April 1, Edmonton:

Yesterday, the sun warm on my shoulders, I took a walk in the river valley. Everywhere, winter's ruins, the pillaged snow, the leafless trees, the smell of rotting leaves. The cackling of geese surprised me and I stopped, watched them fly over in their search for open water, for nesting sites.

Mmmm! Spring is finally here.

Today, up early, I look out the window and see several inches of fresh powder snow. On the computer, I come across Soji's haiku.

sudden storm
the geese overhead
fade into snowflakes

Reluctantly, I trudge out the door and pick up my snow shovel. I feel like a soldier who has been too long at war. No haiku moment for me today!

daffodils on the
window pane -
heads hanging down

Ray Rasmussen is a photographer who lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He spends a good deal of his outdoor time in Canyonlands National Park, Utah and in one of Canada's most remote and untouched provincial parks, Willmore Wilderness just North of Jasper National Park. He writes haiku poetry and its related forms haibun [prose plus haiku]. He is also active in creating haiga [haiku plus images]. In a previous life he was a University Professor. See website.