It’s a gift to be able to express oneself poetically. Unfortunately, I was never granted the talent to communicate my feelings, thoughts, and desires through verse. However, I was fortunate enough to know someone who could.
My late husband, Robert, had the gift. Over a span of 50+ years, he penned rhyming poems, free verse, epic tales, and haiku. As a professional pilot, his travels around the world inspired much of his work. From the deserts of Namibia to the mountains of Peru, Bob visited with the native peoples and listened to their tales. Their cultures, traditions, and closeness with the land taught him to see and appreciate the natural world through their eyes. His experiences inspired much of his longer pieces but also instigated his experimentation with haiku.
Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry limited to 17 syllables and divided up into three lines. The first line contains five syllables, the second has seven, and the third has five. This type of poetry is typically written to celebrate nature. The short verses use descriptive language so the reader can see, feel, hear, smell, or taste what the poet is experiencing.
It takes a lot of patience, practice, skill, and talent to master this form of writing, but Bob had all those attributes. His deep appreciation and fascination with nature come to life in his haiku. The simple three-line poems reveal the deep-thinking side of the poet who cherished all aspects of beauty in nature and life.
Robert’s haiku focuses on the seasons and the joy he felt observing the beauty in nature we oftentimes overlook. His collection of verses offers a glimpse into the soul of one who appreciated and loved all the facets of our natural world. His attention to the smallest details allows us to experience the world around us through our senses.
A couple of years ago, I organized his poetry into an ebook called Blossoms in the Snow. Regrettably, it only contains a portion of his poems. Some of his earlier work suffered from water damage, others were so old the ink had faded away, while other pieces just disappeared into thin air. I’m sorry I cannot share all his work; however, I hope you enjoy the ones that remain.
Here are a few of his autumn-themed haiku.
My late husband, Robert, had the gift. Over a span of 50+ years, he penned rhyming poems, free verse, epic tales, and haiku. As a professional pilot, his travels around the world inspired much of his work. From the deserts of Namibia to the mountains of Peru, Bob visited with the native peoples and listened to their tales. Their cultures, traditions, and closeness with the land taught him to see and appreciate the natural world through their eyes. His experiences inspired much of his longer pieces but also instigated his experimentation with haiku.
Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry limited to 17 syllables and divided up into three lines. The first line contains five syllables, the second has seven, and the third has five. This type of poetry is typically written to celebrate nature. The short verses use descriptive language so the reader can see, feel, hear, smell, or taste what the poet is experiencing.
It takes a lot of patience, practice, skill, and talent to master this form of writing, but Bob had all those attributes. His deep appreciation and fascination with nature come to life in his haiku. The simple three-line poems reveal the deep-thinking side of the poet who cherished all aspects of beauty in nature and life.
Robert’s haiku focuses on the seasons and the joy he felt observing the beauty in nature we oftentimes overlook. His collection of verses offers a glimpse into the soul of one who appreciated and loved all the facets of our natural world. His attention to the smallest details allows us to experience the world around us through our senses.
A couple of years ago, I organized his poetry into an ebook called Blossoms in the Snow. Regrettably, it only contains a portion of his poems. Some of his earlier work suffered from water damage, others were so old the ink had faded away, while other pieces just disappeared into thin air. I’m sorry I cannot share all his work; however, I hope you enjoy the ones that remain.
Here are a few of his autumn-themed haiku.
AUTUMN REFLECTIONS
Trees in bright color
Red leaves fall from autumn trees
Sweet sadness of heart
***
Soft rain falls from skies
With season’s bright yellow leaves
And washes my tears
***
Sharp scent of wood smoke
Taste of apple on my tongue
Tell me of past days
***
Black birds with bright eyes
Fly from umber-stubbled fields
Under cold blue skies
***
Indian Summer
Golden sun in cloudless skies
Weaving gentle spells
***
Dry leaves cover ground
Trees in yellow finery
Fields in shades of brown
***
Open road beckons
Cool wind blows in face and hair
Wheels sing a sweet song
***
Wet leaves cover road
Few drops of rain on face shield
Warm arms around me
Trees in bright color
Red leaves fall from autumn trees
Sweet sadness of heart
***
Soft rain falls from skies
With season’s bright yellow leaves
And washes my tears
***
Sharp scent of wood smoke
Taste of apple on my tongue
Tell me of past days
***
Black birds with bright eyes
Fly from umber-stubbled fields
Under cold blue skies
***
Indian Summer
Golden sun in cloudless skies
Weaving gentle spells
***
Dry leaves cover ground
Trees in yellow finery
Fields in shades of brown
***
Open road beckons
Cool wind blows in face and hair
Wheels sing a sweet song
***
Wet leaves cover road
Few drops of rain on face shield
Warm arms around me
Available from Amazon
Kindle and Kindle Unlimited - www.amazon.com/gp/product/B092SXPNW5/
Universal link - http://viewbook.at/blossomsinthesnow