In life we have to keep our eyes open noticing what’s around us. I often take a quick picture of something I see, usually when walking with my dog, and then add words to help me explain my thoughts.
How it all started
I spent a cold winter walking Zephyr almost every morning (The mornings I didn’t walk him my husband did; he never went without.) On one of those mornings I noticed the smallest snowman sitting in a yard. What caught my attention was the lack of snow in the yard. This little snowman was trying to live in a place that was starting to show signs of spring. Over several days I watched as the weather changed and the snowman enjoyed his short life.
3/26 - The Last Holdout The snow has melted All alone fighting the sun My days are numbered
3/27 - The War Is Not Over All is not lost yet Reinforcements have arrived The sun is hiding
3/28 - Sun Damage My hat is growing Maybe my head is melting Like the rest of me
3/29 - Snow Skeleton My hat hides my face I am but a skeleton My snow skin leaves me
3/30 - The End The sun won the war Life is not a fairy tale Time for me to go
April, 2023
The snowman finally melted and spring started popping up more and more. By now I was enjoying finding something new on my walks and writing about it after we got back home.
4/3 - Sounds of the Birds They say a picture tells a thousand words. Tell me how many bird songs?
4/4 - Tuesday Oh, beautiful sun Why have you left me again? Please bring back your warmth
4/5 - Cold Mornings The sun has returned But the warmth is slow to come We are preheating
4/7 - Duality Here comes the school bus It brings gloom in the morning And joy after three
4/8 - Pikes Peak Clouds hiding treasure Pikes Peak and all its glory Childhood playground
4/11 - Reflections Oh mirror, mirror Reflections in the clear lake A double delight
4/12 - Red Barn The little red barn Wants to be in the country Lives in the suburbs
4/13 - Budding Tree New buds on the trees Where once there was nothing green Today brings new joy
4/14 - Rain Walk Light drizzle it said I have to disagree with respect That was a rain walk Benefit of rain, I don't have to shovel it Boy, did we get wet
4/15 - Dandelion First flower I see Now brightens on cloudy days Soon will blighten yards
4/17 - Friend or Foe Squirrel teases dog Races down the tree, but then back up to torment
4/18 - Concert Went to a concert The music was amazing You should see Spring Birds
4/19 - Waiting Going for a walk As soon as Mom gets her stuff Why is she so slow?
4/20 - Surprise Walk An exciting day Same journey, but in reverse Full of mystery
4/21 - Please, Mom We went for a walk Thank you for taking me out Can we go again?
4/22 - Earth Day Grey clouds, snowy grass Still a path for morning walks Together we go
4/23 - Yard Work I worked hard today Got mom to throw tennis balls while cleaning my yard
4/25 - Morning Greetings Peaceful walk shattered by cacophony of barks Zephyr trots away
4/26 - Worms part 1 What a grey, wet day It's like a day at the beach For these happy worms
4/26 - Worms part 2 Mama said don't cross The temptation was too great Thrill seekers unite
4/27 - Springtime I see green and brown Some plants like to rise early Some like to sleep in
4/28 - Battle for Spring An uphill battle Spring marches up the mountain Still snow covered peak
4/29 - Missing People Lonely soccer field Saturdays in the suburbs Something is amiss
Moving On
After continuing my new habit of writing a haiku most mornings to reflect on something I noticed, I understood this was not just a short term hobby. I was finding that for the first time ever, I was enjoying poetry. I also started playing around with a website after several suggestions from friends. Adding a new poem each day to a page that just continued on and on, was not practical. Starting with the May poems, I will add haiku and other writings to a blog. This will make organization for me and any readers easier. I hope you will click over to the blog to continue reading about my wonderings.
Tiffany Painter 