Here in North Wales we probably get more than the average amount of rain. Even so when looking through my haiku I was still surprised at the number that were about rain - and birds of course.
So here are a few haiku for a rainy day, arranged in a rather loose seasonal sequence ...
After a period of silence, not hearing them since February, when a few warm days encouraged us out, the Blackbird have started to sing again.
early morning
in greening woods
blackbird sing
The Lapwing are back ...
[...] Suddenly! Some chance movement has been noticed by the nearest Lapwing, and away they go at once as if with the same wings, sweeping overhead, then to the right, then to the left, and then back again, till at last lost in the coming shower. [...]
Richard Jefferies (1848-1887)
Listen - there he is - singing now from the hawthorn at the edge of the wood; ‘chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff, chiff‘, the thin notes hanging in the air - the arrival of Spring ...
cold easterly the double note of a chiffchaff
A Lark Rising - Reimagining Richard Jefferies #6
One of Jefferies’ favourite birds, the lark, was for him associated not only with summer days, but with the promise of summer that is felt towards the end of winter. This small bird of the light and endless blue sky, that seemed to bring a message of hope, of love even, was one he could never tire of seeing and hearing.
