Italian poet Barbara captures winter’s raw essence, for Different Truths, through evocative haikus, blending moonlit stillness, domestic warmth, and a fierce awakening of the Earth.
underneath
this full moonlight . . .
bare trees
winter sky . . .
feeling terrified
at every sound
wholemeal bread
on the wood stove –
an inspection
love for earth awakes:
winter chill bites at my nose
without any shame
Picture design by Anumita Roy
Barbara Anna Gaiardoni is a prominent Italian pedagogist and poet. Her Japanese-style verse appears in 280 magazines across 12 languages. A winner of the 7th Basho International Competition and two-time Touchstone Award nominee (2023, 2024), she was recently ranked among Europe’s Top 100 most creative haiku authors in 2025. With features in The Mainichi and an Honourable Mention at the 2024 Fujisan Tanka Contest, her work reflects globally.
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Winter chill, warm stove, wholemeal bread, terror from sounds, bare trees, winter sky..moonlit night- !!Loving the imagery in your poem!!!
Dear Rupa, thank you so much for capturing the essence of these verses so deeply. It warms my heart to know that the contrast between the warmth of the stove and the starkness of winter resonated with you so vividly.
The connection between our inner world and the cycles of the Earth is exactly what I aim to explore: how even within “terror from sounds” or the biting cold, one can find a form of love and presence.
Thank you for sharing your sensitivity with me!