Early Winter Reflection

Winter is a time to reflect and renew, and a time of contrasts.

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A bright morning;
Long shadows on the road
Of fallen leaves.

Ashley

48 thoughts on “Early Winter Reflection

  1. I love your hokku, Ash-tree-sama. Most people, today, don’t get out much, don’t take walks, and thus, they don’t realize that the shadows are getting longer, as the days get shorter. They don’t realize that it’s getting colder each day, because we are tilting away from the sun and its warmth, with each day. Of course, midwinter (the solstice) will change all that. Keep walking, Ash!! Btw, those look like ash leaves on the path. I’m glad you have this blog, so that I can read your beautiful haibun/hokbun.

    1. Hi Edo, great to hear from you, my hokku friend. They are indeed ash leaves, well spotted! Of course, with November comes reflection! The long shadows remind me of all those who have passed away, friends, relatives and of course, whether you agree or not about the causes, all those who died in the wars! πŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈπŸ™

    1. Marina, thank you for your lovely comment. The weather has been good over the last few days and it’s great to be outdoors! πŸ’πŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈ

    1. Dear Marina, it’s lovely to hear from you, I hope you are keeping well and finding more stairs to run up and down! Have a great week πŸ’πŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈ

    1. Thank you, Meg, it’s a regular walk for me, often at a pace with my head down, but I do enjoy a slower more meditative walk too! πŸ’πŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈ

    1. It wasn’t cold on that day, fresh yes, but today it is definitely cold. The wind has turned around and it’s coming from the north! Brrrrr! Hope you’ve bought a warm coat; ready for the cold? πŸ˜ŠπŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈ

  2. This is a wonderful poem full of atmosphere, Ashley. I love those quiet, calm days in november when the autumn sun casts long shadows. There is a very special atmosphere and a very special smell of wetness, earth and moss that is only found in these late days of the year.
    Oh… I love our planet!
    Ashley, I wish you all the best! πŸŒΉπŸ’–
    Rosie from germany

    1. Thank you, Rosie, it is a wonderful season. Like you, I love the smell of the wet leaves, the damp ground and the feeling of things returning to the earth. Have a beautiful week. Keep well and stay safe πŸ€—πŸŒΉπŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈ

  3. Your image of the road curving around the corner, and the long shadows pointing the way are so inviting… It beckons one to explore whats around the corner. I hope your winter is nurturing time for you and your family πŸ’–πŸ™‹β€β™€οΈπŸŒΉ

    1. Thank you, Morag, perhaps one day soon you will also have a lane like this one, close by, where you can walk quietly with the sun on your back. πŸŒΉπŸ˜ŠπŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈ

  4. Your path looks a lot like the path here outside my house. It is very nice to see the colored leaves. I don’t like winter because it strips the trees and it’s always gray and sad. I prefer the sun and colored flowers. If I could eliminate winter I would. I only love snow when it falls because it makes everything magical. But driving in snow is terrible.

    1. Thank you for your comments. We get a lot of rain here rather than snow but winter is a time for seeds (of ideas) to be nurtured ready to burst into life in the spring πŸŒΉπŸ€—πŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈ

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