Nearly every day I find something in the natural world that astounds me with its beauty– a single wildflower, a shy, graceful deer, or a stunning cloudscape over the Delaware River. When I walk, usually early in the morning, I’m often filled with wonder—a sensation of body and mind. This morning, I almost didn’t walk because of the rain and thunder, but it stopped, and I went out to see the most incredible sky.
golden leaves glow
against charcoal clouds they dance,
fall in nature’s rhythm
This is for Kim’s prompt at dVerse, to write a haibun “about a time when you last watched stars, a storm, the sea, an animal, or something else in nature that left you with a sense of wonder or awe.”
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Lovely taking us on your walk with you
Happy Monday
Much🖤love
Thank you very much!
I love your photos of the Delaware river, Merril – this one is in stark contrast to the sunlit peaceful scenes of the previous week. I always find wonderment in nature and you’ve certainly invoked that feeling here.
Thank you so much, Ingrid!
Yes, I’ve had a bunch of pastel-colored river views recently. Today the river looked like the ocean.
I really love this… and yes, walking in the morning and evening is the new normal… every morning there is something.
Thank you! Yes, I seldom get out in the evening, but there is always something new.
We share the same wonder. It would be weird if we didn’t. Imagine, prattling on about the series on the TV last night while the other is gazing at the waves and looking out for the heron…
Thank you. Yes.
Well, I do prattle on about the TV series, but not while I’m out walking. 😀 Yes, we definitely share the same wonder.
You write about it silently 🙂 Neither of us would tolerate prattling, I don’t think!
Well, I probably don’t prattle, but I might gush a bit to daughters about some shows we watch. 🙂
We’re all guilty of that 🙂
😀
Lovely, sometimes the unexpected is the most welcome and enlightening
Thank you. Yes, that’s so true.
What a great reward. I love the use of “fall” in your haiku – it could mean the season or the verb.
Thank you so much–and I’m so pleased you picked up on that. 😀
Stunning! It looks like a painting, Merril. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Jill!
That sky is breathtaking. Glad you went for your walk! The complexities and beauties that the natural world provides are often stunning, such as the picture of the sky you shared. Beautifully penned. ❤ ❤
Thank you so much, Lucy!
And you’re so right–complexity and beauty. It was blustery, but exhilarating to walk there this morning.
I think nature enjoys surprising us with her wonder. Awesome photo and sweet and gentle haibun, Merril.
Thank you very much, Lisa.
You’re welcome.
A beautiful description of the day. Your words are few, yet golden.
Aww–thank you, Frank! What a lovely comment!
Such a compact haibun, yet a glorious sense of wonder. Like the Japanese, I take “forest bathes”, just being exhilarated by walking in the forest.
Thank you very much, Glenn!
Yes, I think my morning walks are much in the same spirit as forest bathing.
I know a little about the beauty you find on your walks from your photographs on social media, Merril, which I enjoy very much, especially the reflections. I used to walk in the early morning when we had a dog, and it’s when the best poems are born. I love the colours in your haiku!
Thank you very much, Kim!
I adore your photos of the Delaware river, Merril! 😀 How I wish I could join you on your walks in the morning. Exquisite write 💝
Thank you so much, Sanaa! I wish you could come and walk with me. Wouldn’t that be fun?! ❤️
It most certainly would! 😀
Thanks for bringing us all along with you on this well sung stroll, Merril. You captured it beautifully and the color contrasts in your haiku blew me away. Salute!
Thank you very much, Ron!
yes that sense of wonder is how we know we are really alive! You convey it so well and your photo is awesome.
Thank you very much!
Your morning walks sound wonderful. Since my mobility is practically nil, I really envy your walks, but I do so love to hear about them!
Thank you very much, Beverly. I’m pleased I can bring you some vicarious pleasure.
I lve it when you post your pics on FB and love it even more when you write to the picture.
Aww–thank you, Toni!
So glad you found a “reason” to use this wonderful photo and your haibun is wonderful!
Thank you so much, Dale!
So beautiful. Image and words
😘
The sky is such a great canvas that is never painted the same twice! One thing covid has done is to narrow our focus so we end up seeing things we usually did not take time to observe. Well done Merril.
Thank you very much, Dwight. Yes, you are right about living during a pandemic. We certainly do see things differently now.
You are welcome!
Beautifully done
Thank you!
Merril, stunningly beautiful from start to finish.
Thank you so much, Rene!
You’re so welcome 😊
Your skies are always stunning. Of course you look up at them! Too few do these days. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe! I do look up (and all around). 😀
I very much enjoy the images you post of your morning walks. Beautiful, in words and images. 🙂
Thank you very much, Robin! 😀
A perfect haibun! I, too, find wonder in nature. It’s something I can always count on, year after year after year.
Thank you very much, Liz.
Yes, there is always something beautiful to be found in nature.
You’re welcome, Merril.
Lovely and what a gorgeous photo. I was thinking that I try to take all your wonders of nature and find them close around me, mainly in the house. I am kind of leery of outside right now because of VF spores (stupidly because I can’t get it AGAIN). So my cat Felix is a graceful and shy and vulnerable deer. I often see a deer when I look at him. And we had a lovely waterfall Sunday when the hot water heater broke.
Thank you, Luanne. I’m glad I helped you to think about nature. 😏
I hope the hot water heater didn’t do too much damage and you were able to replace it!
It is ok. Yes cha ching we sure did replace it.
Yeah–what can you do? At least you were able to have it done quickly.
This is so true. And so beautifully articulated :’)
Thank you very much!
Stunning images in the poem and photo 🙂
Thank you so much, Janice!
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I gaped at this photo on your Instagram account, Merril, and am so glad you included it here on your blog. It’s raining and foggy here in NE now on Thanksgiving morning, but if there’s a break, I will walk also. Walking meditation sooths the sorrows – like not being with family over this holiday and like missing our moms. Walking meditation helps us remember with joy those times we had with our family, and to appreciate the HERE and NOW. ❤
Thank you so much, Pam!
Yes, you are so right about all of that. It was rainy, then cloudy, then it rained again–and now the sun is out here. Crazy–echoing the year and this Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
2020 and CRAZY are synonymous. Sigh. Eye roll. Glad you got some sun – never did here today. xo
Lovely! I am so glad I read this today! We have been having some strange weather…wind and rain. Even when it is stormy, the sky is awesome…always changing.
Thank you so much! We’re having very similar weather. And the clouds do make the sky interesting. Thank you for reading and commenting!