nature ⁽²⁶⁾

Jujube July 19, 2026

Ascending the Kuai Pavilion

落木千山天远大，澄江一道月分明。 Fallen trees spread over a thousand mountains beneath a vast sky; One clear river reflects the bright moon. — Huang Tingjian 黄庭坚 (1045-1105)

Jujube July 12, 2026

太乙近天都，连山接海隅。白云回望合，青霭入看无。 Mount Zhongnan rises toward Heaven’s capital; Its ranges stretch to the edge of the sea. Looking back, white clouds close behind; Looking in, blue mist dissolves into nothing. — Wang Wei 王维 (701-761)

Jujube May 24, 2026

What Gorgeous Thing

I do not know what gorgeous thing The bluebird keeps saying, His voice easing out of his throat, beak, body into the pink air of the early morning. I like it whatever it is. — Mary Oliver

Jujube April 26, 2026

Stars, Like Water Flowing

Stars, like water flowing from a jar, sprinkled upon the night. Like an artist from afar, painting a perfect light. A light veil of star light glows, touching our wandering heart. As we watch, nature shows, the true beauty of sacred art! — Rebecca Wiles

Jujube April 12, 2026

Watching the Blue Sea

The ancient stone stands tall and steep, As surging waters dance below. Hazy gold bleeds into mist, where turquoise flourishes in salt-washed glow. –jujube

Jujube March 15, 2026

A Winter Tree

Tangled vines, like frayed harp-strings, enact a wayward joy. Worldlings have turned away, hidden indoors to nurse their fire. But the trunk bends into a question mark between frost and rust, challenging all the assumptions of the season. –Jujube

Jujube March 8, 2026

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. — Robert Frost

Jujube February 22, 2026

Visiting the Sky-Mother Mountain in a Dream: A Song of Farewell

脚著谢公屐，身登青云梯。半壁见海日，空中闻天鸡。 … 列缺霹雳，丘峦崩摧。洞天石扉，訇然中开。 Wearing the climbing shoes of Lord Xie, I ascend the ladder of blue clouds. Halfway up, I see the sun rising from the sea, In mid-air, I hear the rooster of heaven crow. … Lightning flashes…

Jujube February 8, 2026

The Darkling Thrush

I leant upon a coppice gate When Frost was spectre-grey, And Winter’s dregs made desolate The weakening eye of day. The tangled bine-stems scored the sky Like strings of broken lyres, And all mankind that haunted nigh Had sought their household fires. — Thomas Hardy

Jujube December 7, 2025

Early Winter Woods

The early winter woods are a letter Torn open by the wind Script scatters on the ground Shifting, recombining Sunlight hesitates among the branches Weaving threads of gray Trying to string together a plot Only to read Two silent ellipses — Jujube

Jujube July 27, 2025

Sunset Over Lake

A language of loss and renewal, etched in the mist. The willows lean in, trailing ink across the shore. What we remember is always half-shadow, half-dream – The lake holds it all.

Jujube May 11, 2025

The morning after / my death

Green was the forest drenched with shadows the roads were serpentine A redwood tree stood alone with its lean and lit body unable to follow the cars that went by with frenzy a tree is always an immutable traveller. — by Etel Annan

Jujube May 4, 2025

Morning

Color is new upon each sunlit surface; lifting lines are reimbursed with flight; cool and level lie the planes of morning covered with light. — by Edith Henrich

Jujube March 30, 2025

Apple Blossoms

One evening in winter when nothing has been enough, when the days are too short, the nights too long and cheerless, the secret and docile buds of the apple blossoms begin their quick ascent to light. Night after interminable night the sugars pucker and swell…

Jujube March 23, 2025

Hiking With the Old Acorn Lady

If we watch the trail And listen to the trees; Squirrels chatter In ancient languages, A moon can rise From behind a flower, You will capture The wind with your hair, The sun with your eyes, And balance your burden So it is light. —…

Jujube March 16, 2025

Snow

Upon the hard crest of a snow-drift We tread, and grown quiet, we walk On towards my house, white, enchanted; Our mood is too tender for talk. — ANNA AKHMATOVA

Jujube March 9, 2025

To the Melody of ‘Yumeiren’: On Seeing Plum Blossoms in Yizhou

天涯也有江南信, 梅破知春近。夜阑风细得香迟, 不道晓来开遍、向南枝。 – 黄庭坚《虞美人·宜州見梅作》 Even at the edge of the world, whispers of Jiangnan unfold, Plum blossoms burst, proclaiming spring’s approach. Late in the night, their fragrance drifts on a tender breeze. Unaware that by dawn, blooms full on south-facing branches. — Huang…

Jujube March 2, 2025

Breakage

I go down to the edge of the sea. How everything shines in the morning light! The cusp of the whelk, the broken cupboard of the clam, the opened, blue mussels, moon snails, pale pink and barnacle scarred— and nothing at all whole or shut,…

Jujube February 16, 2025

The Corsair (Canto I, 1814)

O’er the glad waters of the dark blue sea, Our thoughts as boundless, and our soul’s as free Far as the breeze can bear, the billows foam, Survey our empire, and behold our home! — George Gordon Byron (1788–1824)

Jujube January 12, 2025

To Paint a Water-Lily

A green level of lily leaves Roofs the pond’s chamber and paves The flies’ furious arena: study These, the two minds of this lady. — Ted Hughes