I took one look at Colleen’s challenge this week and though “no way, this is much to complicated.” I went back later and it didn’t look so bad so I gave it a go.
The challenge as I understand it is to write a syllabic poem using a kigo. What is a KIGO? A kigo is a season word used in haiku and haibun (the haiku portion). For more information please go over and read Colleen’s post (in case I got it wrong – smile!). https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2023/08/22/tankatuesday-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-334-8-22-23/
I wrote two haiku about our end of winter or mid summer depending on how you look at 30 degrees Celsius in August.
Plants shocked from slumber
Scorching heat absorbs moisture
New leaves curl and die
***
Relentless sun seers
Apathetic flowers droop
August winds churn dust
I am watering my garden every late afternoon. I hope we get rain and there are no water restrictions. The ground is dry and thirsty.
Signs of summer (we seem to have skipped right over spring):

The male weaver has been hiding. I saw him in the tree and spied on him from where I was watering behind the wall.
I discovered his nests about 20 minutes later.

He flew into the tree in disgust at my nosiness.


I liked this orange butterfly shot.
Gorgeous, Robbie! Your photos are always so wonderful. The birds and animals are always spectacular too.
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Hi Colleen, thank you. Did I get the poems right? The words were heat and sun. I think those will be my words for several weeks to come 🫣
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Such beautiful photos Roberta
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Thank you, Holly 🌷
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🌺
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Excellent haikus, Roberta. I’m feeling the August winds churning dust. I think the weaver bird and their nests are amazing.
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Hi Vera, the heat and dryness are dreadful. The weavers fascinate me. I watch them every year. This year he tucked his nest making well out of easy sight 😁
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We started off our summer really dry, then got saturated. Since then, it’s all evened out the way it should. I hope the same happens for you.
The haikus provoked very visual images. Well done, Robbie.
And I loved the photos! 🙂
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Hi Mae, I’m glad your weather settled down. Canada and parts of the USA and Europe have had horrible dryness and fires. The UK has had non stop rain.
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PS thank you for your comment about the haikus. I was aiming for visual 😊
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😔
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Beautiful pictures, Robbie, and a wonderfully descriptive poem. ❤
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Thank you, Tim. I appreciate your comments.
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Great photos and poetry, Robbie! Hoping for less heat and more rain for the plants.
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Hi Dave, thank you. We won’t get rain for some time yet. It usually starts in mid to end October. It is very hot though. Highest August temperatures ever.
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Climate change. 😦
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Beautiful. It’s summer up here.
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That is great, Timothy. The whole world having summer at the same time.
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So, so pretty! 🤍🌺
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Thank you
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I like the orange butterfly, too.
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I haven’t seen these orange butterflies before.
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Gorgeous poem, Robbie! I know water is a problem in many parts of the world and in many states in the US. How wonderful you have so many nests in your tree. The bird is lovely.
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Hi Miriam, we are lucky with our bird life here. Dry is normal for us in winter but the heat is above average for this time of year.
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I found a nest on the ground when we first moved in. I’ll see how to encourage birds to stay around next year when I have my garden in.
The weather is extremely devastating in most parts of the US also. The last few days were smoky because of the wildfires on the West coast. We had 93 to 100 degrees F for a few days but cooled off now.
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Beautiful haiku Robbie and those are awesome pictures. Thanks for sharing.
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Hi Balroop, I’m pleased you liked them 💕
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Well done! Poetry and pictures!
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Thank you, D 💚
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such beautiful captures, Roberta.
wonderful poetry 🤍
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Thank you, Destiny. I’m pleased you liked them 🌸
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my pleasure 🤍
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“August” “new leaves” look Like the kigos to me. I love all the photos in equal measure!
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Hi Liz, ah, I shall adopt your kilo words. I wasnt entirely sure what I was aiming for 🥰. I love Mr. weaver.
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I can see how you’d love Mr. Weaver. He’s handsome and industrious.
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Excellent photographs, Robbie.
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Thank you, Andrew 🌼
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You’re welcome.
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Beautiful photos to compliment your lovely haikus Roberta 💕
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I’m delighted you enjoyed 💞
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I know the feeling of waiting for rain, and unseasonal heat. I hope you don’t have a dry and scorching spring and summer.
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Yes, your part of the world has suffered this year. I’d rather have continuous rain than none.
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I hope you get some rain soon Robbie. And great photos–a story in themselves. (K)
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Hi Kerfe, often little tales unfold when you watch creatures. I enjoy the weavers.
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Love that butterfly! Beautiful poems as well.
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Thank you, Sassy
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I really enjoyed your poetry and photos, Robbie. Thank you!
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I’m so glad, Jennie
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Lovely poetry.
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Thank you
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You’re most welcome
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I always love your images of wildlife, Robbie those weaver bird’s nests are amazing 🙂
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I think we missed winter as well, Robbie. It’s threatening to be a long, hot, dangerous summer.
I love the photos of the weaver.
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Terrific as always Robbie…as our world’s climate and weather changes dramatically the so-called “leaders” argue and fight over nothing and it just gets worse…I completely understand that weather can change but I’m not naive enough to thank the way we live doesn’t contribute to that change, and if we can do things to counter it why wouldn’t we?
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Beautiful poems, Robbie, and I hope you get water soon too. Your photos are wonderful, and I love that orange butterfly.
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I thought the first haiku was especially vivid.
We are at end of summer heat here–though today it’s actually quite lovely. I love your weaver. He’s beautiful.
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Thank you, Merril 💕. I am very fond of birds.
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You’re welcome. I am, too.
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If this is your winter, I sincerely hope that your summer isn’t scorching. Both poems are so visceral. Beautifully written, as well as alarming, Robbie. And a lovely photos of your winged visitor.
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Thank you, Diana. Our last few summers have been very wet and thus cooler. This time now until mid to end Oct is hot and dry as we get summer rain. I hope that pattern continues as we also get bad droughts.
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I wonder if there really are any patterns these days that we can rely on. The weather seems so volatile. I hope you get a nice balance of rain and sun… wouldn’t that be nice!
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It would be lovely. Thank you, Diana!
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Absolutely beautiful poetry…and very cool nests!
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Thank you, Donna 🌸
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Fab Tanka, Roberta, even though the dry reality is scary.
I sure know what you mean about spring just skipping into summer. That’s been evolving here for a decade now.
Your photos are lovely. Thank you!
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” Plants shocked from slumber” powerful imagery, Robbie. ❤️
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Hi Gwen, thank you, I’m sure it is a shock for the plants to go overnight into mid summer. It was a shock for me too.
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😊
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I can picture the apathetic flowers that have just given up on the hope for rain 😦
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It is a dismal sight. Thank you.
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You’re welcome.
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Those are cool nests, Robbie!
Also,
This line made me stop and think… I was not expecting any blame to be put on the flowers…
A lovely write, as always!
❤
David
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Thank you, the flowers are reactionary.
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Beautiful photographs,Robbie. And your kigo, I could feel the summer heat all the way in Dhaka.
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Hi Smitha, thankfully it has cooled down and the temperatures are more like spring than mid summer.
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