I set out at first light into a seamless landscape. The earth is silent, save for my rhythmic plod of boots and the cloud of breath against my muffler. I forge a fresh path on an old trail.
I think of my daughter, newly separated, her search for landmarks in a world suddenly opaque, and I know even love as fierce as mine can’t keep her warm.
cardinal huddling
on the old pine’s snowy branch
earth’s muted longing
Sarah Russell
Sarah Russell Poetry 
The symbolism of the cold and the huddled bird is powerful.
LikeLike
Thanks, Jane. Bjorn’s “walk” recalled that walk in winter right after I’d learned her news. For once, the accompanying haiku came quite easily.
LikeLike
It flows beautifully from the emotion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your walk made me shiver, Sarah! It’s very windy and chilly here but we have no snow, only rain, drip-dripping all day. I love the sound effect of ‘The earth is silent, save for my rhythmic plod of boots’ and the imagery of the haiku, with the brightly-coloured cardinal against the old pine’s snowy branch.
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Kim. I remember I was warm, but the world seemed especially cold that day.
LikeLike
Nice expression of empathy with your daughter.
LikeLike
Thanks, Frank. Guess you’re always a parent no matter how old they are.
LikeLike
That haiku is incredible. Filled with Love for your daughter. The symbolism of the huddling bird is so powerful.
LikeLike
Thank you, Toni. High praise. You write such beautiful haiku!
LikeLike
Your words are beautiful in their understanding, My thoughts are with your daughter. May she gain strength from your love. Hugs to you both.
Anna
LikeLike
Thanks, Anna. She’s doing well. Strong woman!
LikeLike
This is so lovely – my thoughts go to your daughter. Your haiku is amazing!
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Jo.
LikeLike
At such a time what a natural reaction to walk. And to write. I hope healing is happening for all. It is certainly an effective poem from a reader’s perspective.
LikeLike
Thanks a lot. It seems those transitions are the best times to write (and walk) your way through them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think your daughter is very fortunate to have such a caring and empathetic mother. The analogy is so powerful here. It made me think of my own divorce, the blank slate and how we have to set out, making new footprints in the snow.
LikeLike
Thanks, Mish. It is a fitting analogy for my own divorce too. I knew what she would face.
LikeLike
Such a lot in this short piece. The parallels are striking – mother and daughter both in a blank featureless land, one striding out, one lost (for now); the bird/daughter huddling – the cold and the muted longing. Terrific.
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Peter!
LikeLike
A powerful haibun.
LikeLike
The way you have to break a fresh path through the snow and the way I feel that your daughter is on similar walk by herself is so great. Wish for cardinals to color her world (and yours)
LikeLike
Thanks, Bjorn. She’s well on her way now. A strong woman!
LikeLike
Some valleys have to be walked alone! Walking does give time for contemplation! Nice work!
dwight
LikeLike
You’re right, Dwight. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your haiku describes so well the longing of a mother’s heart to make everything right. Blessings on you and your daughter.
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Amaya. Yes, we never stop being mothers, do we?
LikeLike
Forging a fresh path through snow on an old trail creates such a powerful image. A beautiful haibun Sarah and I wish your daughter well on her new journey 💜
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Xenia. She’s well on her way now. So proud of her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We never outgrow our mother’s love but sometimes we must make fresh footprints in a cold world…beautiful imagery and deep emotion expressed!
LikeLike
Thanks, Lynn. It was a tough time.
LikeLike
I enjoyed this blog entry a lot. It reminds me of the cardinals I saw perching on snowy branches on the extensive Cloisters grounds on Manhattan Island a few years ago during a March visit to NYC. During the same visit, I also saw a group of Catholic Cardinals leaving a downtown Cathedral. They walked two-by-two down a snowy street in their red robes.
LikeLike
Oh Lin, there’s a poem there for sure. I love those images! Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike