Fall Haiku

The shift from summer to fall is abrupt in Alaska. One day the sun is bright and warm, and seemingly the next it is rainy and cold. Not a summer cold, where the rain cools the temperatures temporarily, but a cold that only tightens its grip until the bitterness of winter arrives.


Perhaps it is because of its brevity, usually lasting less than six weeks, I find our autumn an open invitation to write haiku. The brief form of the poem and the beauty of the season make a perfect match. 

Just for fun, here are a few of the fall haiku I’ve penned over the years paired up with  snapshots taken that reflect the inspiration behind them. (By the way, clicking on the pictures will provide a larger view.)

mushrooms coming out

umbrellas sprout overnight

against the fall rains

fall's thief September
stealing sunshine from the sky
hoarding it on leaves

autumn is contrast
foliage sweet and sour
in bright hues of death

mercurial fall
the eve's dew is morning frost
melting in the sun

lake valley fog drifts
summer's spirit rising up
passing on to fall

sun has grown weary
each day it rises later
earlier to bed







The last haiku is very true. We're losing almost six minutes of daylight each day. I've got just enough time, and light, to go out and find some more fall haiku. Thanks for stopping by.