Haibun: Earthly Paradise

two whippets climbing over rocks on a hilly forest trail
two whippets climbing a hilly forest trail in autumn

After the rain the river is in spate and we hear her gurgle through the glen from a higher, drier trail. Every now and then we see her glitter through the trees. The birch are scattering golden leaves, the heather is turning brown. The autumn air feels both earthly and spiritual when we hear the elements speak.

mountain trail
the prayer beads
she left me

© Xenia Tran

close up of water flowing in a peaty river in spate

Wishing you all a happy Monday and a peaceful new week,

with love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

The above haiku (without the prose) was first published in Troutswirl – The Haiku Foundation Blog, Haiku Dialogue: Finding Peace and Contemplation – in the Great Outdoors – among mountains, 18 August 2021. A warm-hearted thank you to guest-editor Marietta McGregor for selecting my poem and the team at Troutswirl for putting this beautiful edition together.

PI Poetry Prompt: Dante

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #169: The Ordinary

Author: whippetwisdom

The stories, poems and photographs on this blog are the original creative work of Xenia Tran. Inspired by life in the Scottish Highlands and in awe of nature she gives voice to the wisdom of her adopted and fostered whippets.

53 thoughts on “Haibun: Earthly Paradise”

  4. Pingback: Haibun: Earthly Paradise – Whippet Wisdom – a Highland Journey – Frank J. Tassone

  13. This is lovely, Xenia. It reminds me of hikes in the Appalachian mountains where my ancestors are from. Your line about the overhead little creeks, “Every now and then we see her glitter through the trees.” remind me so much of this place I love. Thank you for transporting me back through your words. (BTW, many of my ancestors were Scottish; I wonder if they settled in Appalachia because it reminded them of home?)

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear LuAnne and so lovely to hear our experience transported you back to your beloved Appalachian mountains 💚 If your ancestors came from the Highlands they would have felt so at home there. The Appalachians look beautiful 💖🌲 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Diana and Eivor and Pearl say thank you for the pats too! 🐾💛🐾 Wishing you a wonderful week as well and please give sweet Chloe and Murphy a big pat and a few carrots from us all 🤗🥕🧡🥕🐴 xxx

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