Poetry - April 2026

 

Plum blossom in the gardens at The Herb Farm

1st April, 2026

Plum and cherry 

spring blossom –

a wedding day.

***

Dawn. Plum blossom:

white silk in the wind —

the last snow

and spring.

After Wang Zhenbai, 9th Century Tang dynasty poet

靓妆才罢粉痕新，

迨晓风回散玉尘。

若遣有情应怅望，

已兼残雪又兼春。

***

Full moon. White tea pours

through the window

in climbing blossom —

the old pane

with its own currents.

Music somewhere.


3rd April 2026

Moonlight has its own gravity,

holding stone, branch, your hand

against the sky

becoming moonlight.

***

Still

your lip

on mine.

*

Black

leather

jacket.

*

Yellow silk.

Softer:

you.

*

Dark

wood.

Skin.

*

Strands

of hair

on white pillow.

*

Air —

open window.

Night breathes.


4th April, 2026

Suddenly, curlew song rising:

strength for today

and bright hope for tomorrow.


10th April, 2026

Imagine that you

can fold into a moment,

breathe silence, hold time.

13th April, 2026

Iron Bodhisattva —

she touches a finger to my tongue

and teaches it starlight.


19th April, 2026

Stars.

A grandfather's smile.

The last frost.

***

Above the mountains,

no bird in flight.

Old man in a bamboo hat

fishing the river of snow.

After Liu Zongyuan, Tang dynasty poet

千山鸟飞绝

万径人踪灭

孤舟蓑笠翁

独钓寒江雪


20th April, 2026

Centre of its world, child –

Moon reaching up,

Jupiter reaching down.

22nd April, 2026

The closing eye

begins to dream – a glimpse

of sudden gold:

the mustard seed.

Its branches grow

immense, creaking

inside the skull;

it sends its roots down

deep past tongue

and blossoming lungs

into the sleeping heart.

The dreamer awakes.


25th April, 2026

Cherry tree

in shade –

regret?

***

Mouse

cannot find a way.

Turns around.

***

Fox

watching fools

write poetry.


26th April, 2026

Same daydream—

incense, plum blossom, woman,

moon, fox scat.


27th April, 2026

Cracked limestone.

From the gaping eye,

a green shoot.

#poetry #micropoetry and #haiku first posted on johnnorthwrites.bsky.social