Smailholm Dreams...

Rain mists soak the landscapes surrounding the tower house. I watch swallows dance through the fine droplets, searching nesting sites, chittering their hellos to me as I wait for the next visitor... I have walked, through the silent bovine faces, each day up the craigs; the faeryknowe sleeps beneath my gaze, beckoning the Rhymers' children to its shining lands beneath.  My realm is of stone and rock, sulphur-bright broom and snapping Saltire; alone for a time, until crunching pebbles announce interested minds seeking their own experience of this solid remnant of the Borders' pyking past...

Stark it stands, upright.

Scott's warden, atop its crag

Always watching...

"Everywhere peace, everywhere serenity..."

Soon I begin a new chapter, in quietude of soaring arch, knave and transept. My heritage work takes me new, old places... from now to then. Twisted faces look down in blessing and the ironclad heart of an ancient King of Alba sleeps in immortality beneath my feet.

"... and a marvellous freedom from the tumult of the world."

The silence of stone,

Softly yields the sacred tones.

Voices from the past.

Hail!

Winter has made its presence felt for the first time...

Heaven casts its pearls

Tiny, white and freezing cold

Impermanent spheres

Love in a time of sorrow...

It is a sad time in our forest home... our darling pup Kira has a heart condition, which means she'll not be with us for much longer.  But as I look into her languid eyes, filled with trust and gentleness, I know...

Love can never fade

It grows strong as time passes

Like an ancient tree

Bright bounty

The winds of this late summer burst of warmth have scattered a million tiny leaves - Ashka also enjoys nature's colourful collage...

Rich autumn treasures

Flung like jewels across the yard

Citrines and rubies

Passerines Passing...

Today the House Martins are preparing to leave; the Swallows are already on the wing with their young, encouraging them to fly further than before - ready for their long journey ahead...

Skeins of birds fly up

Above the cooling landscape

Winter is coming

Hark, the Hurricane

The bringer of winds makes her presence felt, even here in our forest home...

Katia shouts! Trees bow

Before her ire. Dogs and I 

Watch from indoors, safe.

September

Now we're moving into my second favourite season, it's time for the smells of autumn - garden bonfires, hot spiced chai to warm cold hands and wet dogs, happy in the rain...

Woodsmoke curls, pale wisps.

Leaves turn over head, blue skies,

Fields of golden wheat

Sorrow and Shadows

Ill news, a quick blade

Slicing deep. My heart cries out

No! It cannot be... 

Autumnal Overtures

With the advent of the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, the weather has turned in my forest, bringing the tang of woodsmoke and shifting colours in her burnished cloak...

Sunkissed trees, light dims.

Leaves flutter in cold breezes

As the season turns

Myrkr

To celebrate the new addition to our canine family, Kira (Gaelic: 'Dark Lady'), here is a Haiku inspired by her sweet glance...

Soft eyes gently shine

Gazing, dark as midnight.

A little shadow

Daily Haiku

With the weather turning back to a sodden grey sky and the forest drenched, my inspiration seems to have waned... 

No sunshine today!

How empty is my mind’s eye

Devoid of bright things

Flowers and Showers

A garden opening in the verdant Borders provided an opportunity for today's Haiku. Even though the countryside was dripping with the heavy rain that fell, it made the colours of the flowers and plants even more intense, magnified by the drops...

Rain mists slowly drift 

Across the green valley,

Bright flowers grow here.

Later in the day...

Haven't had much opportunity to compose today, but I always have time for Haiku... Returning to my study this afternoon, I find:


Sunlight through tree, leaves

Shadows dancing on my desk.

Frail lace of dryads

Faolan

Haiku is a poetic form I much admire and have often tried to emulate. As I understand it , Haiku should always say something about the natural world - offering the reader an image of nature half-glimpsed, as fleeting as a gust of wind or shower of petals... Since I'd posted the Dragon poem for Angela, this one is dedicated to Jolie :)

Soft paws through the night forest

Neatly step, to lap

At the pool's edge. Young wolf drinks