Original DDE™ art: “Evening Walk” by: rob kistner © 10/27/25
—-<§>—
A brisk breeze slips along the path, fragrant with rain and possibility. Hills a’brush in amber and rust, trees tremble with light. The air hums with change. Leaves release themselves softly, freedom in their separation , surrendering to the gentle hush that follows.
I watch their slow escape, feeling a pulse of quiet epiphany. In their falling, I sense a strange calm, a blessing — the world neither dying nor grieving, but transforming, beautifully, into a breath of renewal.
A peace gathers at the bronzed edge of things, as trees relax their grip; saffron light seeps through thinning branches. Every leaf drifts downward with the grace of acceptance — a long kaleidoscopic sigh — a final dance before rest. I walk beneath them, feeling their cascade inside me, as though memory itself is evolving.
There is beauty in this soft unraveling — this gentle celebration of release, of evolution . Autumn teaches by transforming.
leaves let go in change —
the heart, full-open, listens
to its own turning
rob kistner © 10/27/25
Poetry at: dVerse
A beautiful poem, Rob. Mesmerizing!
Thank you so very much Dwight. 🙂
The woods feel like a womb that you are returning to, Rob. I feel such peace in your words.
There is a change upon me Lisa — a sense of moving. Seems the more I struggle with my health, in memory and stamina, the more I feel a calming inevitability. I am moving away from this struggle more than I feel I am overcoming it. There is a core acceptance evolving that brings me surprising moments of peace and clarity. I feel it most profoundly when I am writing or creating art. There seems to be beautiful simplicity in reaching to touch the essence of living, not the material elements of it. Hard to explain.
I gorgeous haibun, Rob. I recognise that brisk breeze, it’s been haunting me for nearly a week, and I love the use of colour – there’s nothing like watching falling leaves, sad and hopeful at the same time – and the phrase ‘bronzed edge of things’. Your haiku captured the moment.
I am so pleased this resonates with you Kim, thank you… 🙂
Beautiful!
Thank you Jay… 🙂
Rob, what a BEAUTIFUL poem and photo. I love “feeling a pulse of quiet epiphany”. So lovely. I feel a lot of acceptance and peace at this time of life too. I love “the earth neither dying nor grieving, but transforming”….so hopeful. Your haiku is spectacular.
Thank you Sherry, your kindness lifts and warmd me my friend… 🙂
I love the way you describe this change… I think we are already past that period here, so many bare branches now and color is already leaving… but there is also beauty in gray.
Thank you Björn — and I agree my friend. There is powerful abstract beauty in starkly etched grey.
“Neither dying nor grieving, but transforming” yes indeed hope.
Indeed Paul… 🙂