Sunday, January 27, 2008

Although no snow in Florida

For Haiku: One Deep Breath Week 87 Theme, "Winter Wonders"

even the child
painting, makes snowmen—
where no snow falls


DW Bender
Haiku, January 27, 2008 (rev.)

Notes: In Central Florida, we do not see dramatic winter miracles of snow and ice. However, I experienced a small wonder last week: a bright male cardinal scavanging food on a dry wintering lawn, which became the subject of a haiku in an earlier posting. This month my husband and I enjoyed viewing Japanese hanga, or woodblock prints at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs. Two favorites were shin-hanga snow scenes. This weekend, I have been viewing the wonderous drawings and paintings of children for my own artistic inspiration.

My all-time favorite winter haiku is by the late Owen Burkhart of Dyer, Indiana, who I knew through the Shiki mailing list, and World Haiku Club. He published a book of his poetry, A Single Breath:

first snow
only very small
snowmen


Owen Burkhart (1930-2005)

Here is one of my older digital artworks with a Western-styled rhymed poem constructed with a haiku-like winter sequence (from around 2001):

13 comments:

Yolanda said...

I so identify with this having grown up in MS.

SandyCarlson said...

The magic of snow is available to anyone with an imagination, as your poem shows!

Writing in Faith: Poems

qualcosa di bello said...

your words cause me to linger & re-read...particularly "stopping by". the metaphors are so rich & comforting.

i also want to thank you for stopping by my main blog today. your comments brought tears to my eyes...my greatest hope in my writing is that it will give something of comfort or joy to another. i am so grateful for your kindness & for your sharing of your beautiful talents. i also enjoy reading your comments regarding my poetry & that of others...your words are so constructive & yet very gentle.

paisley said...

i love the thought of the kids relating snow to winter when there is none... so cute.....

Tumblewords: said...

Wonderful sites! Thank you for stopping by my place and offering very valuable suggestions! I appreciate it greatly! Looking forward to reading more of your work.

Crafty Green Poet said...

I enjoyed this post and the haiku in it

Gerald (Ackworth born) said...

Hi Debi - nice to see you still around and good to see Owen's work being kept alive.

spacedlaw said...

How true is this first one: the magic works even on the heart of those who do not know its reality.

UL said...

How true!...my childhood brings back pictures drawn, even though thw weather was always tropical.

little wing writer said...

beautiful, thank you... raised in so calif i never saw snow until i was a teenager... hilarious... now i am surrounded by snow...

Maurice Lauher said...

I enjoyed your posting. Thanks

Pearl said...

isn't that funny. I suppose I drew hills and rivers as a kid having not seen hills with my own eyes either.

Are you new to One Deep Breath Debi or did I just miss seeing you before?

Debi said...

Thank you, friends and poets. I am belated in responding with gratitude! Yoland, Sandy, Debbie (qualcosa di bella), paisley, tumblewords, crafty green poet, Gerald (akworth born), spacedlaw, ul, little wing, moe, pearl. Today is the best day of my life -- I'm alive, and you are in that bundle of living -- I'm blessed!