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Seasons are playing silly tricks on us. I walked this path regularly last year, monitoring nature, seeking the first primroses and savouring the shapes of skeletal trees in winter. Above you see it in full lush leaf on 5th May last year. Today I can still see the bones of the landscape, witness to a tardy Spring .
My walks are no longer daily, punctuated by armchair weather watching. On rare fine days I can be seen making a labour of covering a hundred metres, with frequent pauses to rest against a wall, or to see what flowers are out, to count the rare bees and listen to the birds.
Toddlers lurch and tumble,
old crones hobble and stumble —
in between: we stride.
for dVerse Haibun Monday
Vivinfrance's Blog 
And yet, the way you say it makes me smile.
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“In between, we stride” Beautiful line in a marvelous haibun!
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Your description of the seasons being so much more unpredictable is apt but I love the haiku with the toddling and stumbling and strides in the in between years.
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Viv, I love that “tardy spring,” especially. Praying you find some spring in your step, soon.
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The tardy spring seems to be everywhere. But then, we get to enjoy blue, sunny skies much more.
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the spring seems to have jumped in the past couple od days here.. Mind you it probably wont stay
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We had spring last week. They say here that if you don’t like the weather, simply wait ten minutes!
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Spanning a lifetime and how we do our walking. Loved it.
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“to count the rare bees” ah…isn’t this sad?…
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and it’s all our fault…
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Ah Viv — I really enjoyed this. And your haiku is quite special. I’d never related our lurching walk as toddlers to our hobbled walk as seniors. Our Aunt Flo, a former Commander in the Navy who served with Admiral Nimitz in WWII, died at the age of 90-something. She was an amazing woman and one of her favorite phrases was “use it or lose it.” I’m reminded of that and feel her peering over my shoulder as I continue to struggle with this right ankle — having severely sprained it in late February in Bermuda. Sigh. I do think it takes longer for us to “heal” as we age. But — I do so enjoy life and am thankful for every day! Sometimes if I can’t get out for a walk, I turn on some music and dance a bit around the house 🙂 Here’s to continuing our toddler ways, my friend. Happy Tuesday — hope to see you at the bar a bit later today.
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Ah dancing. Excellent exercise but getting beyond me nowadays.
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I do understand. Sometimes when I’m sitting with my CDs on, my feet just dance on the floor while my bottom stays firmly in place on the couch cushion in my den! 🙂
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Ooh! I know that dance – the sedentary two-step.
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I hope you manage more walks as the weather warms up Viv but, in the meantime, I hope you have a fantastic view from your armchair.
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It is, specially at this time of year, with the varied shades of green in the banks of trees across the field. Last year the maize grew so high we lost all but the tops of the trees, but this year most of the field is down to grass.
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I’m applauding for us old crones–if we didn’t keep on moving, we’d be so miserable.
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Viv you have a wonderful list of poetry memes in your sidebar. Chevrefeuilles which is a wonderful haiku community is actually linked at http://chevrefeuillescarpediem.blogspot.com/. Id hate for people to miss out because of an old link. Cheers
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Thank you. I’d love to put it right, but since the wordpress shenanigans, I can’t work out how to change/delete/add anything to the sidebar.
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Spring has been a bit tardy too and a bit cold ~ My spring pictures last year were more lush this year ~ Still its a blessing to be in this season and hope the weather improves for more walking ~
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bees and birds and primroses blooming, even armchair watching or breathing air on the patio….drinking in mother nature’s bounty even when she is slow to wake up. Summer is on the horizon, truly.
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We are catching up fast here after a few days in the mid-20s. Even the apple trees are full of blossoms … although not so many bees. >
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The rising of the sap in the outer world often corresponds to the rising of energy in Man, both young and old. This year, I feel I have truly entered into Autumn, in my mind and body, as well as in nature. My news has not been so good.
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Can’t tick like here. I’m worrying about you and sympathising mightily.
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This of course speaks a lot to me taking care of both a mother and mother in law… I did find that spring seem to stir up some energy also in the old bones. I hope you will be up and walk longer soon… (and hope for the ideal walking weather).
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