February - April 2025
an evergreen decaying from the top down dementia
thunderstone
your death a bolt
from the blue
rain-strung branch
the upside-downness
of redpolls
bag lady
a halo of pigeons
circling her head
Spring Challenge: Dandelion, tampopo
pesticide-free
the wild manes
of dandelions
Honoured to know that "rain-strung branch" was included among the favourites of Dojins Patricia J. Machmiller and Joan Zimmerman!
Also honoured that "rain-strung branch" was chosen for commentary in the subsequent issue:
Dojin's Corner:
There is so much to like about this haiku, starting with its phrase "rain-strung" to indicate that it has rained, has stopped raining, and has left jewels of rain hanging on a branch. Line two affirms the hanging beads of water through its newly minted and lovely noun "upside-downness" (from the adjective "upside-down").
The haiku pivots on that into line three's redpolls, acrobatic and energetic small finches with a tendency to hang down to forage, gleaning branches from below for insects and seeds. The haiku also feels acrobatic and energetic. A delight.
—Joan Zimmerman
Such a perfect way to characterize the redpolls' acrobatic feeding movements as "upside-downness." One word says it all.
—Patricia J. Machmiller
At least I guessed the correct category: redpolls=birds. Although refusing to keep a life list, I do consider myself a moderate birder, but I had to look up "redpolls" to appreciate this haiku. Smaller than house finches and purple finches I doubt that I'll ever see one, as in the winter they only migrate as far south as Canada and the far northern parts of the midwest and eastern United States.
—Alison Woolpert
