‘Nomura Haikus’

Iris

Goddess of rainbows
blue indigo violet
mood after rainfall

Foxglove

Southwark Cathedral
bells tinkle in foxglove spires
a candle is lit

Aquilegia

Set in the city
columbine from the woodlands
the alpine meadows

Agapanthus Bridal Bouquet

Lily of the Nile
beribboned sapphire bloom
floats along the aisle

Achillea Millefolium Paprika

Carried in battle
by Achilles for war wounds
by starlings for nests

Black Beauty Aubergine

Nightshade not deadly
midnight polished fruit
a white chopping board

Hakurei Turnip

A pearl globe is dug
from a dark patch of earth
the sun consumes

Salvia

from the cloud forests
prospers in tropical fogs
psychedelic mist

Cornflower

Vase of cornflowers
sits on a writing bureau
writer’s pen flows

Buttercup

Ranunculus dot
childhood butter diviner
florin of the heath

Nepeta Six Hills Giant (Catmint)

Allures hummingbirds
bees cats and butterflies
resists rabbits

Lavandula

A cottage garden
exhales the scent of lavender
birds nest in the thatch

Honey Boat Squash

Sweetest of squashes
copper skinned delicata
a spoonful of soup

Penstemon Garnet

Pink perennial
stems of rubies climb skyward
reminiscent hearts

Peony

Paeon was turned
from man into peony
to save his mythical life

Lemon Balm

Dressed in white curls
Melissa for honey bee
a spritz of citrus