Seasons in a Pond
"The water is a mirror,"
by Matsuo Bashō
Reflection stirs with life,
Gentle waves meet budding blooms,
Soft light on calm glass.
"The light is the light of the world,"
by William Blake
The sky burns bright and still,
Water's surface holds the flame,
Waves flicker like fire.
"The autumn breeze is a sweet song,"
by Li Bai
The pond’s cool mirror,
Gold leaves flutter, softly fall,
Shadows stretch like time.
"A world of ice and stone,"
by Robert Frost
Frozen pond reflects,
Bare trees etched on silvered glass,
Stillness fills the air.
In the blink of an eye, the Covid-19 pandemic reshaped our lives, much like the rapid transformations I sought to capture by the pond. As the world adapted to a new normal, the water mirrored these swift changes, becoming a metaphor for the fleeting nature of our existence.
Venturing into the outdoor havens near my home, I marveled at how the pond, like our lives, could shift in an instant. Shadows chased ripples across the water, and leaves gently kissed the surface before descending—symbols of the fragility we felt as we navigated a world in flux.
This collection of images captures not only the tranquility of quiet afternoons but also the dance of change. Each photograph is paired with a haiku, offering a poetic reflection of the moment—an echo of the unpredictability in our own lives. The sunlight on water, with moments of clarity and distortion, mirrors the paths we take, ever-changing and full of surprise.