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Haiku on the Run
When I did my June Haiku, I used the subtitle “What didn’t I see?” as a way of telling the reader there was a lot going on at Hidden Pond. When I went for a short run today, there was even more, thus “What did I see!” Yet what I noticed most often was the others on the trail ignoring the wonders around them. There were runners, walkers, and cyclists all moving along the trail with their attention on everything except the natural world around them. Some were playing music, others staring at their phones and only taking occasional glimpses of the trail in front of them, and several were deep in conversations with a companion about work.
My runs along woodland trails are just the opposite. They are about getting away from the daily grind of life, letting it all fade away into a distant part of my brain to be accessed, if necessary, at a later time. I’m always stopping to investigate the plants, trees, and animals found along the path. And at this time of the year, there is much to draw your attention.
Being known as someone who enjoys eating, berries were the first thing to catch my eye. I think it will be a good year for fruit in the Middle Atlantic area. I’ve heard from the farmers that the peaches are doing better than they have in a long time. It appears that the berries agree. It’s been years since there have been as many fruits appearing as now. And variety — we have blackberries, raspberries, wineberries, and mulberries.
