Michael Gates

The frozen Niagara river with the partially frozen falls in the background

An empire of ice
Ends freedom, chills all kindness
Till love’s rays conquer
#haiku #poetry #photography

A plants sticks in a snow bank

Sticks in snow await
Spring with its melting succor
So we loathe but live
#haiku #poetry #photography

Black winter tree against a gray sky

Nude trees claw the sky
Winter’s tyrant rules by force
Endurance is all
#haiku #poetry #photography

Just do the opposite of whatever he recommends. It’s always Opposite Day while he’s the secretary of health.

He really looks and sounds like the picture of health, doesn’t he??

He really looks and sounds like the very picture of health, doesn’t he??

A melting snow man with a slinky nose

Ice crashes off roof
Snow men fall, even countries
Still the planet spins
#haiku #poetry #photography

Snow on the branches of a bush in a snow-covered yard

Seen through icy glass
The white zero of winter
Counsels to commence
#haiku #poetry #photography

Do a lot of golfers watch MS NOW? Many of the commercials are aimed at people who play golf?

A large five-pointed star on a red barn door

A star is the sign
No other kingdom on Earth
Yes Hallelujah
#haiku #poetry #photography

Blue sky with gray clouds over a field of snow

Mind is open sky
Clouds intrude like painful thoughts
Storms end with blue dawns
#haiku #poetry #photography

Bare tree branches against a cold gray sky

Snow falls silently
Bombs fall bringing infamy
Year ends with bleak skies
#haiku #poetry #photography

A fallen leaf surround by snow

Snow obscures dead leaves
War fog excuses vile deaths
Spring’s sun reveals truth
#haiku #poetry #photography

Hot, glowing embers in a fire pit

Justice winds howl now
Oaks crack and fall to timber
Our fires consume them
#haiku #poetry #photography

People standing on a bridge in the distance over a river surrounded by trees

Don’t yield to fury
Or a teacup tsunami
Watch rivers flow on
#haiku #photography #poetry

First snow of the season. What season? Fall. But hey—it’s Buffalo! #photography #snow

What we're watching: A new take on "Frankenstein," a lavish legal drama starring Kim Kardashian and a Tracy Morgan-led spinoff.

sometimes an Oxford comma can make all the difference

A thriving green plant among colorful dead leaves

Even in death’s midst
Humans can strive to blossom
Despots like leaves fall
#haiku #poetry #photography

Swirling leaves drop now
Houses topple in fierce storms
Thus mad kings must fall
#haiku #poetry #photography

Dark storm clouds over trees and houses

In his autumn storm
Boy-king smashes his palace
Citizens rain tears
#haiku #poetry #photography

Nature pauses now
Leaves rattle and berries fall
Soldiers too should cease
#haiku #poetry #photography

Tree branches against an ominous sky

Storms rage, branches crack
Nations tremble before fiends
Still birds chirp at dawn
#haiku #poetry #photography

Thanks!

A woodland path through trees with sunlight and shadows

World turns to chaos
Leave all kings to their chessboards
Enter woods and breathe
#haiku #poetry #photography

Sunset that silhouettes a bridge and factory smokestacks

A mad year’s sun sinks
Tyrants speak as leaves wither
Roots await fresh dawns
#haiku #poetry #photography

Autumn leaves on trees in a park

Autumn comes quickly
Things die so beautifully
Nature needs no gun
#haiku #poetry #photography

A white moon flower in bloom

Moon gapes overhead
Nature grieves as Earth devolves
Flowers whisper why
#haiku #poetry #photography

No need for private messaging. Say whatever is on your mind right here.

Thanks. Just an iPhone! But I usually edit them later to crop and enhance. I find that knowing when and where to snap the picture is what really makes for good photography.