I sweep between the pots of geraniums, clearing leaves from the patio. In next door’s garden, blocking the northern sky, an old oak tree raises and lowers its branches as a gust of wind passes through.
Oak tree leaves Carried on October winds -- Letting go.
I gather up the leaves onto the shovel, just as a couple of Coal Tits skim over the hedge and land on the seed feeder. Already they are preparing for the change of season, something that I am thinking about too. The air is damp after days of rain.
A Different View 
Time is moving too fast, Ash-tree! I enjoyed your haibun and will display your hokku. Thanks, Fraxy!
Thanks for allowing me to display your hokku. I don’t know about you,but t’s turned out to be a fun obsession for me!
Many thanks Edo, for adding my hokku to your wonderful website!
Thanks, Edo! I thought time would pass more slowly as I grow older 😉
What a lovely snippet, nostalgic, and that magnificent oak tree – thank you.
Joanna
Joanna, I’ve tried to be precise in this post, autumnal, and highlight the idea of ‘my place in nature’. Thank you for your lovely comment.
A beautiful tribute to the new season. I like the contrast of welcoming in the change and also letting go. Wonderfully written! Thank you Ashley!
Thank you, Sandra, for your wonderful comments. It won’t be long now until we ‘put our clocks back’. Dark nights.
That’s right! Sounds great. I’m ready!
Very beautiful text – and hokku – it is almost as if one can feel the wind and damp air. And nice with some photo documentation 🙂 – I hope the October sun shines on you and your garden.
Lovely comments Marina, thank you! I do hope we see some sunshine, the winter is going to be a long one!
What a huge, beautiful tree.
It’s in a neighbouring garden, and I suppose you could say that we all share its beauty. Thanks for dropping by.
That is a beautiful tree. It may be more glorious once it turns. Lots of sweeping for you though!
Haha! That is true! The brush and shovel are ready and waiting!
Such a beautiful oak deserved such a poetic hokku
Thank you for your lovely comment 😊
It’s a beautiful tree!
bye
Thank you! Thanks for dropping by!
there is a translation for you in my blog…
A beautiful vignette of an autumn day Ashley.
Thank you, Andrea, for your lovely comment 😊
I had an interesting, quite affecting, dream last night (was just telling my husband) that I was a tree letting go of all my leaves in a gust of wind…I won’t forget the feeling of that in a hurry!
Letting go! Pain and relief! Thank you for your comment, Helen. PS. I’m listening to ‘Aerial’ as I write. Kate Bush is brilliant.
Oh I’m so glad you think so, its one of my very favourite go-to albums, especially the second half, just transports me. The same video creator I mentioned MrMarrs on youtube has done some magical interpretations of the tracks.
And here we are in another October, Ashley! It’s already getting too cool here, making me think winter might be coming early for us. I love your poem & photo, and the words surrounding them seem to sing with Autumn. Thanks for sharing, my friend! 🌞
Thank you, Lisa, for visiting! Yes, another October, and soon it will be Halloween, again! Only a few more weeks 😊