Pause & See ~~~ Icescapes

WHEN THE WATER POT

BURST THAT SILENT NIGHT WITH COLD

MY EYES SPLIT OPEN 

Basho

Today at Duckingham Palace I was hurrying through my chores because it was so darn cold! Out of the corner of my eye I glanced at the duck pond and saw these unusual white spots.  I came is for a closer look.  They were spring bubbles trapped frozen in the ice.  I scurried back to the house to get my camera. I braved the cold without mittens and snapped these photos. The photos have not been edited in anyway.  Just auto setting and a bit of zoom.  This beauty took my breath away. I can say no more...except my own haiku for the moment...

MY WORDS HAVE GONE

FROZEN INTO THE POND ICE

PAUSE AND SEE BEAUTY

Orah

This a regular feature I plan to include in this blog.  I try to see something new each day.  It is part of my practice in "seeing".  The art of seeing is essential to any creative work in my humble opinion.  My favorites are the ones that stop me in my tracks!  Like so many folks I have a very busy mind that I struggle to quiet.  But by creating this practice it has given me many opportunities to pause and be with a new wonder.  I love to wonder about wonders.  These little seeings can be just the jolt my creative process needs to get out of a rut.  But mostly they provide a pause which is that moment of peace I need to heal from a frustration. These seeings are grounding for me and bring me to the present.  I will admit to laughing out loud with joy over some of these discoveries. They are a moment of childlike wonder!  

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky"             ~~~Buddha

Winter Light

 Winter solitude--

in a world of one color

the sound of wind.

Basho

This was today's light.  I tried to delay my walk in order to enjoy the sunshine that was predicted for today.  But Runa, my dog, could not wait.  Her need allowed me to experience a wonderful winter glow as the sun was making it's entrance.  It was particularly quiet today.  The wind was a low whisper.  I was in peaceful solitude, enveloped in the serene energy of the world around me. I send you a sigh of contentment.

The Cold ~~~ Wendell Berry

How exactly good it is

to know myself

in the solitude of winter,

my body containing its own

warmth, divided from all

by the cold; and to go

separate and sure

among the trees cleanly

divided, thinking of you

perfect too in your solitude,

your life withdrawn into

your own keeping

--to be clear, poised

in perfect self-suspension

toward you, as though frozen.

And having known fully the

goodness of that, it will be

good also to melt.