To celebrate this first day of Spring, the Vernal Equinox, I gave myself the gift of a slow morning and filled it with tea, haiku, and a walk in the woods.
First, I poured myself a cup of tea, brewed from fresh ginger root and soft, sweet Medjool dates, as my Korean friend had taught me. Then, I opened a slim, old book of poetry, Haiku Harvest. I bought it when I was in high school and quickly fell in love with the old haiku masters’ elegant simplicity of word and wisdom. Finally, having nourished body and soul, I set out for a walk, stopping first at a patch of snowdrops and slightly spent winter aconite and then making my way to a small nearby woods.
Snowdrops and winter aconite PHOTOS: Mary van Balen
A small bit of green pushing up through last years leaves
HE IS UNKNOWN
THE POET WHO SINGS
THIS GREATEST
OF ALL SONGS — SPRING!
Shiki
HONKING WILD GEESE COME
SCRAWLING DELIGHT
IN SPRING’S COLD
PALE MORNING SUNLIGHT
So-In
I didn’t hear any honking geese this morning, but the woods were filled with chickadees flitting form tree to tree, dipping and singing spring songs. The woodpeckers remained hidden, but I could hear their calls and hollow drumming on dead tree trunks.
IN MY HOUSE THIS SPRING
TRUE, THERE IS NOTHING,
THAT IS,
THERE IS EVERYTHING!
Sodo
Spring greening
OUT OF ONE WINTERY
TWIG, ONE BUD,
ONE BLOSSOM’S WORTH
OF WARMTH AT LONG LAST!
Ransetsu
UNDER A SPRING MIST,
ICE AND WATER
FORGETTING
THEIR OLD DIFFERENCE…
MY HORSE CLIP-CLOPPING
OVER A FIELD…
OH HO!
I’M PART OF THE PICTURE!
Basho
And so we are…
Happy Spring!
Simply Beautiful! This is one of my favorites, watching the world around me bloom back into life. Thank you Mary!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m glad this post helped you celebrate Spring. We are both up way too late! Hope you are all well to enjoy the coming of the season.
What a lovely way to celebrate the dawning of spring with verbal images that make us all part of the picture! Thanks for this delightfully warming cup of tea!
You are so welcome, Jolaine. I wish we were able to share the tea and walk together! Happy Spring!
Hi Jolaine!!
In praise of Christ in all things>
Sometimes simplicity says the most meaningful…
Thank you.
You’re welcome, Mary Ellen. And how right you are. Simplicity. Often difficult to find.
This is lovely, Mary! This was a welcome moment of peaceful reflection. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome, Jacki. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
The Spring experience in MINNESOTA more than repays us for the harshness and dark of winter. Thanks for the poetry.
You’re welcome for the poetry. Enjoy your well deserved spring!!