An evening on the dock
muggy air extracts
a chorus of cicadas
a whining of mosquitoes
a deluge from dark clouds
thunder growls
lightning dashes like fireflies
the tide moves in and out
as a matter of course
chopping onions
in the stream
of early morning
the house becomeshome
is where the heart is
learning to reside
though straggly
soon they conquer all…
violets~ Issa, 1822
I haven’t had time to write my own small stones lately. You might think it doesn’t take much time to write up a small stone, but for me it does. I find it challenging to be succinct.
I came across this Issa haiku after spending time with the violets in the woods and meadows. It was too appropriate to pass up. I’m hoping it will, when I find time again, lead me towards writing my own small stones (and/or haiku) once again. It is a challenging, but enjoyable, exercise in mindfulness.
Little birds — sparrows, juncos, chickadees — dance at the feeder, filling their bellies. A red-tailed hawk hides in the trees at the back of the pond, waiting patiently as snow and wind whirl and howl. I wonder if he is contemplating the animal tracks in the snow and on the ice, hoping to manifest breakfast. Pema Chödrön said, “Give up all hope of fruition,” because hope robs us of the present moment. The hawk abandons hope and swoops. Breakfast has arrived.
Tiny white snowflakes fill the air
As the cold squeezes and squeezes
Moisture from the overhanging clouds
Bella is glad
She wore her winter coat
clouds sagging earthward
meet the high-reaching branches
of skeletal trees
I’ve decided to participate in the Mindful Writing Challenge which starts in January. I enjoyed this year’s River of Stones so much that I couldn’t pass it up. In the meantime, a bit of practice can’t hurt.
The image is a collage of three photos taken on a foggy, misty morning much like today.
snowflakes mingling
with raindrops
a fall transition
We had our first hint of winter yesterday. It was mitten weather, cold and damp after a week with the remnants of Sandy swirling wind, gray clouds, and rain showers over the area. The lake effect machine (Lake Erie in the north) was turned on, bringing rain at first. Big, fat snowflakes joined in, reminding us that winter weather will soon take over.
through the grass
sunlight plays on water
dancing in autumn
Summer has been busy and I’ve once again been ignoring this blog. It’s harvest season as I write this so I can’t make promises to post regularly just yet, but coming back here every now and then is a little like coming home.
Autumn is my favorite of the seasons. The cooler weather always makes me want to dance. 🙂
a moment of stillness
in between breaths
before the thought arises
a delicate balance
between thought
and no-thought
a brief awakening
on dragonfly wings
through the old doorway
summer creeps
on wisteria vines
Bountiful Healing 