Prologue
Spring morning
a moment of grace
in the sun
winter-hardened soil
yields the season’s first chutes
Spring Suite, Part I: At the NJ Botanical Gardens

The twin rows of apple trees define a path down the center of Skyland Manor’s Great Lawn. They won’t blossom until May.
Many other trees already do. Daffodils, hydrangeas, and other plants, as well. All of which Mira says we have at home.
Why did we travel almost an hour to see them?
weather-worn stone
cracked statues across
white blossoms
photograph by Randy Jacob
first published in Image Curve, April 7, 2016
Spring Suite, Part II: Blossoming

The Ramos’ dogwoods are in full bloom. Cream petals, in the late morning sun — from out of nowhere.
sapling
swaying in a breeze
robin’s flight
photograph by Alexandru Tudorache
first published in Image Curve, April 14, 2016
Spring Suite, Finis: Apple Trees

The apple tree in our backyard has grown back. Dad and I trimmed it way back before he died. It’s full again, leaves covering its crowning branches in a mane of green.
Frankie’s step remains at the base of the trunk: a two-by-four we nailed just below the trunk split. The one he uses to climb while on base during our games of tag.
Like my own stomp step that I used to climb my own apple tree so many years ago.
small blossoms
a robin ascends
to her nest
more by FRANK J. TASSONE
photograph by Lizzie Guilbert
first published in Image Curve, April 21, 2016
republished here
Epilogue
dusk
temptations to relapse
into despair
fade before the first stars
of a clear spring night
for dVerse Tuesday Poetics–Sunny-side Up! Pubtended by lillian
COLLEEN’S 2018 #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 77: CHARM & TIME, #SNYONYMSONLY
#Weekly Tanka Prompt #Poetry Challenge – Week 90 – Temptations & Relapse
With Real Toads’ Tuesday Platform
Categories: haikai, haiku community
Love all the Beautiful Pics
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Nice selection of poetry and images. Thanks. Happy Easter!
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Thanks, Elsie! Happy Easter to you, too! 😀
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Oh my gosh, Frank! You’ve outdone yourself….this is marvelous! And I loved the image from the prompt you used in the end. This is truly sunny-side up! Thank you — what a wonderful way to end my evening!
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Thank you, lillian! I really appreciate that! 😀
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Wow, Frank! What an amazing presentation. Spectacular Haibun, Haiku, and Tanka. You should type these up and frame them. Splendid!! ❤
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Thanks, Colleen! 😀
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Beautiful sunny spring mornings are definitely moments of grace! Very nice!
Dwight
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Thanks, Dwight!
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Sweet nostalgia1
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Thanks, Rosemary!
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Really beautiful images and words.
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Thank you!
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My goodness this is just too beautiful for words!! 😍😍
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Thank you so much, Sanaa! 😀
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Beautiful! All of these and the pictures!!
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Thanks, Mary! 😀
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Spring is here, it snowed last night?
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Did it really? 😆
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Your pics fill me with the hope of spring. Well done!
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Thanks, Vivian! 😀
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Love it– and i marvel at the bloom you have already… may it bear fruit as well
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Thanks, Bjorn, but I didn’t take the photos. Image Curve elicits photos from photographers or photo sites. The editors match them to poetry submissions. I discover them along with the readers! 😆
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Sunshine Symphony Colors
Orchestrate Spring Flowers
More Never limited by Images
Or Words alone always more
Beauty
Wisdom in
Creativity more..:)
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Nice how the temptations faded at the end.
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Love this!
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Thanks! 😀
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Thanks, Elsie! 😀
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