It has just passed mid-day and the frost that was clinging to the top of the hedge is only now loosening its grip. I’ve not thought much about this before but I’m slowly realising that there is something comforting about this time of year.
The photograph was taken before dawn when the fog had dispersed.
Not only was there frost but also fog, so that only a few of the trees in neighbouring gardens were visible from my house. I live on the edge of town, not in a wood, and usually from my back door I can see oak, ash, copper beech, willow, bird cherry and a row of great leylandii. However, this morning only the leylandii which come close to my house, and two oaks were visible. The leylandii stand in a large brooding block, thankfully to one side of my house, otherwise, I might have no view at all. The two oaks, now with most of their leaves removed by strong winds, looked like spectres appearing and disappearing from the drifting fog.
Wrapped up! Enclosed! Held! Secured! That’s what I was thinking about this morning; how the winter wraps its arms around me, comforting me like a big blanket, allowing me to dream and to make plans.
I awoke very early this morning, too early, and my dreams followed me into the study where I wrote these lines:
Somewhere on an ocean,
Floating on the sea,
Guided by Great currents,
A raft, a life and me.
Flying fish for breakfast,
Salted meats for tea.
Whale spouts, luminous nights,
Wind in the sail;
At home, on the restless sea.
I know this dream. I’ve dreamt it before, more than once!
A Different View 
That’s a very lovely poem, Ashley. I really enjoyed it.
Also this sentiment is heartwarming:
-David
David, thank you! I am honoured by your visit. Happy new year!
Lovely poem Ashley that at first made me chuckle before I began to drift with the currents. Who knows where we’ll end up. I too get recurring dreams – many from childhood a long time ago now – I am finding that they get updated with my family often now appearing in them. Many dreams were about places which I later visited sometimes many years later and then wow a huge sense of deja vu.
Thank you, Clive! I’m sure recurring dreams are messages from deep inside us, and particularly from childhood 🙏
I love your poem Ashley, tout frais et frétillant sorti des eaux de la nuit ! 🙂 I usually like the starkness of Winter, but this year, somehow, can’t wait for light to come back. Thank you for sharing this beautiful photo with us.
What a wonderful way to describe my words, fresh and wriggling, so right. Thank you 😘🙏
Such beautiful, evocative words Ashley and yes I agree, I feel held at this time of year and have never appreciated it more!
Dear Helen, thank you for your lovely comment. I wasn’t sure whether my poem would work. Thank you 🙏
I enjoyed your poem, Ash-tree. I appreciate winter…it’s starkness and beauty, especially after a snow storm, but the only comfort I get in winter is my warm home. I like the painting, the depiction of your dream. Did you do the painting?
All my own work, Edo! It’s not a painting but a lino print! This dream and the pictures that accompany it just won’t leave me!
So beautiful, comforting as only you, Ashley can paint with words. Thank you.
Joanna
Dear Joanna, if only I could paint with words more often. It’s what my heart desires 😘🙏
It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to savor the early morning waking up in all it’s frosty glory, and wonderful to swaddled in the warmth. And in amidst it to mull over dreams visiting. How did you create your illustration? It’s an image that has appeared to me in my dreams too.
The image is a lino print and based on the South American God Tiki! Thank you, Morag for dropping in!
Yes, all my own work!
You are welcome. Did you do the lino print?
Thank you for a wonderful poem (I am a a huge fan of the sea) and winter thoughts.
And lovely photo with frost on leaves and fairytale colours.
Happy New Year to you and yours.
M
Dear Marina, it is wonderful to hear from you! I think somewhere inside me there must be a seafarer! Happy new year!
Ashley,
I am happy because I see the white sail of Tiki,
I am happy to travel through your eyes this serene and nourishing ocean.
I love the menu, specially the one for the tea.
This raft needs to live, and I only see you to lead us there.
And I also like the contrast between the morning landscape and the possibility of travel bathed in southern lights !!
Please, we need some more poems, some more navigations …
Je t’embrasse très fort Ashley
Corinne
Dear, dear Corinne! You recognised Tiki! He would be portrayed on my sail, of course! Your words are an encouragement and I shall try to live up to them as I sail westward! ‘Je ’embrasse tres fort’ in return🤗😘🤗😘🙏
I have prepared my little package and a good cap, I will make the mousse !!
And forward the adventure😀😘
The poem is beautiful and you have some really nice shapes coming together in that image.
Chris, thanks for your positive comments, they are much appreciated. 🙏
I love your poem and your description! And also the very first sentence: “It has just passed mid-day and the frost that was clinging to the top of the hedge is only now loosening its grip.” I think this is a great metaphor for the year which just left us and the new one which will blossom and, hopefully, bring us warmth and joy. The frost will disappear and the sunshine will filter through. 🙂 Hope you had a lovely beginning!
Camilla, thank you for your perceptive thoughts. The first sentence is what draws in the reader. It’s not something that I deliberately set out to do here as I am not a professional writer, but I was really happy when I stopped to look back at it! 😘🤗😘
I felt as though the sea enveloped me, adrift on a wave, calling my name. What peace and tranquillity. I miss Kauai this year and all the ohana. Its healing balm has restored my spirit in the past. For now, dreams must suffice. I especially love it when they’re in color! 🌴🌊
Hi Gail, you spotted where I was drifting to in this post! Was Tiki the obvious clue? I’ve never actually travelled that far, perhaps it will always be a dream! 🎋😘🎋😘🙏
Oh, yes. And that’s another thing….on The Garden Isle, everywhere you look embodies a spiritual essence from reef to mountain. 🌟✨💫
Hi Ashley, I loved this post and your poem. So ethereal and magical and also hopeful and comforting. What a beautiful view you have. You only need to squint a little to remove the rooftops and it looks like an entirely rural scene.
Charlotte
Thank you Charlotte for your lovely comments here! I’m on the edge of a small town so I’m able to walk into the countryside quite easily. 😘🙏
Beautiful. Love how cozy you are.
Thank you for your comment, it is always good to hear from you 🙏🙏
We just sent you turtle mail to give an update on your turtle nest adoption. Your marker is attached. We sent it on the email you used to comment on our blog. Thank you again for supporting the turtles!
Beautiful poem!
Thank you for dropping by and for your lovely comment 🤗🙏
Love your poem. Being held and comforted is so i.portant for our well being. I feel that, too, in the fog. It’s great you have so any trees around. Lovely post.
Thank you for dropping by and for your lovely positive comments 🙏
Beautiful Ashley. I love your poem and the way you describe winter’s embrace.
Thank you, Andrea, for your lovely encouraging words. I wasn’t sure about putting the 2 different things together but it seems to work. I know some of the reasons behind the dream but am unsure what, if anything I should or can do about it. 🤗😘🙏
I find those dreams fascinating – dreams that I might dream years apart but I know I’ve dreamt them before 🙂
A beautiful photograph to accompany a wonderful poem. Happy to find you feeling inspired! 😘
Thank you Sandra for your lovely comments! We haven’t been out much so far this new year as it’s been cold, icy and very slippery, then we’ve all been put into lockdown again until the end of January! We just wish like everyone else that we could move out of this pandemic! Bring on that vaccine! 🙃😘
So sorry Ashley! It’s got to improve at some point. I keep telling my daughter that. Don’t lose hope. It won’t be like this forever. Take good care!
I think you have an adventurous spirit to have such dreams. Have you ever thought of shooting while the fog is still present?
A very kind comment, thank you! I would like to try your suggestions but I have two difficulties: 1) I only have a mobile phone these days as I have had no luck with cameras and 2) we are currently advised only to travel for essentials! So for the time being I shall continue to dream! 🙏
I should have revisited your beautiful winter garden earlier, as today I could hardly get through the crowd of dreamers, to add to the chorus of admiration for you as a poet and the painter of the vision of dreams, that we all share. Trust Corinne dreaming of the food!
I love the garden and the poem, Ashley. You are the chosen one.
Thank you.
Joanna
Dear Joanna, I am flattered by your lovely comments. Thank you! On a trip like this, one needs to be prepared and Corinne was just making sure there was enough sustenance for the journey 😋 which could be a long one. Here’s a little Eric Coates music to see us off:
😘💌😘
That was such a lovely poem, really beautiful. So nice to have snow to wake up too as well. 🙂
Thank you for your lovely comment and for dropping into my blog. 😊 That day the snow didn’t last long!