archives
December 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed