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bare trees, bare ground,
the wind's edge smells of snow:
anticipation

that shrill, tinny whine:
no such thing as true silence
when you have

such brilliant colors!
but how fast they dull and fade
the winter sunset

Sometimes I'm surprised how long these candles in a tin keep going, even when it looks like there's no wax left.

tiny candle
wick worn to the bottom
yet it persists

I once saw someone on Reddit refer to candles as "pet fire". I have to admit that's true for me, especially in winter.

the tiny votive
symbolically staves off
my gathering gloom

sweet warm cocoon
dreaming in the dark of day
time to leave my bed

A trail blaze is usually a spot of paint or a small square of color tacked to an occasional tree to mark the path. This beauty stood conveniently at a bend in the trail.

unintended blaze:
a lone autumn beech guides
on the yellow trail

single lit window:
bastion against the silent
smothering snow

fall morning highway
fling off the foggy veil and
burst into the blue

I was surprised to see so many forcing their way through the lumps of rock that were alongside the highways.

determination
a pine sapling sprouting
from the granite

oblivious
swans glide across the lake
cars down the highway

My mom and I startled a hawk in the backyard with his fresh-caught prey as we were going out to run errands. By the time we returned, there was almost nothing left.

the cooper's hawk
had his own Thanksgiving feast
pile of pigeon feathers

the starlings flowed
in a near-sentient swirl
across the dawn sky

Poconos ice cascades
old man winter grows his beard
on the rock faces

I volunteered at an animal shelter for several years. Older pets often don't get adopted as quickly as the younger ones.

the tired old cat
flops with familiarity
onto the care tech's lap

fading morning fog
the fields rub sleep from their eyes
along with me

I called them "helicopters" as a kid, but apparently their real name is samaras.

end of the party
whirling confetti rains down
swirls of samaras

I saw a couple of impressive ones on today's hike.

outwardly ugly
the beauty of resilience
in a burnished burl

Went to meet a friend and drove past a great flock of them. I do wonder what they were digging so intently for in there...

leaf-strewn cemetery:
those bones are too deep for you,
scratching ravens and crows

As a kid, I was often disappointed by rainy holidays. As an adult, I've come to appreciate them more.

slow gray holiday
nature's opportunity
reflection in rain

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HaikuHedgehog

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