Autumn changes focus on school schedules and condo movements, but now for our children, not for us. It’s the same with Spring. In between these events, like sunlight going through the leaves of trees, there is viewing the lake and parkways where trees can reach for the sun because the buildings are small enough for them to have a chance.
LIGHT THROUGH PATIENT TREES
BUILDINGS BLOCK THE AUTUMN SKY
BOTH PROVIDE COOL SHADE
Text: Linked to dVerse Haibun Monday. Toni is hosting with the theme “season changes”.
Linked to Jilly’s Casting Bricks – September Challenge. Consider this one part (first or second) of a double haibun and add another haibun.
Photo: “Sidewalk Flower with Dark Sun” below by the author linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge with the theme “Let the Sun Shine in” and Mundane Monday.

Great choices. I found a new challenge to play in too! Thanks!
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Thank you! There are a lot of challenges going around. I wish I had time to do all of them.
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Me too! It keeps me on my toes. 🙂
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Loved the post, specially the second picture: in contrast with the majestic trees and the high buildings, a naive sidewalk picture, drawn by a stray hand!
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I liked the second one better as well. Both pictures were taken on a parkway in Chicago near Lake Michigan, one looking up and the other looking down. I needed pictures with light in them. I hope metaphorical light would do. Thank you, Danik!
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Another great juxtaposition post, thank you
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Thank you, Dale!
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How lovely to hear your voice reading your haibun and haiku, Frank. All p0etry,etc. should be read aloud. It comes to life! Lovely, haibun and haikul
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I am glad you liked the audio, Jane! I plan to record what I write going forward although I will probably miss some future posts. There are some blogs I sort of read with Google Translate’s help that are not in English. I wish those authors made recordings of their writing so I could hear their native language. I figure I might as well set an example and do the same for my own. Thank you!
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A beautiful haibun and set of images Frank, I love the idea that the buildings are small enough to give the trees a chance of light :o)
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Some of the parkways still have older homes. The trees are larger than these buildings, but smaller than the condominiums built more recently. The best place for the trees are in a real park, but they make streets seem more friendly when they are present. Thanks, Xenia!
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☺🌳🙋
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I really like your description of patient trees in this context, Frank.
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Thank you, Robbie! A tree seems to me to be very patient and forgiving.
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A worthy haiku attached to a nice haibun.
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Thank you, Charley! I am glad you liked them.
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I did very much!
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Patient trees…yes they are. And metaphorical light does just fine. I liked your pictures of the trees and how they let light in. I also liked your comparing your kids to you and your wife’s getting them ready for school. The haiku is superb!
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We are more stable and don’t change as often as our children do who are still moving through school and to their first jobs. I wondered if we and them are like the trees and the buildings in some way, but I don’t know which one we are. Thanks, Toni!
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I kind of think you all like the trees.
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I too enjoyed the read Frank ~ Kids school schedules keep us busy, but not so much anymore ~ Love the title and photos ~
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We have our youngest daughter finishing college this year. So next year this schedule should change for us as well. Thank you, Grace!
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I do love how you compare the shade of trees to shadows of the buildings…
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They both provide welcome shade. Thanks, Björn!
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I live on the very edge of the city and a scant half mile from Eagle Creek Park, so trees are everywhere, just now starting to tinge with fall color. Love your photos, your haiku, and your voice is always so soothing!
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Where I live they are all over the place as well. We also have a forest preserve in walking distance. Going into Chicago is a different story although there are many parks and parkway–and of course the lake. Thanks, Bev!
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Once more, excellent work along with the recording, Frank! Thanks for choosing our challenge.🌞🌞🌞
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Thanks, K’lee! I enjoy your challenges!
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The trees teach us the value of a firm foundation; our grounding is well rooted. Love the recording too! The author’s voice tells us so much more, a conviction in your words. Very nice, Frank!
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Thanks, Walter! I have a few reasons for making these recordings. It is sort of the last draft prior to publishing. It also allows those who don’t speak English as their first language to hear how I would read the poem out-loud. I am glad you enjoyed it.
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Love your post, Frank. And most especially the “looking up” photo you’ve posted here that allows us to see that lacey pattern caused by the sun illuminating single leaves agains that clear blue sky! 🙂
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That photo does have the sun coming in right through the leaves. I kind of like that effect when it works. Thanks, Lillian!
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I enjoyed this haibun, I read it quickly when you first posted it and the last line of the haiku has really stuck with me giving me thoughts of the various ways we are shaded and shade others, from the literal to the metaphorical.
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There is a metaphorical aspect to this. I am glad you liked the ending. Thank you!
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I love all of this! Small trees allowing a chance for sun! I think a lot about light and shade.
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Thank you, Mary!
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When Tools Become Dance
And School Becomes Song
And Cars Become Lovers
And Homes Become
God true that’s
the way of A
World mY friEnd Frank..
for it is A Long desert road
that children make back to
Gold Brick Road Springs..:)
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I like your description of the way back as “a long desert road”. Thanks, Fred!
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Welcome.. Frank..
Happy a Weekend
To you…:)
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I’m going to print this and work on it from paper during the coming days. I’ll likely be out of commision for just a bit while we wether the storm here in Florida.
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Stay safe if you live near that hurricane, Jilly!
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Thank you, Frank! Quite near, in fact.
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This is my attempt at completing this thought-provoking challenge:
https://revivedwriter.wordpress.com/2017/09/07/1754/
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Thank you for adding the second part!
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It is funny how the change of seasons change as we grow older.
I like the flower on the pavement. It made me smile.
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Yes, that flower seemed to pop out of nowhere on my walk down that street yet hidden on the sidewalk. Thank you, Merril!
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When my son moved to Brooklyn I was surprised at the pops of green and lovely tree lined streets – of course the parks are lovely and I would have to live within walking distance – but birds and the trees certainly are welcoming in these homey areas – Why I prefer Brooklyn to Manhattan…
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The parks around Chicago are beautiful as are some of the tree-lined parkways in the neighborhoods. Of course, the majesty of those tall buildings and the lake offer their own delights. Thank you, Margaret!
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What a wonderful photo! That capture of the sidewalk made my day. Very cheerful.
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Thank you! It is nice to find such art right below one’s feet. I am glad I took a picture of it before walking on.
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Frank, This was a most satisfying write! Add the kicker that it was completed while 80 mph winds shook the house and rattled by courage 🙂 https://jillys2016.wordpress.com/2017/09/13/let-the-seasons-shine/
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It is hard to imagine how anyone can do anything during a hurricane, but if it goes on for hours one will do something. That experience may provide you with many ideas for poems and stories in the future. Thanks, Jilly!
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Good to see your entry, Frank. That is a very interesting find. Makes me curios about the one who did it! It is cute and sort of photogenic as well.
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Sometimes graffiti stands out and is memorable. I don’t know if the dark spot, that I view as a dark sun, was part of the original graffiti. It was just a spot on the sidewalk. The flower was carved into the cement or made when the cement was wet. I am curious as well, but it may have been made long ago.
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Yes, making people curious is one point a curious photographer should focus on, I guess.
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Here is my attempt at your challenge. I enjoyed the writing; never certain how far afield I may be.
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https://lifeinportofino.wordpress.com/2017/09/14/shine-in-frankcharley/
Here’s the post!
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Thank you, Charley! Nice second half. I liked the idea of winter cleaning the air and how snow can be a plaything.
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