Haiku by Issa

macro shot of a snail on the edge of a wall

the life of a snail
he goes to bed and gets up
just the way he is

– Issa

macro image of a snail between leaves

Watching this snail move through our garden I had to think of Issa’s haiku and thought I’d share it with you here.

Wishing you all a blessed Monday and a peaceful week ahead,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/3.5 – 1/160 – ISO 100 and f/3.5 – 1/125 s – ISO 100.

Sunshine’s Macro Monday #43

Haiku: Lily of the Valley

close up shot of lily of the valley flower and buds

north wind
lilies of the valley
shelter in place

© Xenia Tran

macro shot of lily of the valley flower and buds

This haiku was first published in Haiku Dialogue: Haiku Prism – White, Troutswirl, The Haiku Foundation Blog, 20 May 2020. A very big thank you to guest editor Tia Haynes and post manager Lori Zajkowski for featuring my poem and putting this beautiful edition together.

Both haiku and photograph were subsequently featured in the World Haiku Series 2020, facilitated by the Akita International Haiku Network with a beautiful Japanese translation by Mr Hidenori Hiruta. A warm-hearted thank you to Mr Hiruta for including this poem in respect of the 326th anniversary of Matsuo Bashõ’s passing and all the souls of those who lost their lives to COVID-19.

Wishing you all a peaceful Wednesday and may you stay safe and well,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/3.5 – 1/800 s – ISO 100 and f/3.5 – 1/500 s – ISO 100.

Sunshine’s Macro Monday #42

Dutch Goes the Photo Tuesday Photo Challenge: Return

Cee’s Flower of the Day

A further selection of recent publications in online and print journals can be found here:

Wordless Wednesday: A Sign of Fruits to Come

White Currant

macro shot of white currant blossom
macro shot of white currant blossom

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday and a peaceful rest of the week,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/4 – 1/640 s – ISO 100 and f/3.5 – 1/640 s – ISO 100.

Wordless Wednesday

Sunshine’s Macro Monday #41

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Wordless Wednesday: More Apple Blossoms

macro shot of a pale pink apple blossom
macro shot inside a flowering apple blossom

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday and may you all stay safe and well,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/3.5 – 1/640 s – ISO 100, f/3.5 – 1/800 s – ISO 160 and f/3.5 – 1/1250 s – ISO 100.

Wordless Wednesday

Sunshine’s Macro Monday #40

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Haiku: Little Blue Flower

Grape Hyacinth

macro shot of a grape hyacinth flower

grape hyacinth
the child I once was
in the garden

© Xenia Tran

macro shot of a grape hyacinth flower

This haiku was first published in Haiku Dialogue: Haiku Prism – Blue, Troutswirl, The Haiku Foundation Blog, 15 April 2020. A very big thank you to guest editor Tia Haynes and post manager Lori Zajkowski for featuring my poem and putting this beautiful edition together.

A Dutch interpretation of this haiku has been included in the anthology Aan het Woord 2020 – de geur van geluid, edited by Ferre Denis, Maria de Bie and Nol Hovens, published by Haiku Kring Nederland and Haiku-centrum Vlaanderen. Heartfelt thanks to the editors for including my poem and creating this wonderful anthology.

This haiku was subsequently featured in the World Haiku Series 2020, facilitated by the Akita International Haiku Network with a beautiful Japanese translation by Mr Hidenori Hiruta. A warm-hearted thank you to Mr Hiruta for including this poem in respect of the 326th anniversary of Matsuo Bashõ’s passing and all the souls of those who lost their lives to COVID-19.

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photograps by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/3.5 – 1/250 s – ISO 100 and f/3.5 – 1/320 s – ISO 100.

Sunshine’s Macro Monday #37

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Rag Tag Daily Prompt: Anniversary

A further selection of recent publications in online and print journals can be found here:

Haiku: Yellow Curve

Doronicum Orientale Little Leo

macro shot of a Doronicum Orientale Little Leo bud

solar plexus
wisdom in the depth
of every flower

© Xenia Tran

macro shot of a Doronicum Orientale Little Leo flower and bud

This haiku was first published in Haiku Dialogue: Haiku Prism – Yellow, Troutswirl, The Haiku Foundation Blog, 8 April 2020. A very big thank you to guest editor Tia Haynes and post manager Lori Zajkowski for featuring my poem and putting this beautiful edition together.

Wishing you all a very happy Thursday,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/3.5 – 1/200 s – ISO 100, f/3.5 – 1/160 s – ISO 100 and f/3.5 – 1/400 s – ISO 100.

Sunshine’s Macro Monday #36

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Discover Prompt #8: Curve

A further selection of recent publications in online and print journals can be found here:

Wordless Wednesday: Thriving Viburnum

macro shot of pink viburnum flowers
macro shot of three viburnum flowers from a cluster

We are taking a short blogging break and will be back on Wednesday 11th March 2020.

Wishing you all a blessed Wednesday and a wonderful week ahead,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/3.5 – 1/320 s – ISO 100, f/3.5 – 1/500 s – ISO 100 and f/3.5 – 1/250 s – ISO 100.

Wordless Wednesday

Sunshine’s Macro Monday #31

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Wordless Wednesday: The Name of the Flower

macro shot of mathiola incana alba with one white flower open
macro shot of mathiola incana alba with the outer white flowers open

This tiny flower has appeared in our garden and might have come from a wind-blown seed. An internet search tells me it is called Mathiola Incana Alba. I hope she stays around for a while!

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/3.5 – 1/100 s – ISO 200 and f/3.5 – 1/125 s – ISO 125.

Wordless Wednesday

Sunshine’s Macro Monday #29

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Wordless Wednesday: Winter Flower

Viburnum

macro shot of a viburnum bud about to flower
macro shot of a flowering pale pink and white viburnum

Wishing you all a magical Wednesday and a wonderful rest of the week,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Settings: f/3.5 – 1/160 s – ISO 100 and f/3.5 – 1/125 s – ISO 100.

Wordless Wednesday

Sunshine’s Macro Monday #27

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Rag Tag Daily Prompt: Magic

Haiku: Lichen Light

lichen and moss on branches in a winter forest

lichen and moss
a small forest grows
along the branches

© Xenia Tran

macro shot of lichen and reindeer moss

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/4 – 1/160 s – ISO 160, f/2.8 – 1/80 s – ISO 100 and f/4 – 1/640 s – ISO 160.

Sunshine’s Macro Monday #25

Dutch Goes the Photo Tuesday Photo Challenge: Trees