When Snow Falls

A white blanket covers everything. Words and sound are lost in the steady falling of the white flakes. Where they land is where they stay, clinging to everything in sight. The very planks of a bench were covered and piled on with snowflakes. It’s cold, so cold that it sucks the warmth out of everything. But even in the chilly air there is excitement. A buzz causes movement all over the white blanket. When snow falls there is a feeling of joy in the air.

Images taken by Mizuni on the campus of Eastern University. Graphics by Mizuni.

Carved in Deep

A knife in the dark, against the sides of trees,
Our love will be carved deep into the recesses of our minds.
The smooth pale bark was once clear of flaws, until the point of the dagger touched its surface.
No storm will wash away our footprints, like the water covering sandy prints on the beach.
Snow cannot even hide it for a season.
I’m not sure how long this will last, but I hope it does so forever.
For like my heart carved deep in the tree so is my love for you.

Images taken by Mizuni on the campus of Eastern University. Graphics by Mizuni.

Ripples of the Lake

Five haikus for the above image of the rippling water of the lake.

Rippling waters,
Rings growing thinner and thin.
The bank; there they end.

Silent Surfaces,
Calm waters disturbed by breath.
The wind heaves stronger.

Shadows cast by trees,
Like dark ghosts stretching forward,
The lake in darkness.

The moon round and whole,
Seen in the sky and water.
Both are welcoming.

Lapping at my feet,
The cold ripples of the lake.
They never cease here.

Images taken by Mizuni on the campus of Eastern University. Graphics by Mizuni.

Falling from the Trees

It was quiet, until the sound plopping caught my attention. Even the small breeze didn't cause much of an uproar among the leftover leaves of of autumn. Someone else was falling, and for a moment I didn't know what, until an acorn came crashing down, just missing my head. Dodging this way and that, I managed to get through unscathed just as another gust of wind blew through the tangled branches. More began to fall, even when the air was still, for sitting up on a high branch a squirrel dropped the shells. The hard covers of the acorns smacked against the asphalt as they fell, like hail only these from the trees. Finally there was cover from them. I wondered if they would get me the next time as I traveled back.

Images taken by Mizuni on the campus of Eastern University. Graphics by Mizuni.

On the Trees

Rough edges poke and stick out all around the trunk. Grey better describes it, with a hint of light rust coloring between the jagged cracks that scratch over the surface as if claws had scrapped down the sides. But green covers the trunks. Spotted moss colored specks dotting the bark. Branches split and break away, growing and pointing towards the sky.
Squirrels scramble up the sides when someone passes, balancing preciously at the thin ends of the branches.
As the sun crosses the sky and begins to set along the horizon, the shadows of the trees stretch over the lush grass of summer. The silver moonlight soon replaces the golden rays of the morning sun as the branches of the trees wave gently in a cooling breeze.

Images taken by Mizuni on the campus of Eastern University. Graphics by Mizuni.

Blue Berries

Blue berries.
Shades of ocean water and fresh dewdrops.
Dotting the thick leaves, colors of turquoise and purple.
Such a rainbow of so many colors below the trees.
Instead of fiery hues, cool tones.
A smoothing feeling of trickling water,
Running over smooth stones.
Blue berries,
So different, so eye catching.
Something to snap; a still image.
While just passing by.

Images taken by Mizuni on the campus of Eastern University. Graphics by Mizuni.

Falling Softly

Yellow veins blotched with green branch on the surface of the leaf. A pale red began to bleed into the foliage, browning some and yellowing others. The breezes snatched leaves from their perches and slowing they alighted to the ground. Maples bended forward with the wind, branches stretched out like fingers as if trying to capture the leaves ripped from its arms.
As the wind dies down the misfits fall softly like silent winter nights when the snow drifts down from the sky.
No longer green by reds, oranges, browns and yellows. When the sun touches the tops of the trees they ignite in a flaming splendor.

Images taken by Mizuni on the campus of Eastern University. Graphics by Mizuni.

Like the Sparkling of Stars

The path was damp after the rain that had pounded against the side panels of the dormitory. The gurgling stream was now a raging current of muddy brown water, forcing its way through the campus, taking clinging twigs and falling bank sides with it.
The torrent could be heard all over campus.

Sunlight filtered through the overhead canopy, dappling the forest floor in a warm glow that helped the soaked grass begin to dry. As a light wind suddenly picked up, the treetops began to sway as if in slow motion, the clashing of their vegetation like the beating of the rain from the night before.
The bright rays began to shift with the trees’ motion, the huge branched peaks cutting off possible routs for the light to travel. As the beams of yellow and gold moved over the ground, their tips fell upon a cluster of green vegetation by the raging river’s bank. Something like the glittering of stars twinkling atop the healthy leaves caught my eye. Beams of sunlight were reflected from the raindrops; making the ground sparkle like a million silver stars were attached to the earth’s surface rather than the endless sky above.
The scene was amazing.
I couldn’t remember seeing the night sky so well portrayed on the ground.

Images taken by Mizuni on the campus of Eastern University. Graphics by Mizuni.

A Flowering Timeline

While walking hastily back to my dorm, I noticed for the first time that there were flowerbeds positioned beside the sidewalk. They weren't the easiest to see with the tilted pine trees bending towards the road, grabbing more of my attention. I should have noticed the flowers sooner, since their golden color was the brightest along the sidewalk.

The flowers were painted gold with petals falling slightly down and then swooping back up. The ends looked like they were cut or nicked to make three jagged points. The reason for the detail escaped me.
The bulb of the blossom was dominant, taking up most of the bloomed top. It was also a bright golden yellow, which when hit perfectly by the sun seemed to glow. The stem connected underneath and faded from green to a brownish grey, but from it thriving pointed leaves sprouted.
Among the matured blossom were was also one browning, with petals missing and its stem becoming stiff and weak. The last of the golden fingers surrounding the browned bulb were shriveled.

Yet among the fully-grown and the crumbling blossoms a bud was just beginning to unfold.
There I saw the birth, the matured, and the death; the life of the flowerbed.

Images taken by Mizuni on the campus of Eastern University. Graphics by Mizuni.