LesleyScoble.com

Transient May: a haibun (mono no aware)

Blossom Transcience | Abstract digital watercolour©️Lesley Scoble
I walk along the pavement. My feet ache. I am tired from a long day at work, and I seek a momentary pause in the local secret wildlife garden. I turn the key in the gate. The cherry trees are shedding their flowers. Their scattered fallen blooms spread like a pretty rug along the pathway. I tread softly on their petals. I don’t want to crush them.

Sweet blossoms of May
Snows fragrant pink on grey stone
Settling down to rest

I stop at the pond. Frogs are motionless at the surface and bask in the dappled sunlight. There is one that seems to stare at me.

I sit on a bench close by the water’s edge. All is quiet. There is an expectant air. I feel a light breeze touch my cheek. Then, a cloud of gossamer rises from the pond in a delicate haze of sunshine. I am to witness the emergence of a brief joy that mirrors my own.

The mayflies emerge
Fairylike from deep waters—
Ephemeral joy

Lesley Clare Scoble, May 2024

Time-lapse video of my drawing of a mayfly

NOTES

Mono no aware is a Japanese idiom for the awareness of impermanence, or transience of things. 
It is a transient, gentle sadness (or wistfulness) at their passing. It can also express a deeper, gentle sadness about the reality of life.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
My thanks to the host Frank J. Tassone, for the d’Verse Poets’ Haibun Monday poetry challenge. Thank you for your inspiration. 🌸

Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. An artist, actor and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture won the V&A inspired by… Award). Scenic artist & book illustrator, playwright (her musical play, Rapscallion performed in inner city schools and theatre school); TV dancer; Animator and illustrator for TV production. Set up Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd drama and filmmaking workshops in London – producing award-winning films made by children.

lesleyscoble

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26 responses to “Transient May: a haibun (mono no aware)”

    • Thank you, Björn, 🙏🙂
      It is a small sanctuary in the midst of concrete and saved my mental state many times. Every street in a city should have a secret wildlife garden. We even have a resident fox 🦊 Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I appreciate it so much. 💖

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    • Thank you so much, Yvonne ☺️ What a lovely compliment. 🙏💖
      (btw. If you are ever interested in a print of any of my works, gimme a shout—I can get them printed on Giclée fine art paper.)

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  6. Un lenguaje leve y preciso vierte los signos en el papel y en mi mente las imágenes tal como esas líneas complejas que lanzan un insecto a volar en busca del color de las dulces flores de May

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  8. I enjoyed the walk with you, Lesley; it reminded me of life before I moved to Norfolk, when spring blossoms were a respite from the pavement and traffic-filled streets of London. Gated gardens are a godsend, although when I lived in Twickenham I had the pick of various parks and gardens – just the walk by the river would fill me with joy. I love the fairylike mayflies.

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    • Oh, thank you, Kim. I appreciate your lovely comment. 🙏🙂🌸 Every street in the city should have an accessible wildlife garden 🌱 🐿️. This small one in the City is a rarity. 💚

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