I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

15 January 2016

Exploring New Landscapes

We move away from the city, north to clear skies, to low horizons ringed by mountains – not high-rise columnar blocks of rectangular windows, their blank panes angled for concealment. The trees are silvery green alongside the railway track. We pass a river harbour teeming with small white boats.
I am reminded of another journey once taken – of moving through greyness, through cold, toward one flush of colour, pink with highlights of gold. A flower in the snow, blooming early. Too early. Yet we were drawn towards it, wishing it to keep on blooming until we might reach it, stroke its petals, inhale.... Some journeys, though full of longing, can never be completed.

he travels alone
an old man gazing at trees –
the train gathers speed


Image copyright © Kanzensakura 2014 
Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Written for Haibun Monday 5 at dVerse
Also linking to Poets United's Poetry Pantry #289


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27 comments:

  1. Anonymous15 January 2016 at 00:30

    Lump in throat now.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Katie Mia Frederick15 January 2016 at 04:38

    Train song..
    evidence
    nows
    gONe by..
    SonG
    proof
    Train now..

    Hear Now
    Train
    Track SinGs..:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Grace15 January 2016 at 10:59

    A very moving reflection as you ride the train ~ Some journeys are grey but we try don't we to hope for all that is within us, full of longing ~

    Thanks for joining us for Haibun Monday and wishing you a wonderful week/end ~

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  4. Bodhirose15 January 2016 at 14:31

    There's a sadness felt in this but acceptance too. A beautiful haibun, Rosemary.

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  5. Mary16 January 2016 at 00:39

    I found the concluding haiku of your haibun very moving, Rosemary. It does seem that at some point the 'train journey' picks up speed!

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  6. kaykuala16 January 2016 at 19:31

    We found them and admired them from a distance. But they might not be easily won over - The train journey of many a disappointed male suitor!

    Hank

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  7. brudberg18 January 2016 at 07:47

    I love how you layered your prose, and the sadness of never reaching that goal, that important one. Love the haiku too...

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  8. Sumana Roy13 February 2016 at 22:13

    "Some journeys, though full of longing, can never be completed." what a beautiful line with its essence ringing in the haiku...

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  9. Sherry Blue Sky14 February 2016 at 02:06

    I am struck by "some journeys, though full of longing, can never be completed". I hope I am not making such a journey now back to my beach, Rosemary. I want more sunsets! Like Mary, I found the concluding haiku very moving. I can see him, looking out the window - at the past. Sigh. This is a wonderful haibun.

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade14 February 2016 at 12:24

      Partly inspired by a silver-haired gentlemen I sat next to on the train coming home from my recent holiday. He was from England, so was keen to make the most of the views through the window. He told me how he had previously holidayed all over the world with his late wife.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous14 February 2016 at 18:49

    A lovely haiku there Rosemary!

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  11. Kerry O'Connor14 February 2016 at 19:01

    Beautiful descriptive writing.

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  12. Sanaa Rizvi14 February 2016 at 22:35

    This is soo beautiful!

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  13. Old Egg14 February 2016 at 22:48

    Observing the country from a train I often feel like stopping off in nowhere and experiencing the wild, the beautiful, the untamed. When working in country Australia 40 years ago I often used to take the road less travelled and was never disappointed. This haibun brought it all back.

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  14. Magaly Guerrero15 February 2016 at 01:03

    Perfect haibun. Your descriptions take us by the hand, gently... but promising that the journey will be bittersweet--beautiful, difficult, and impossible to dismiss.

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  15. Donna@LivingFromHappiness15 February 2016 at 01:44

    I too am stuck on that ending line, 'Some journeys, though full of longing, can never be completed.' And oh the ending haiku....such a beautiful reflective piece!

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  16. dsnake115 February 2016 at 02:19

    there is so much colour in the haibun. and gentleness in the words. this is not just any journey. this is a journey of self-discovery.

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  17. ScottlB15 February 2016 at 03:35

    Very lovely, thanks for taking me on this journey.

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  18. ZQ15 February 2016 at 04:49

    Beautifully captured!
    ZQ

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  19. Truedessa15 February 2016 at 07:09

    I feel the sadness in the journey the longing for fulfillment and the realization that the goal is always forward never truly in grasp.

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  20. Jennifer Wagner15 February 2016 at 08:05

    Oh, this is so evocative. Beautiful writing.

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  21. Carol Campbell15 February 2016 at 09:10

    Magnificent haibun! The loneliness of trains and an older man just make it so rich!

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  22. Anonymous15 February 2016 at 23:03

    lovely fluid descriptions topped off with a sweetly succinct haiku

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  23. humbird16 February 2016 at 01:32

    Love the longing in your haibun, and the metaphor of train for life - in haiku. Some magic here....

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  24. Myrna R.17 February 2016 at 02:53

    Lovely haibun. It is packed with visuals, and meaning.

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  25. Eileen T O'Neill .....17 February 2016 at 09:24

    Rosemary,

    Indeed there are elements of this life, where some circumstances, leave us alone to experience a particular situation..Not often, but at those times, I feel very much alone..I prefer having my companion..
    Eileen

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  26. Stacy M.S.17 February 2016 at 10:11

    oh my, this is simply gorgeous and moving.

    very emotional, also a bit nostalgic to think that some journeys can never be completed.

    this is a poem that calls toward the reader for reflection. and i love it.

    ReplyDelete

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