I know you should be blue — my winter moon. You should lend your sheen to snow; you should reflect yourself in ice and not in water. Winter should be cold. Not like this. From the west the rain rolls in, and you my moon can only veil yourself shame, in fog and cloud. Winter merges with autumn into yet another dark November.
I talked with you this morning, you are waning and your grin looks pale and sad. I can’t console you, moon, for your loss of ice and snow; I can only mourn with you and do my best. I bicycle to work.
naked in the rain
a discarded Christmas tree —
scent of rotting leaves
November by Koloman Moser
Viktoria hosts the first Haibun Monday at dVerse with a prompt on Fuyu No Tsuki, the winter moon and we shall come up with a nonfiction prose with a haiku to match. The winter is very absent here in Sweden, and I want to have some.
—
January 8, 2017
Our winter here has been mild as well, but I’m quite content with it. I love your conversation with the moon in this.
That was really nice, Bjorn. Enjoyed the melancholic flow of it. Fits so well with this wet, cold, gloomy day we have here. Yesterday, temp was 0^F with windchills around -10^F. Today, it’s 38^F windchill 25^F. Too much ice to ride…
Oh that was quite another temperature… maybe you want to join us writing haibun… the linkup opens up in just 20 minutes.
Great haibun and lovely tanka. You are welcome to our winter: 4 inches of snow plus degrees hovering around 0F.
Like this a lot!
It’s hard to believe you have no winter yet. There is an aura of sadness and loss in this wonderfully penned haibun.
I love the thought of consoling the moon – she usually consoles me.
I also love the way the moon is reflected in your words, Bjorn, and that poor naked, discarded Christmas tree really describes the feeling when the festive season is over.
There are places where winter is warm as well.
I wonder if the moon does miss not being able to see her reflection in blue ice.
The moon is quite vain.
🙂
I never experienced seeing the sky in a winter with snow.. the maximum coldness that always happen in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia 18*C.. The sky always navy in summer and a bit greenish in winter.. and The moon always bare.. bright whole and beautiful…
I cant imagine if in your country during the winter you have a cold night and the mood hidden between the clouds.. maybe it is beautiful for sometimes.. but if it is forever dark, what am I gonna feel? Hehehe
“I bicycle to work / naked in the rain”
Tee hee. Good for you.
🙂
this was so personal… nice relationship
We have a soggy Christmas tree in the yard too. Lovely reflection.
I can send you some of my winter cold here Bjorn ~ Love the thought of consoling the sad and pale moon ~ Good for you to bike going to work (hopefully not naked in the rain 🙂 )
Beautiful, Bjorn.
Consoling the moon while cycling to work- she will be pleased. Lovely haiku too.
Your voice is purely soothing and good cool.
Your words are magic and marvelous. 🙂
You’ve captured the ‘down,’ of the Christmas and New Year season’s end. There is something about being out in the rain – caught in a storm – that makes me feel naked – very insightful.
a fitting tribute to a waning moon in winter, Bjorn!
Bicycling in the rain in winter. Isn’t quite right. One moon, over all. Wish we could send you some of ours.
Haha! Beautiful and the last line was excellent!
My favorite moment: I talked with you this morning, you are waning and your grin looks pale and sad. I can’t console you, moon, for your loss of ice and snow; I can only mourn with you and do my best. I bicycle to work.- though I’m grateful for this mild winter here.
Aww, I’m certain the moon appreciates it. One consoling soul is more than enough.
I always feel Christmas comes too early in the winter! There’s still a lot of it to get through. It sounds like you are getting as much squelch as we are. I like your sympathy for the moon, and your mention of the discarded Christmas tree is masterful.
How strangely weather is behaving. I guess we have ourselves to blame. As always, I loved your reading. It adds to the meaning, in tone and inflection.
I remember you mentioning the moon as a mirror. Your missing a proper winter – when things are out of kilter it’s upsetting.
Lovely Haibun!! First consoling the moon & then ending with distinct smell of season!! Wonderful write indeed
Winters have changed every 10,000 years or so, all is in flux. Niagara Falls was covered in ice this winter — where some lament, others rejoice. Change respects no one. Fun Haibun
The scene is so barren after all the festivities are over and at that time nature comes up with something good as moon. But to see that moon also fade away only adds glum to the dark mood.
Terrific haiku to close the prose.. the sense of despair and helplessness is palpable.
Thank you.. a great honor to have such a comment coming from you my friend.
Reblogged this on Frank J. Tassone and commented:
#Haiku Happenings #4: Bjorn’s latest #haibun for #dVersepoets!
Luv your moon musing Bjorn.
Oh and we will be getting a BLUE MOON on the 31st Jan.
When there are 2 full moons in one month the 2nd is a Blue Moon
much love…
You capture the melancholy of ending the winter celebrations and returning to the routines of life. (K)
a very bleak winter’s day I hope the moon brings some snow your way soon.
FYI:
The Moon: Male or Female?
Language gender: der Mond(German, la lune/a (French/Spanish),månen (Swedish/Norwegian) …
Male gods: Germanic (Mani), Japanese (Tsukuyomi)…
Female goddess: Chinese (Chang’e), Greek (Phoebe)…
But in many cultures, the sun and moon are opposite genders.
Add your personal view as well… maybe it can be a woman to a man and man to a woman… In Sweden we do not normally attribute gender to the moon, but a long time ago we said that the moon is male and the sun is female….
This is beautifully eloquent, Bjorn! I too long for the embrace of winter 🙂
The scent of rotten leaves doesn’t happen in the desert. Reminds me of home.
I really liked your reading of the moon morning for her loss of ice and snow! Very nice!
Dwight
The prose is laced with the sort of sorrow that makes a soul sigh a lot. And the haiku, well… the haiku breaks my heart.
It seems unseasonable weather is everywhere in the world these days. If I could, I’d gladly send you some of the Arctic temperature that has been hitting Philadelphia. Alaska is warmer than we had been for the last couple of weeks. We’re finally hitting the 30’s again, and that works for me.
Eastern North America seems to have gobbled up your winter. I love the way you begin by addressing the winter moon, which should be blue. Lovely, Bjorn.
Bringing the winter moon to life boldly! Very well done, Bjorn!
Your moon has a melancholy grin, and mine has one of hope and grace. I don’t like the gloomy grey of rainy chill either. Though I also didn’t like the extreme cold we’ve just had–probably more typical of what you normally have this time of year.
Lovely poem.
I hope you will be able to use your skies and skates this Winter and I love how you console the moon :o)
Consoling the moon… Oh, few have found themselves consoling when it is so often we run to the moon for comfort. Love the idea.