It’s a quiet morning at the river. High overhead, a flock of birds flies by. The caw of crows drifts in from far off in the distance, and from a bit closer, I hear the faint rise and fall of a bird song I can’t identify.
Most mornings, the river ice groans and creaks with the tidal flow. There are intermittent cascades of tinkling shards as it shifts, breaks, and falls. Occasionally, it emits a loud startling boom. Today all is quiet. Perhaps it’s slack tide.
I wander along the edges of the waterfront park, watching the subtle changes in light on the horizon. There’s no real path for me to follow, just the contours where the land meets the river.
I know to look down river to the tall pine, a favorite perch for local bald eagles. This morning two of them are there, silhouetted against the lightening sky. Another one flies in, then disappears into the nearby trees. I watch them for a long while. Sometimes they fly off as dawn breaks. Today, they seem content to remain where they are.
Turning, I scan the point at the turn in the river. Earlier this winter I saw a fox there. I listened to its piercing cry. Today, it doesn’t appear. I look back along the banks where at other times I’ve seen beaver and mink. A lone squirrel scampers along for a bit, then darts up a tree and out of sight. Nothing else stirs.
As I do most days, eventually I walk through the parking lot, onto the road, and then out onto the bridge. Beneath me, in the limited open water, the common mergansers swim, their colors muted in the low light. Some days they power through the water, diving over and over, amusing me with their energetic fishing. Today, they placidly glide through the icy water.
I take only a few pictures. Walk a little bit more. Look. Listen.
Everything feels slower down at the river today. There’s a peace and an intimacy to the hush.
as dawn tiptoes in
the river welcomes me
morning meditation
Nix the comfort zone 
You had me at ‘river’ in your title! I was glad to take this river journey with you, as I haven’t been on my river in a long while…perhaps a visit this weekend.
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I’m enjoying the freedom of winter break. Lots of time to meander and no rush, rush, rush. Hope you get a chance to visit your river soon.
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Thank you…I’m hoping to this weekend. Continue to enjoy winter break! 🙂
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Mmm… a beautiful, contemplative post. I am reading this right before bed and the watching, waiting, observing tone is just perfect. Lovely descriptions, too – some of the paragraphs read like poetry. I would call this “delightful”, but it’s quieter than that. Lovely will have to do.
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Thanks, Amanda. While I love the drama of a vibrant sunrise, there’s a special charm to a quiet pastel morning.
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Another quiet meditative walk with you by the river. We really must do this together in real time someday.
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I’d be more than happy to host a gathering!
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Molly, your haibun is filled with such beautiful photography and imagery, and lines that offer peace. “There’s a peace and an intimacy to the hush.” Your morning meditation makes me wish I could join you.
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It’s a special place, Carol. I always enjoy sharing the river with visitors. Let me know if you’re ever up my way 🙂
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Good golly, you live in such a beautiful place. I know I can always look forward to something gorgeous when I read your slices!
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Thanks, Stacey! I definitely don’t take it for granted!
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Have you posted a blog describing your writing process in creating a piece such as this one? As a writer, I’d love to know what you do as you create? Do you take notes out in the field? Do you write immediately after getting home? What if you can’t write right away? How much drafting do you do? What is your revising and editing process? I bet a lot of your followers would love to know how you create your narratives and poetry. Do I hear an Amen from all the MBH fans?
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You have me thinking a lot about my process. I definitely prefer to have time with my writing–to revise and then let rest, and then revisit. Some pieces come together very differently than others. I usually write in my notebook and then at some point switch to the computer, finishing up my revision work there.
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Thanks for the insight. I love revising. Most of my postings have had ten or more drafts. Hardest part? Getting the initial draft down. Then the fun begins of shaping and sculpting, which usually means cutting out and cutting down. That’s what I do better as a writer removing unnecessary words and sentences, and yes, full paragraphs, even sentences I love!
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