January 29: First Snow (again)

January 29, 2011February 1, 2011 / Melissa Allen

one
empty barn
first snow

first snow
the footprints of the neighbors
we’ve never seen

first snow
and again
the owl

_____________________________

First published in LYNX, XXVI:1, February 2011

Why do I say “again” in the post title? Because there are also these here.

Also, for a stunning graphic interpretation of the final haiku in this sequence, go take a look at Kuniharu Shimizu’s haiga at see haiku here: http://seehaikuhere.blogspot.com/2011/02/haiga-491-mellisa-allen-haiku-3.html

9 thoughts on “January 29: First Snow (again)”

Alegria Imperial

January 29, 2011 at 12:25 pm

All wonderful, Melissa! Congratulations!

And congratulations, too, again, for your voted haiku in the just posted January 2011 Shiki Kukai! I know that I voted both for your kigo and free format haiku.

Your jux-es are getting really better and your images expressed in so few words. Perfect haiku!

Thank you for sharing these.

Reply
- Melissa Allen
  
  January 30, 2011 at 11:31 am
  
  Thank you, Alegria — and congratulations yourself! Loved your LYNX pieces. (As you will see in this week’s Haikuverse. 🙂 )
  
  Reply
Sully

January 29, 2011 at 1:14 pm

Way to go Melissa. I like your haiku in the Skiki Kukai. And above the footsteps of the neighbors is excellent. I think that is an experience we have all had during winter, and your scant words are right on.

And Alegria, you and I share a moment of glory at the bottom of the list. And do not look carefully, but I am there twice. Jim Sullivan.

Reply
- Melissa Allen
  
  January 30, 2011 at 11:34 am
  
  Thanks, Sully. Yeah, I have a weakness for that one too — although it is indebted, of course, to Basho’s poem about his neighbor, which if you’re not familiar with it there are about a zillion translations here: http://wkdkigodatabase03.blogspot.com/2007/11/autumn-deepens-aki-fukashi.html
  
  Reply
Margaret Dornaus

January 29, 2011 at 2:54 pm

Congratulations, Melissa. I’m so proud to know you and to have your voice as inspiration. I have to say I have a real fondness for your “owl” ku . . .

Reply
- Melissa Allen
  
  January 30, 2011 at 11:36 am
  
  Thanks, Margaret! That owl ku actually was inspired by the Facebook status of one of my teenage “friends” who posted in great excitement sometime in December, shortly after it had snowed, “The owl is back!” That’s it. Wow, did my imagination go to town on that one…I think I might want to write a novel someday called “The Owl is Back” but for right now I’m making do with a haiku. 🙂
  
  Reply
Bill

January 30, 2011 at 7:59 am

A very good group, and congratulations on the publication.

Reply
- Melissa Allen
  
  January 30, 2011 at 11:37 am
  
  Thanks, Bill. 🙂
  
  Reply
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