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.
26 responses to “Transient May: a haibun (mono no aware)”
This is indeed a beautiful and joyful piece Lesley.
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Oh, Thank you, Sadje 🩷🌸 xx
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I love how you recover in that wonderful garden… I could feel the stress of the city evaporating through the blossoming strength.
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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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Beautiful vista described in your walking encounter. Great artwork and the timelapse video edit…superb!
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Thank you very much, Suzette! I love the superb word. ☺️xxxxx
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You are most welcome Lesley!
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just so spectacular. Mono no aware 👏🏽
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Thank you lots, Selma! 🙏🌸
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Beautiful watercolors. I want one for my bedroom! So many have written about the cherry blossom, well deserved attention. And I love your frog staring at attention.
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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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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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Gracias, Guillegalo, por tu hermoso comentario. 🙏🌸💖 Thank you.
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A peaceful pause that led to a joyful surprise. So very lovely, Lesley. 🌸
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Thank you, Michele, for your so very lovely comment 🙏💖🙂
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You’re very welcome, Lesley. It is a pleasure to visit your creative posts. 💖
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Thank you 🙏 Likewise, Michele 🌸
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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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You hit all the light notes of spring’s leitmotif, Lesley. A great capture of mono no aware.
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Thank you so much! ☺️🩷🙏 xx
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My pleasure! 💖
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I love this time-lapse video. You are such a talented artist.
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Thank you so much, Dan. 🙏 I appreciate your lovely comment. 💖
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A tranquil scene. I especially like the second haiku.
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Thank you, Meliss, ☺️🧡🧡🧡
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