snow
its own
cathedral
( Originally published in The Heron’s Nest: XIX.1, March 2017)
Published by
Helen Buckingham
Helen Buckingham lives in Wells, UK. Her work appears regularly in journals and anthologies including: Frogpond, The Heron's Nest, Modern Haiku, Haiku in English: The First Hundred Years (W.W. Norton, 2013) and nada annunaad: an anthology of contemporary world haiku (Vishwakarma Publications, 2016). She won first prize in the Martin Lucas Award, 2016. Her most recent collection is the Touchstone Award shortlisted sanguinella (Red Moon Press, 2017). View all posts by Helen Buckingham
snow
its own
cathedral
( Originally published in The Heron’s Nest: XIX.1, March 2017)
—HELEN BUCKINGHAM
Always a sucker for a good snow haiku! It does have its own power and majesty beyond the obvious.
.
.
the low slant
of winter light
cathedrals
.
Alan Summers
Award Credit: Semi-Finalist, Shambhala Times First Annual Midwinter Haiku Contest 2014
Delighted this one did so well and selected by Guest Judge Patricia Donegan!
Hm, my mind goes in a few directions here but doesn't land. Is the snow taking over a cathedral? Is the snow piling up like a cathedral to itself? Is each snow lattice a structure? Hm.
Brilliant minimalistic haiku!
heavy snow–
church-bell melts
the silence
Pravat Kumar Padhy
Publication Credit: Writers and Lovers Café, Spring issue 2014
I love how the absence of anything but snow makes the reader focus on the miracle that it is – and that no two snowflakes are identical.
A beautiful ku, Helen, that makes me go, "aaaaah!"
marion
Thanks so much for all your comments, really appreciated.
I have never heard snow described so perfectly. And in only four words! A gem of a poem.