Monday, December 21, 2009

letting go of autumn

a walk home
across the otonabee river


along the shoreline
of little lake


which is gradually
developing a skin of ice


to the west
the sun sets
on the last day of autumn



i let go the autumn
at the edge of the broad sky,
among the fleeting clouds.

at

38 comments:

  1. Dan GurneyDecember 21, 2009 at 1:22 AM

    Lovely haiky by fujiwara no tameie. It seems to be talking about letting go of middle age, too, or perhaps I'm just reading that into it as I approach my sixth decade....

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  2. Jenny StevningDecember 21, 2009 at 1:22 AM

    (Gasp) I don't know that I am ready to let go of autumn. This gives me much food for thought...the symbolic, personal meaning and transformation in the seasons. Yikes! It makes me crying thinking of saying good-bye to autumn. Guess I must let go just like all the leaves did.

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  3. NanUDecember 21, 2009 at 5:53 AM

    Gorgeous photographs, especially the last one.
    I've been so busy lately I've neglected to stop by, but your blog is always an island of peace and reflection. Thank you for the zen moments!

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  4. PaulineDecember 21, 2009 at 6:27 AM

    And now we rest and then we rise again. That last photo is lovely!

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  5. BarryDecember 21, 2009 at 7:15 AM

    I've been to Peterborough often, in the summer and in the dead of winter. But I don't think I have ever been at this time of year, or seen the ice just starting to form on Little Lake.

    A special treat Steven.

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  6. Crafty Green PoetDecember 21, 2009 at 7:17 AM

    lovely photos, we said goodbye to autumn a wee while ago here i think.... going by the 'the season's change when they change' interpretation....

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  7. Golden WestDecember 21, 2009 at 7:32 AM

    That's quite a beach you have there! I hope you're enjoying your time away from school, with time to do your favorite things and savor the blessings of Christmas.

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  8. Tess KincaidDecember 21, 2009 at 7:47 AM

    Your keen artistic eye caught some beautiful shots, Steven. Thanks for sharing your evening walk with us.

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  9. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 8:15 AM

    hi dan - you know it's interesting you should mention that because many of the haiku i've cosen have caused to reflect inwardly on their metaphoric allusions in the area of my age and stage of life. i'm not especially concerned with my age as i am with aging. i am not ready to let go of experiences and abilities that i value. have a peaceful day. steven

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  10. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 8:19 AM

    hello jenny stevning! it often seems like an afterthought to say goodbye to autumn around here simply because i equate snow, ice and sub zero temperatures with winter and it's been that way for several weeks. but when i look back at my autumnal posts and the treasures that arrived there, well i feel sad also. but on the bright side - it'll start getting brighter for longer now and believe me when you sandwich your day in-between these sort of stats: Dec 21, 2009 sunrise 7:46 AM sunset 4:37 PM total sunshine 8h 51m 03s you can get just a little stir-crazy!!! i'm looking forward to the return of the sun. have a lovely day jenn. steven

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  11. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 8:20 AM

    nanu! so cool to see you here. thanks for the nice comments of course. have a lovely day. steven

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  12. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 8:22 AM

    hello pauline, with winter the search for colour and light intensifies! i will find the tiniest glow, the faintest pulse. have a lovely day. steven

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  13. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 8:23 AM

    hello barry - this is the first time i've actually seen ice forming on little lake! i've seen it forming on the river which is still very high at the moment so it is forming more slowly because of the current. have a peaceful day. steven

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  14. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 8:24 AM

    crafty green - i agree with you ( see my comment to jenny stevning). i thik that there are more than four seasons in fact as there are discernible changes that occur before the actual calendar change. have a lovely day. steven

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  15. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 8:25 AM

    golden west - in the summer that's where the wakeboarding championships are held, there are concerts, art shows. in the winter it's the domain of the hardy few including wintering over birds and stumbling photographers. have a lovely day! steven

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  16. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 8:26 AM

    hi willow, thankyou for dropping by and for the nice comment. steven

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  17. Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed.December 21, 2009 at 9:24 AM

    Beautifully composed shots steven. In the first one, I feel like I could reach out and touch the silky, smooth surface. Just lovely.

    And ah yes...the eternal process of letting go...to welcome what is, now.

    Happy transition into 2010!!

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  18. The Weaver of GrassDecember 21, 2009 at 10:52 AM

    Lovely photos, beautiful river, lovely words - goodbye Autumn and hello Winter with a vengeance here in deep snow Steven.

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  19. Butternut SquashDecember 21, 2009 at 11:03 AM

    In Japanese, yûgen, refers to a profound grace and subtlety. I have always thought of it as the beauty of winter. It is a cold lonely beauty. I love the poetry that you find, and your wonderful photos.

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  20. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 11:05 AM

    bonnie thankyou very much! i loved the ways the slight edge of sunset coloured the thin thin film of ice. 2010. i remember when i was a kid and couldn't conceive of life in 2010. here it almost is! have a lovely day. steven

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  21. AnonymousDecember 21, 2009 at 11:07 AM

    Wow. The color is so vivid and bright. It makes me question what my Canons put out.

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  22. Linda SueDecember 21, 2009 at 11:07 AM

    I agree with Dan- Seems lately 'Goodby' is all I do or say and that is my lesson in this life- letting go- going on and being patient. LOVE the icy shots of the river. Must go get another cardigan -suddenly, I am chillier.Your photos are effectie and beautiful. Must go warm up on somebody's blog that has a fire going...

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  23. TitusDecember 21, 2009 at 11:32 AM

    steven, those blues in the photographs are incredible! True winter cool colours - beautiful.

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  24. ellen abbottDecember 21, 2009 at 11:35 AM

    These are beautiful steven, especially the top and bottom ones. Happy solstice. We welcome back the sun.

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  25. KayDecember 21, 2009 at 3:29 PM

    gorgeous shots steven...we have snow here but our lake doesn't freeze...it flows too fast i think...hope that you are having a great time....

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  26. nollyposhDecember 21, 2009 at 5:49 PM

    Sooooo ~Beautiful~ Merry Christmas my friend to You & yours from Me & mine x

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  27. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 6:24 PM

    hello abe - i'm using olympus cameras. these particular pictures were taken with my son's nikon. i don't know much about the technical side of the tools i use. i prefer it that way. sometimes i discover features by accident and i find that more exciting than reading manuals!!! have a peaceful evening. steven

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  28. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 6:25 PM

    oh linda sue - i so get what you're saying. this year i said goodbye to five people who were very important to me. but they needed to fly on so off they went!
    i need some warm pictures in here - you're right. see i have a big sweater on as i write because it's twenty below outside!!!! keep warm! steven

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  29. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 6:26 PM

    titus thankyou. there they were - hovering in the sky, drifting in the water. all i have to do is push a button and share. have a peaceful evening. steven

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  30. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 6:27 PM

    ellen - i wish you a happy solstice. the days get longer now - hurray yippee and hallelujah!!! really truly i love light and colour so much that the darkness is very difficult. but it's what is. have a peaceful evening. steven

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  31. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 6:28 PM

    kay - it's low key but i'm happy to be able to do almost entirely what i choose. minimal stress. time to enjoy my kids and vice versa!! have a lovely evening. steven

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  32. stevenDecember 21, 2009 at 6:29 PM

    thanks so much nolly posh! i'm so happy to see you drop by!! steven

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  33. JoannaDecember 21, 2009 at 7:09 PM

    Hi Steven, these photographs are absolutely beautiful. It makes me (almost) want to be where the weather's cold. I hope you have a peaceful and lovely Christmas holiday with your family.

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  34. Reya MellickerDecember 21, 2009 at 8:31 PM

    By the time winter arrives, I am SO OVER autumn. I love the way you respect all the seasons, and express your reverence.

    Happy winter, Steven!

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  35. Lisa UrsuDecember 21, 2009 at 9:47 PM

    Wishing you all the very best this holiday season, and in the coming year Steven.
    These pictures are so beautiful, especially with the snow falling on your blog.
    You are so talented!!!
    I am in awe.
    Thanks for that.
    All the best.

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  36. stevenDecember 22, 2009 at 8:27 AM

    joanna i bet you're wishing you were still in canada with these beautiful scenes - not!!!! i hope that you're groovin' along down in mexico. i'm going to be visiting and doing a catch up on your activities over the last week sometime later today! have a peaceful day. steven

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  37. stevenDecember 22, 2009 at 8:28 AM

    hi reya - exactly! the bridge is built, we've crossed it and here we are waiting for the calendar to catch up!!! i love the seasons for different reasons. each gives and takes something. what they all leave are resonant memories of beauty. enjoy your sudden and massive winter gift!!!! steven

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  38. stevenDecember 22, 2009 at 8:34 AM

    hi liza - thankyou very much for the christmas wishes. thankyou also for your very generous comments about the blog. i love this place and i visit here myself. i really set it up as a place of peace. a place to remember the little moments of beauty that fill our days. so a refuge if you like. i'm really glad that you enjoy this place also. have a lovely holiday liza. steven

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