The Not-So-Distant Sea

By the Sea of Japan, at twilight

Sea Lion Rock

Evening pastels

日本海の水

Chiselled by the Wind

Leaning lovers, captured in stone

Island Ferry

Adrift

Let us walk hand in hand by the sea, as day begins to dream of night. The air is cool, but your fingers are warm. In a low voice, with slow words, tell me of the boyhood days when you sought this place, the rocks you named, the hot summer days when the water gave refreshment. The deep, sweeping rush of the restless water sings along.

 

A Setsubun walk

I went for a wander on February 3, which in the old lunar calendar of Japan marked the beginning of spring. It was a mild day, with pale sunlight breaking through the clouds. My destination was the Dan-Dan Food Festa near the station, which for me is always one of the highlights of a typically dreary month.

Now you see it…

Green’s Baby

From one bridge, another.

From beneath the sleeping cherry tree.

Glimpses of Teramachi

Setsubun shrine

Camelia

Food Festival!

Modern samurai, handing out leaflets

Local product

hot sake for cold winter days

Indian Curry!

Tsukemono

meat on a stick – a must for food festivals in Japan.

Wild Boar Dumplings

Chicken Kara-age

Steamy

a myth comes to life on a shuttered shop

Objects – a store with beautiful pottery from all over Japan

my neighbourhood

 

a scrap of blue sky

caught on Morning’s pale fingers

never let it go

 

Worlds Away – morning in Canada

 

gentle touch of rain


a timid courtship, rebuffed


for its chilly fingers

2011.12.21

 

 indefinable


the earthy smell of autumn


stirs warm memories

2011.12.07

 

a whimsical moon


mischievous among the clouds


playing children’s games

2011.12.08

 

ah, the Christmas hat!


certain to cause surprised squeals


and delighted smiles

2011.12.08

 

me and Murphy’s Law


the moment I step outside


the sky cracks open

011.12.08

 

this blinding herald


writhes and sears the dark night sky


year of the Dragon

2011.12.08

 

 in sunrise colours


Tokyo stretches forever


the future is here

2011.12.10

 

An Autumn Haiku

I heard the crow’s call

echo in the naked trees

But never saw him

2012.11.09