While I Wasn't Looking
By Dan Hardison
It has been several days
since I passed this way
and gazed upon the maple tree.
Now as I approach
with a chill in the air
I see things have changed.
The leaves of scarlet and gold
have taken flight
and lie on the ground.
While I wasn't looking
the seasons changed
and now it is a winter tree.
A native of Tennessee, Dan Hardison now lives in Wilmington, North Carolina where he is a writer and artist. His artwork is inspired by Japanese woodblocks and ink painting (sumi-e). As an artist and writer, he is drawn to the Japanese haiga – a combination of image and poem. Dan Hardison’s writing has appeared at Calliope, The Wise Owl, The Ravens Perch, Frogpond, Cattails, Contemporary Haibun Online, and other print and online journals. His self-published book Quietude is available from Lulu Press. His work can also be found at his website Windscape Studio and blog Some Tomorrow’s Morning.