This is the time of year to see the shape and structure of trees. They show up particularly well against a blue sky or when the light is fading at the end of the day. The shapes vary with variety. I particularly like the spreading branches of beech trees and lines of fastigiate Lombardy poplars, silhoutted against the sky.
Untouched by man a mature tree has a beauitful shape captured in many fine paintings by the English artist Rowland Hilder and in the following poem by Jiddu Krishnamurti the Indian thinker and philosopher.
Have you ever noticed a tree standing naked against the sky,
How beautiful it is?
All its branches are outlined, and in its nakedness
There is a poem, there is a song.
Every leaf is gone and it is waiting for the spring.
When the spring comes, it fills again the tree with
The music of many leaves,
Which in due season fall and are blown away
And this is the way of life.
J. Krishnamurti
There's something ethereal about the sight of a 'naked' tree against the sky in winter. One of the little treats of living in the northern hemisphere!
ReplyDeleteI am left speechless when I see a tree that big and old naked, cold and nevertheless strong and proud. Your picture explain itself without any words.
ReplyDeleteI love the dark silhoutte of trees against a wintry sky. Truly beautiful to be able to see all the twists and turns of the naked branches.
ReplyDeleteI love the stark bleakness of your photo. I did'nt know Krishnamurti was a poet too.
ReplyDeleteLovely poem very fitting to go with the naked tree.
ReplyDeleteMakes me want to take a long walk through the countryside and celebrate winter!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful sight and what simple words adorn it. Such a soulful lady you are Janet.
ReplyDeleteI agree, naked trees are so beautiful, to try and strengthen the muscles in my legs, I am walking up to a tree each day near our village. This is up a steep hill and it is about quarter of a mile away, thank goodness it has a seat underneath! While sitting there I admire the perfect shape that has been formed by the wind and the weather, then I tackle the walk home!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful image and words. I am always drawn to the winter silhouettes of trees, there is a quiet magic to them, some are old friends.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo and the poem. I was just musing last fall how we are often like those leaves: verdant one day and then blow and tossed. That is "the way of life."
ReplyDeleteWinter trees are in their own way as beautiful as summer trees. My favorites are the oaks and maples. They are lovely.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful picture and words!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed!!!
I agree with you. The silhouettes of the trees in this season are very attractive.
Anyway,you're so talented:)
One of my favourite things about living somewhere with four distinct (usually!) seasons is the variety we get in the landscape. I am always amazed by the beauty of tree silhouettes in winter, and then again when they are in fresh leaf.
ReplyDeleteTrees take on a such a completely different character in winter. A magical new to me poem. Thanks Janet :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the poem either - thank you for posting it.
ReplyDeleteI love bare trees too. I have a print of Fox Talbot's Tree in Winter hanging on the wall above the stairs, and I never get tired of looking at it.