lingering sunset;
in the rear-view mirror
a faint rainbow

Cleaning my desk today (a long overdue chore) I came across this haiku I wrote, or at least I think I wrote it. It is in my handwriting but I really don’t have any recollection of writing it or what might have inspired me to do so. I do like it, so just for today I thought I’d let the P in POTD stand for poem rather than picture. In my mind anyway, this poem creates an image I could not hope to ever capture with a camera.

Relative Size
Sequoia National Park, California
2017

They don’t call them giant sequoia’s for no reason. This one was so big it easily held the shadows of two full size fir trees nearby.

Pour Over
Sequoia National Park, California
2017

Another static hunk of root showing a surprising amount of implied movement.

Portal
Sequoia National Park, California
2017

A Sense of Motion
Sequoia National Park, California
2017

For something that grew, and is now decaying, at a glacial pace, this root structure imparts a sense of motion. It reminds me of seaweed in the ocean floating with current.

Rabbit Hole
Sequoia National Park, California
2017

Sequoia Root #4
Sequoia National Park, California
2017

Strong back-light allowed separating this root ball almost completely from its surroundings. An interesting effect, but one that makes it difficult to discern the size of the structure which is probably 12′ across.

Sequoia Root #3
Sequoia National Park, California
2017

Sequoia Root #2
Sequoia National Park, California
2017

Sequoia Root #1
Sequoia National Park, California
2017

When sequoias fall over they expose a massive root “ball”. (Ball is in quotes because it’s really more disk-shaped; quite wide and circular but flat and not very thick given the size of the trees.) They last years, probably centuries and their weathered, ragged features are great for close-in photography.

Enjoy this Thanksgiving Day. Lots to be thankful for around here including all my POTD readers!