You Can Look, But Don’t Touch
Ah, beautiful Cherry blossoms, the harbinger of Springtime. On dreary, dark days the sight of an avenue with Cherry trees in full bloom can elevate a mood of despondency to that of being in a fairy tale. Walking down the street under boughs of pretty pink blossoms, feeling like a princess, is an almost magical state of being.
Some unseasonably warm weather in Washington DC has meant that today the trees are in peak bloom (osozakura). The sight is spectacular and normally drives many tourists there to view the trees when they are at their most photographic.
This is the time when they would be visiting in full force but the pandemic has put a stop to that. The National Park service has urged visitors not to come, and instead is encouraging the public to enjoy the puffy blossoms virtually using the Trust for the National Mall’s online BloomCam. Innovative, yes, but not quite the same, is it?
Blooms at their fullest Cherry blossom abundance Look but do not touch Copyright © 2021 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing All Rights Reserved Frank Tassone is hosting Monday Haibun at D’Verse Poets tonight and has prompted us with Cherry Blossoms. They bloom in three stages. hatsu hana (first bloom), sakura (peak bloom), and osozakura (late bloom). I am writing about osozakura (late bloom) Image by Heidelbergerin from Pixabay
We will have blossom in downtown Stockholm but sadly I will refrain even from that 10 km bike ride this year.
Yes, we have come to use our imaginations so much more this past year. We have all seen blossoms and they will be there next year and perhaps your cycle ride will be worth it then ☺️
This is a wonderful write Christine. COVID-19 again rises, with huge spikes st universities — yet the maskless morons still romp and party en masse. My wife and I are both 2-shot fully vaccinated. 5 weeks since our 2nd inoculation, so the damned fools at least can’t kill us now.
Thank you. Exactly Rob! Living in Florida we have just has the big surge of spring breakers the last couple of weeks. What a lot of morons! Thankfully my husband and I are also both vaccinated. We still wear masks though 🤣 Although we have started to forget every now and again.
Wow that is a really good idea they had with the bloomcam. I see lots of idiots are out there regardless of the pandemic 🙁
You’d think it would be OK seeing as it was in a park setting. But then again you’re right. Lots of idiots out there 😕
Now I need to go check out that cam! Not the same but still…..
It was a good idea. ☺️👍
Do you live nearby? It must be so tempting to go and see it while there are no tourists around…
No, sadly it’s a plane ride, If you are lucky enough to work in DC you can see them daily. I have seem them and It’s quite a sight . ☺️
Deft capture of the sadness we all feel at our loss of freedom, yet filled with hope that things are getting better.
Thanks so much Bev ☺️
Another of life’s pleasures cut short by COVID. You portray the disappointment with such a deft touch here. Nicely done!
Thank you Frank!☺️
Nice haibun. Yes, all the BloomCams, ZooCams, and LifeCams are not quite the same as being there.
Thanks so much Ron ☺️
lol but do not touch. Lovely.
Thanks Sadje ☺️💕
You’re always welcome
How sad that things are still closed.
Yes they are even discouraging walking in the open air to see the Cherry blossoms. This pandemic is still scary isn’t it?