It’s Haibun Monday at dVerse tonight and we are prompted by Toni Spencer to write a free for all Haibun. Here’s how she set up the challenge.
That being said, today is a Free For All…meaning, you pick the subject upon which you wish to write. There are rules of course – (1) The haibun must be non-fiction (2) The occurance must have actually happened to you (3) You are to write one to two tight paragraphs and (4) End it with a season based haiku.
So here goes.
The photo is by me and taken on the walk described below. A Gallery of pictures from the walk can be seen here
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The drive to Broughton gave me an inkling as to what we may encounter on our walk. The fells were covered with a fresh dusting of pure white snow and the sun was beginning it’s descent into the Western sky. I parked the van and my companion Adam, a quiet and thoughtful young man from Hungary, and I, began our walk. We climbed away from the main path, the John Buchan Way, and headed for a higher vantage point with a view westwards. In the presence of this silent fellow, I became aware of the heaviness of my own breathing. Deep snow and falling temperatures made the final part of our ascent all the more difficult but the reward was a view that was pure Winter. Tinto Hill, a distinct feature of this landscape, was now cloaked in mist and snow covered and looked somehow to have been transported from another continent. It was breathtaking.
Japanese winter
echoing the words of Basho
here on Scottish fell
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A wonderful haibun Paul and the way the light plays with the snow and the mist reminds me also of the poetry and stories by Zen Master Ryokan.
Wow. Quick off the mark. Not even put up to Mr Linky. Thanks for the lovely comment. Not sure I know Ryokan so I’ll have a look there.
You are very welcome Paul! I love the simplicity of Ryokan’s poems and they are great for meditation.
Ah Paul! Was it the hill that was transported or was it you?
Perhaps both?
🙂
You have captured the moment so well the magnificence of the landscape and your own body’s reaction, well done.
Thank You Michael.
I like the views one gets on walks. They are expected, but when one is actually seeing them their beauty becomes unexpectedly beautiful.
Yes. This view was just so.
The photos are amazing and as I said there the three sheep are spectacular. I can hear your cold breath as you labor up the climb.
Thanks Brian. The sheep shot is very popular among my ‘facebook’ viewers. Funny what people go for. Not my favourite but I can see why folk like it.
sMiLes.. livinG
iN Sunny albeit
drought fELt beach
lands lately..
beauty to
behold..
but no
snow..
mountains
or valleys low..
emoTioNs
carry
Nature
on in sAme
as human crucible
fire of star senSinG withiN
pArts of EArTh are misSinG A SpiRit
oF moRe.. iN SoUl fELt heArt ways new..:)
What an excellent haibun! I so enjoyed reading this, several times. The haiku is exquisite – you had me at …. Japanese winter….very bitterly cold and damp but the scenes from their mountains are spectacular. I particularly like the image of Distant Tinto, the one filled with gold. Lovely images.
I am so please you like this Toni. I was delighted with the prompt and suitably inspired. Glad you liked the pictures too. My fingers were pretty numb by the end of the day…but worth it. I’d like it if you looked at my second Haibun with a critical eye as you know so much about them. I wonder if it falls short as it is not totally factual. Feel free to citique as opposed to comment. I really like the Haibun and would like to develop my ability and style.
I shall be sure to take a look.
I shall be sure to take a look. I do not usually read additional submissions because to be honest, I don’thave the time. I shall be happy to do this for you. Thank you for your kind words and I am so glad you enjoy the haibun. I will shortly be posting one I wrote about 25 years ago.
I look forward to reading it Toni.
Scottish fell… poetry right there. Stunning photo – thanks for taking us along.
You are very welcome.
… an your photos are stunning. The colorful skies, the rolling light on those hills, those sheep! Wonderful
Thank You so much Margaret . Glad you enjoyed them.
This is so beautifully vivid and picturesque 💝I felt like I was there! 🙂
It was a stunning walk.
The photos are amazing – each one should be framed and hung. WOW. Love the haibun and haiku
Thank You. If only people wanted to buy photographs but they really don’t. They would look lovely hung too.
A poet’s eye to be able to walk the steps of Basho whereever we are.
Thank You
Your haibun is very descriptive and the haiku especially lovely, incorporating Basho so well.
Thank You
I so enjoy fells in winter, so for me I could really understand it, I particularly liked how you could hear your own breathing with this silent man
Oh boy could I hear my own breathing 😉
So vivid that I felt I was there. I love this line….”the reward was a view that was pure Winter”. Your description was not overdone but instead gave me a clear image. How wonderful to incorporate Basho, and so seamlessly. Your photos are breathtaking as well. I like the snow fence and of course…the sheep.
Thanks Mish. I really appreciate your comment.