First Sign of Spring

Leaf 347 – Art Inspired

 

Kaii Higashiyama - Sign of Spring (1988)

A seasonal haiku, hailing renewal and rejuvenation, inspired by Kaii Higashiyama’s ‘Sign of Spring’ (1988).

 

 

Pale buds

growing greener

– first sign of spring.

 

 

 

Harold Lloyd in Japan

Leaf 346 – Reflections

 

Harold Lloyd in Japan, c.1962

Harold Lloyd was always my favourite amongst all of the most famous comedians of the golden age of silent film in Hollywood. I’ve read several books about him, but I was curious to find a few photos of a trip he made to Japan in later life. I’d love to know more about that trip and the places he visited.

 

 

HAROLD LLOYD IN JAPAN

 

Evening star –

silently sliding shut

a silver screen.

 

 

 

Toy Boats

Leaf 345 – Reflections

 

Edward Hopper - Coast Guard Cove (1929)

As a child, I always enjoyed playing with toy boats – losing my imagination in made-up stories of sea voyages and shipwrecks on far away islands. And compared to the raw power of the sea, real boats can be tossed about and meet their ends like simple toys too.

 

 

Toy boats

in rock pools

on a rugged shore.

 

 

 

Eleanor Hughes - On the Cliff (Penlee House Gallery & Museum)

Cushioned in Dream

Leaf 344 – Reflections

 

Harold C. Earnshaw - The World Forgetting (1927)

There’s nothing like a good book for totally transporting the soul …

 

 

NEVER-ENDING STORY

 

Cushioned in dream –

each page alighting

another world away.

 

 

 

Tea or Coffee?

Leaf 343 – Reflections

 

David Palmer - How to Make Tea (1977)

I’m more of a tea, rather than a coffee drinker myself …

 

 

Red Label (loose leaf)

– my mother,

warming the pot.

 

 

 

Osaka Castle

Leaf 342 – Looking Back

 

Kawanishi Yuzaburo - Osaka Castle (1967)

One is often apt to see some odd pets here in Japan. Not just the wide variety of little dogs that get taken regularly to massage parlours and hair salons that are dedicated to caring for such pampered pets (see, Leaf 281). I’ve seen videos of people keeping otters in their apartments, feeding them sashimi. And I once saw a man out walking with a meerkat on a lead. But one of the strangest sights I ever saw was back in 2009:

 

 

Gazing up at Osaka Castle.

 

An iguana –

wearing a

pink feather boa.

 

 

 

London Lights

Leaf 341 – Looking Back

 

Ronald Lampitt - London Nightscape

An homage to my home city, so far away …

 

 

Lights of the city

spanning the river

– London aglow!