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 (29 secs) 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.com 
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