Up to eyeballs...

... in training for a new job and getting kids settled in school. Should be back to normal next weekend!

crystalline sunshine (J. Andrew Lockhart)

crystalline sunshine
pierces through cool air...
autumn seduction

Cows stop play.

fine drizzle-
half a dozen cows stop
two inter-city trains


Power to the cow!

A handful of cows brought two big manmade machines to a full stop while making a policeman and a railwayman look silly trying to herd them away and look cool doing it.

To be fair to the policeman, he showed a good sense of humour and it lightened the mood of the overcrowded trains trying to get home from work.

Autumn kisses

Autumn kisses
I?m saving them
For u to come
~
©2006 kai croft

big yellow buses
slowly moving down the street
back to school monday

zucchini

shorter days
the zucchini still
blossoms

all of a sudden
the floors
too cold for bare feet

raft of ducks

raft of ducks

gliding by the dock

pulling in fall

late August

late August —
pale brown patches
on the lawn

clear sticky plastic
envelops their new school books
knowledge keeps longer

Don't Look Now

rain-soaked leaves...
my red waterproof straining
to live up to its name

Autumn wrap up -
fresh core
still available.

Artwork: Klaus Johansen

eyes closed

eyes closed,

mental liberty

fueled by the wind

bringing the first hint

of autumn

Leaves fell

Leaves fell

Scattering around

Way too soon
~
©2006 kai croft

bright autumn sun -
xxxthe empty hammock
xxxxxxfades just a bit more

Apple Spas

.
Natalia L. Rudychev
.
Apple Spas is a holiday celebrated on August 19. This is the day when apples are blessed. After the Apple Spas evenings get cooler and autumn begins. It is customary to enjoy apple pies, stewed apples and apple jam during this celebration.
.

fat magpie

fat magpie
sitting on the fence
autumn wind

In Memory

Summer ended
With the passing of her colors
Falling leaves

See another tribute to Mom on River-Tree Whispers. And one before her passing on Mothers Day. These times are rich.

autumn wind

the cold autumn wind
scatters the old leaves
in the family photo
her face is slowly
slowly fading

Vic Gendrano

the cat stops
at the open door
a chill in the air


Lynne

old fire escape

.
Natalia L. Rudychev
.

chimes softly singing
foliage dancing in the wind
promises of fall

bright sunshine but still
regretting the short skirt
goose-pimples


Lynne

my vision

my vision,

altered by fog

in the cool morning

sending my thoughts

from summer to fall

in wet sand
where deer cross the creek
a boot print

Sweet autumn

Sweet autumn
Leaves will fall as we stroll
For a nice walk---
~
©2006 kai croft

A butterfly shivering
last days in autumn -
shadows and dust.

autumn wind
scent of a doe
in heat

angel death

ch-ch-ch-changes...
Raglan Road to Raglan Lane
in the gentle rain

a south wind
the birds waiting on
migration

Naked trees

Naked trees
Dance in the autumn winds
No more leaves---
~
©2006 kai croft

autumn rain
dry leaves get soaked
remember green foliage dearly

fading rainbow --
a maple leaf swirls
down the drain

.

cool breeze caressing
solitary cricket sings
farewell to ebbing season

wasp nest -
work is done
early autumn
fiercely
annoying workers

wow gerald...that is great
sorry i have been tardy about posting anything ...
been rushed off my feet...
angelee

autumn rain
half naked children
try out every puddle

angelee

overcast sky
this morning's wet laundry
feels colder


Lynne

virtual fall revised ku

first
leave surfing down
supporting heat
tumble over by the rest of the gang
touching ground zero
last

fall plumage
freshly painted decoys
dry on the lawn

a red leaf

i saw it swiftly swirls

in early fall---
~
©2006 kai croft

the volcanoe knows no season

lava
red and gold flows
down the mountain raging
colors of autumn in the trees
burning

shanna

fingerprints

the grain
of the wood
fingerprinting time
season of the falling leaves
another ring

shanna

A short haibun

It had been a warm sunny day after a few dull cloudy ones. I'd been out to the shops in the morning and spent the afternoon pottering about doing a few household chores.

After tea I noticed the magpie again. It was on the driveway, looking around. It waddles up towards the rose tree which has a number of hips visible among the branches. It turns towards the lawn, crosses the footpath and on to the lawn. It looks at the willow tree but then walks across to the hedge.

I spend some time on the computer. Around 8pm I remember that I've not yet put the wheelie-bin out for the binmen who come tomorrow. I look out to see that it is now pouring down with rain. I gather up the household rubbish into plastic bags and put them by the front door.

Shortly after 10pm, I see the rain has eased off. I slip a coat on, gather up the bags, take them to the bin which I then wheel to the end of the drive.

in the dark
crunch and crack of snails
under my boot

Didn't see them guv', honest.

In the dim light I could see a dozen or more objects across the driveway. Rosehips dropped by the magpie I surmised.

Only the cold light of day confirms.

falling leaves...
dance
while they can

shanna

ragweed

photo by mmm
haiku by pdm

autumn heat
the setter sets in every
puddle

corn roast
the urge
to floss


;-)

Yellow leaves

Yellow leaves
I found one
On ur solid ground---
~
©2006 kai croft

Guardian Culture Vulture Site of the Week

Fallings Leaves has been declared Site of the Week by the Guardian Culture Vulture , Michelle Pauli who says

It may still be only the beginning of August but the haiku world is turning its seasonal eye towards autumn (arguably a far more satisfying time of year for your average melancholy scribe than that brash, bouncy, extrovert summer). Now, as all followers of our weekly topical haiku competition know - and ignore - haiku traditionally contains a "kigo", or season word, but this blog collection, Falling Leaves, is entirely dedicated to autumn. It is part of a series which traces the seasons as they unfold and follows the spring and summer collections. The principle is simple - you can read the haiku on the blog and post comments, or register with Blogger in order to contribute your own autumnal haiku. ... Reassuringly for haiku novices tempted to contribute, the founder of the blog is adamant that there are no "absolute absolutes" in haiku. You also have until October 30, if it still feels just a little too premature for musing on mulched leaves and conker fights.

sun out

sun out a magpie waits in the willow

summer grape
a brood of grouse
struggle to lift off

Coot arrives in flock
reeds rattle
roofing in process

tuning

the heat tries hard

to divert my attention

but it fails-

the sun falls earlier

today than yesterday

August

photo by mmm

waiting for autumn
my sweaters are restless
inside that drawer

A pretty nice day in autumn (Haiku)

A pretty nice day
One thing is missing
Not a leaf falls yet---

Autumn is waiting
For us take a walk
On red leaves----

He rakes the leaves
Off the sidewalk
While the trees wave goodbyes

blowing in
the winds of dancing leaves
the trees had gone nude

~
©2006 kai croft

wet smelling air

blows by..

hint of fall

one leaf

one leaf

will fall silently on grounds

in early august
~
©2006 kai croft

thick clover
branches rest their weight
of apples


Lynne

hearing

hearing the first

sound of band practice-

football season

shorter days...
the color in a leaf
in the soil


longer nights...
the color in a leaf
in the soil


Playing with the difference
in the two versions... ;-)

Trees

Trees are almost gone
Very empty as I left a
Little piece of me----
~

©2006 kai croft

the temperature drops
'back to school' clothes
in the supermarket


Lynne

early
autumn rain
renewed the lawn
stretching I rise from bench
again

two-thirds
of an august moon --
the rolling brownout ends

fallen leaves..
nourishment
for the long winter

shanna

8.2.06

two leaves

fells from many trees

turning all dead brown
~
©2oo6 kai croft

entrancing sunrise
a few seconds late each day

shorter days

shorter days berries begin to blush

loafing

loaf-mass day...
chocolate croissant dipping
and waiting for my girl


Happy Belated Lammas Day!

apples swell

between complaints
of too much sun, too much rain
the apples swell


Lynne

remaining heat
blends with showers of rain
mind change rhythm

bare path-

looking up for the first

yellow leaf

between the sky
and the spin of the earth
this falling leaf




(I'm unsure about the haiku "properness" of this type of phrasing?)

scarecrow guard
harvest field
the hammock gently nurse my sleep

brown orphan leaf
gently resting on grass
people rush past

autumn gale

autumn gale
the rosebush knocks
on my window

swallows chirruping
suspended on long cables
silhouettes against deep blue

August heatwave --
in the shade
of an American Elm