Waiting

Here in North Norfolk, we are still waiting for autumn foliage, although the berries are making up for the lack of colour. There are a few yellow and gold leaves drifting about in the current stormy weather, but they are nothing like the usual glorious displays we have had in previous years.

Saying that, our copper beech has been burnished to a full, rich maroon, speckled with chardonnay and claret coloured leaves, a hint of what is to come.

leathery leaves soaked
after a heavy deluge
a copper refuge

Kim M. Russell, 23rd October 2023

This Monday at the dVerse Poets Pub we are writing haibun with Frank, who has chosen as a topic fall foliage or spring blossoms. He says that the vibrant colours of autumn and spring are a delight to behold, which is why he wants us to bask in the seasonal kaleidoscope found on both sides of the equator. He has also shared haibun by John Zheng and Robert Whitmer to inspire us.

31 thoughts on “Waiting”

  3. I understand the “waiting” for those wonderful fall colors. We thought we’d be seeing them on our entire fall foliage cruise that left Boston, October 2nd. But even up to Halifax, Canada, the colors were slowly slowly emerging. We finally saw them on the St. Lawrence Seaway leading up to Quebec City. For us in Boston, it seems they finally arrive and then we get hit with a wet and windy day and they’re all blown about and gone.

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    1. There are two more opposite at the entrance to the village hall and playing field. I believe our copper beech comes from one of them, as it wasn’t there when we moved in, but they are not such a rich colour.

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      1. Whole forests of poplars. They have been planted commercially here for hundreds of years. Every little smallholding has a ‘plantation’ for firewood and to sell for pulp. One of ours, a very old one, fell down in the high wind we had a couple of weeks ago. They’re fragile because if the drought, poor things.

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  15. speckled with chardonnay and claret-coloured
    leaves, a hint of what is to come.

    Wonderful haibun Kim! Hank had a daily dose of browning maple leaves both sides of the
    train tracks passing through Delft and The Hague a long time ago. Thanks for the memory, Ma’am!

    Hank

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