On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Munira
According to Google, there are many different lists of elements, but in this post, we’re looking at the natural or spiritual elements – earth, air, water, fire and ether (sometimes called space). According to both Greek mythology and Ayurveda (the ancient Indian healing system), the natural world and our bodies (as part of the natural world) are made up of these elements.
Earth represents the solid state (stability, permanence and rigidity in nature) as well as the stable parts of the body (bones, teeth and flesh). It gives us the power to sustain and endure.
Water is the unstable and flowing in nature as well as the bodily fluids like blood, lymph and urine. It provides the ever-changing emotions.
Fire is the power to transform, burn and illuminate. In the body, it represents the digestion as well as the fire of intelligence and passion.
Air, which is mobile and dynamic and constantly in motion, represents the breath and all subtle movements in the body as well as the constant motion of thought.
Ether is the space in which everything happens. It is the outer space beyond earth’s atmosphere as well as the empty spaces in the body, the vibrations of sound and the empty sky of mind.
Poets are, of course, always dealing with the natural elements, and often a particular haiku will represent more than one of these elements. I picked the following haiku and photos because they best portray my perceptions of the five elements – earth, water, fire, air and ether.
Earth
from earth to earth—
layer by layer
the old tree returns
Earth
garden Buddha—
the inexplicable world
at his feet
Water
the morning mirror
of a quiet lake
cottage lights and snow
Water
raindrops on the creek—
water falling
into itself
Fire
fire season—
the indifferent glare
of the smoky sun
Fire
dark nights—
sometimes a candle
in the window
Air
torn—
another leaf
in the wind
Random Sampling, 2021 Haiku Canada Members’ Anthology
Air
pine cones
on the path I walk
where the wind blew
Ether
ghost of a dream—
taking a picture
of the day moon
Ether
quiet sky—
the sound
of no sound
eclare
Wow the photos and Haikus are paired perfectly. I really liked the fire represented by the sun and the ether with the quiet sky. And thank you for the descriptions of the elements.
MagdaInBlack
As always, I love these. Thank you.
Dorothy A. Winsor
What a lovely way to start the day. Thanks for both the pics and the poems
delphinium
What a lovely post to wake up to-your words and photos are wonderful! This in particular struck me:
“the sound of no sound“. Thanks for sharing.
Torrey
Echoing the preceding comments, thank you for these. This is a surprisingly gentle and meditative start to what promises to be the kind of day that one just wants to get to the end of. I think these pictures will bear revisiting at the end of the day.
J R in WV
Great job! Thanks for sharing…
BretH
Simply. Lovely. Thank you so much for giving this to us to start our day.
WaterGirl
I always love these. My breathing slows, the world stops for a moment after reading some of them, what a lovely way to start the day.
I also made a category called Haiku, so if you click on the you can see all the Haiku posts.
pieceofpeace
Your words and photos ease into the mind and body this morning, a gentle and powerful reminder to stop and pay attention.
Thank you again for the inspirations.
munira
Thank you everyone. I know that writing haiku always slows me down. It makes me stop and notice things I wouldn’t otherwise see. Off for my morning walk now. Will check in later.
Jill
The Fall City one is the lake I wake up to so many mornings. The haiku and photo perfectly capture why. Thank you
munira
@Jill: You’re welcome. I remember that morning well. The reflections in the lake were so beautiful and it was super cold out.
way2blue
munira—what a delightful way to end this crazy week. My favorite » the serene winter lake. Thanks.
StringOnAStick
Wonderful poetry with the perfect photos; thank you!
oatler
@delphinium:
Hello light of no light my old friend
I’ve come to sound of no sound once again
munira
@oatler: Love it.
@oatler:
pat
water falling into itself
Love it. Thanks for these.
munira
@pat: My pleasure.