In between nor’easters, we take a spur-of-the-moment day trip. We look at paintings of people now gone and places that no longer exist except in memories. We see landscapes of lush verdant woods that contrast with western desert landscapes featuring windmills, swimming pools, and ranch hands. Outside the museum, we walk around the patches of snow. Suddenly I notice the glowing forsythia bushes vibrant and defiant, rising from the white blanket at their roots to greet the sun. Though it’s fighting to remain, winter will soon be gone. We only need to wait a bit longer.
Golden yellow sighs,
whispers of a spring time song—
flowers in the snow
Grounds of the Mercer Museum, Doylestown, PA
I wrote more about the exhibit we saw at the Michener Museum on Monday. This haibun is for Frank’s haikai challenge, using the kigo, or season word, snow. This is also for Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday Challenge, where the prompt was to use synonyms for patience and green.
It has been a busy week with work and news. Now it’s time for poetry. Watch out for sharp objects today! 🙂
Although I’m not a fan of forsythia, I can see that the yellow flowers against the snow must be a great, bright sign that spring is coming.
Thanks, Jane. Yes, they really stood out in the snow (probably more than you can tell in the photo).
The flowers are pretty. It probably sounds silly but I don’t like the yellow with the greeny brown colour of the bark. It makes me think of bananas.
Hahaha. Well, we all have our things. 😉
And we can’t all like bananas 🙂
You don’t like bananas?
Nope. I hate anything banana flavoured, don’t like banana smell and don’t like banana colour.
I don’t like that fake banana smell or flavor, but I like bananas. And banana bread. 🙂
Love the image of flowering shrub/tree in snow! I am wondering if it might be witch hazel rather than forsythia? I also love your poem. C’mon spring!
Thank you, Will.
I am SO unknowledgeable about plants–so it might very well be witch hazel. 🙂
Reblogged this on Frank J. Tassone and commented:
#Haiku Happenings #3: Merril’s latest #haibun for my current #haikai challenge!
Thank you, Frank!
😇
Beautifully done. (I don’t like bananas)
Thank you, Derrick.
Your dislike is noted. I won’t serve bananas to you or Jane. 🙂
So is this forsythia or witch hazel?
I’d say forsythia. But I’m not the expert 🙂
Flowers in the snow…wonderful!
Thank you very much, Janice!
LOL! The forsythia bush is one of my favorites! I’m thinking of putting some in at the front of my house. I love how you incorporate your everyday life in your poetry. It’s fun seeing the world through your eyes. ❤
Thank you so much, Colleen. That’s a lovely comment! 🙂
You are most welcome. ❤
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Ahhh, so happy to see the yellow forsythia bush so brave and stalwart against the cold snowy root base. Thanks for the pretty view and lovely words: “golden yellow sighs.”
Thank you, Robin. There was more snow there–it’s in Doylestown, north of Philadelphia in Bucks County, and we’re in Nj south of Philadelphia.
I remember your saying you are in New Jersey and not in Philadelphia. I appreciate your comments back, Merril. 🙂
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