A Year of Haiku
January
Single snowflakes drift.
Wonder of woodpecker sighting.
Watch squirrel feasting.
February
Normally solitary.
Joy to see, four of you here,
bobbin of robins
March
Trumpets waving in
the wind. Daffodils, can now
announce spring is here!
April
Yellow winged dart.
Goldfinch watches me. Dark eyes,
distinctive red head.
May
I pause to admire
Stunning pink cherry blossom
An Easter bonnet.
June
We play the old game;
‘He loves me, he loves me not,’
with Ox-eye daisies.
July
Puffball pink the blooms
of peonies hang weighed down
by summer showers
August
The laden bows bend.
Need help to support bright red
Apples for autumn.
September
The gladioli,
Spear-like purple majesty.
Floral abundance.
October
A mast year will mean
an abundance on the old
oak tree, of acorns.
November
Cirro cumulus.
‘A mackerel sky,’ we say.
Nothing fishy though.
December
A fatball swinging.
Magpie. Such a busy bird.
Flash of black and white.
Single snowflakes drift.
Wonder of woodpecker sighting.
Watch squirrel feasting.
February
Normally solitary.
Joy to see, four of you here,
bobbin of robins
March
Trumpets waving in
the wind. Daffodils, can now
announce spring is here!
April
Yellow winged dart.
Goldfinch watches me. Dark eyes,
distinctive red head.
May
I pause to admire
Stunning pink cherry blossom
An Easter bonnet.
June
We play the old game;
‘He loves me, he loves me not,’
with Ox-eye daisies.
July
Puffball pink the blooms
of peonies hang weighed down
by summer showers
August
The laden bows bend.
Need help to support bright red
Apples for autumn.
September
The gladioli,
Spear-like purple majesty.
Floral abundance.
October
A mast year will mean
an abundance on the old
oak tree, of acorns.
November
Cirro cumulus.
‘A mackerel sky,’ we say.
Nothing fishy though.
December
A fatball swinging.
Magpie. Such a busy bird.
Flash of black and white.
This poem is copyright (©) Sareen McLay 2026
About the Writer
Sareen McLay
Sareen’s poems have appeared in the zine ‘Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet’ and in the Dutch newspaper, ‘The Underground’ where she was resident poet for a time. Her poem, ‘Laughter’ won the Sweet Solitude poetry competition and was performed by the theatre group, ‘Alchemy Ensemble’. She is the Director of the book review site for children, www.mybookcorner.co.uk and is an SCBWI co-ordinator. When not writing, Sareen can be found with her head in a book or out in the garden.
