Saturday, November 28, 2020

Unimagined Fungus

After a full year

of daily haiku entries

from the same backyard,


plus eleven years

of longer essays, one might 

expect that one had


exhausted all the

possible observations

on which to write. Wrong. 


Twenty some odd growths

show up overnight in lawn

Brown Dog Turd Fungi


So named not because

they grow on poo, but because

they resemble it


Apt name, methinks and

alarming to discover 

one late afternoon


~dkm 20/52








Sunday, November 22, 2020

Yellow Feathered Beauty

Precious pine siskin

Flew against my window pane

Heartbreaking stillness 


~dkm 19/52 



Sunday, November 15, 2020

Unexpected Drove of Pine Siskins

An irruption year

for pine siskins in Georgia

driven by climate


Here by the dozens

I counted nineteen at once

perched on the feeders


From same family

as American goldfinch

Shared genus: Spinus


Smaller, but louder

meowing like their cousins

sounding like kittens


Sometimes they raise a 

hint of a crest on the top

of their dainty heads


Not the least bit shy

these cute small streaky brown birds

with yellow edged wings

don't fly as soon as

most, at Backyard Spectator's

approach with camera


They all stare right back

Curious or aggressive?

Size of a large thumb

~dkm 18/52












Sunday, November 8, 2020

Beauty, Longevity, & Gratitude

Sixty-five year old

Cherry trees in deep decline

White lichen the sign


They've exceeded their

40 year expectancy

by twenty-five years


Breathtaking gifts to

 the world each spring, yet they've asked

nothing in return


Lichen does no harm

Mother nature's housekeeper

Gives beauty to death


~dkm 17/52




Sunday, November 1, 2020

Beside the Still Waters

Deep breath of blue sky

Cleansing the spirit, the heart

body, mind,  and soul


~dkm 16/52

Chickenhouse retreat in Marietta, GA