Blog Archives
Quest
A cottonwood leaf in Maricopa County, Arizona announces autumn’s arrival.
First quest of autumn—
I try to read messages
written in the leaves.
Haiku and photo © by Magical Mystical Teacher
Cleft
The Citadel, Wupatki National Monument, Northern Arizona.
a cleft in the wall—
the smoke from midday cookfires
seeps into the stones
Haiku © 2018 and photo © 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More SkyWatch Friday
More Midweek Motif at Poets United: “The Wall”
Spaces
A red leaf among pine debris, Lockett Meadow Campground, Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona, autumn 2016
On the forest floor
even hidden spaces hold
both darkness and light.
Photo and haiku © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Macro Monday 2
More Ruby Tuesday Too
More Midweek Motif at Poets United: “Space”
Cover
On the shore of Upper Lake Mary, Coconino National Forest, Arizona
autumn cloud cover—
ten thousand hidden creatures
cower in the woods
Haiku and photo © 2016 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More SkyWatch Friday
More Midweek Motif at Poets United: “Invisibility”
Quiet
On the shore of Upper Lake Mary, Coconino National Forest, Arizona
A quiet place to compose poetry…
Text and photo © 2016 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Six-Word Saturday
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2
More Sunday Scribblings 2: “Compose”
Watching
Upper Lake Mary, Coconino National Forest, Arizona
Under the pine, someone is watching.
Text and photo © 2016 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Six-Word Saturday
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2
More Sunday Scribblings 2: “Watching”
Nap
Autumn color, Northern Arizona
an afternoon nap—
the shape of the old dog’s breath
among autumn leaves
Haiku © 2016 and photo © 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Macro Monday 2
More Ruby Tuesday Too
More Haiku Horizons: “Shape”
Searching
Dried and battered wildflowers, Northern Arizona
As I shuffle through the arroyo, I keep dropping to my knees. An onlooker might mistake me for a pilgrim making my way to Lourdes. But the healing I seek cannot be found at some distant holy shrine. It is here in the dust at my feet: cedar twigs snapped off by storms; summer’s leftover flowers; small stones trying in vain to fatten themselves on wisps of winter sun.
I aim my camera at a clump of wasted wildflowers, remembering words from a letter written long ago: “God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are…” (1 Corinthians 1:28, RSV).
Low and despised is nature’s detritus in the arroyo, but it heals my battered spirit as I kneel in awe and wonder before it.
I kneel in the dust,
searching for underground streams—
three crows bear witness.
Revised haibun © 2016 and photo © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Poetry Pantry #324 at Poets United
Overnight
Autumn begins to color deciduous trees in Coconino National Forest, Northern Arizona
Did these fall colors appear overnight?
Text and photo © 2016 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Six-Word Saturday
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2
More Sunday Scribblings 2: “Overnight”
Quaking
Cottonwood leaf in autumn, Apache County, Arizona
Quaking conversations held by autumn leaves…
Text © 2016 and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Six-Word Saturday
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2
More Sunday Scribblings 2: “Quaking”
Magical Mystical Teacher 