By Andrew Taylor-Troutman
Komorebi is Japanese for the sunlight passing through the leaves of trees, literally “tree leaking sun.” Recently, my friend saw trees leaking fog, which reminded her of spiderwebs.
People can leak laughter, like when a mom can’t quite hold it together when her young child inexplicably curses. Today, I witnessed a crow laughing from a maple tree at the dog cursing it vigorously from below.
Trees also leak crows, often three or four at a time, like dark teardrops.
A widow, whose husband died eight years ago, is taming crows on her daily morning stroll. These corvids wait for her in the oak at the end of the lane, flying down in front of her as she approaches. She knows that time is not her own, but she hopes on the day that the friendliest bird with the sleekest black feathers will eat from her hand, and if it so happens, I’m willing to bet that joy will leak from her eyes, shining like sunlight through the leaves.
Andrew Taylor-Troutman is the author of the forthcoming book with Wipf and Stock Publishers titled This Is the Day: A Year of Observing Unofficial Holidays about Ampersands, Bobbleheads, Buttons, Cousins, Hairball Awareness, Humbugs, Serendipity, Star Wars, Teenagers, Tenderness, Walking to School, Yo-Yos, and More. He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Image by aniszewski courtesy of iStock
So beautiful. I hope to leak joy.
I really enjoyed the piece! I liked that is was short yet provided such strong visuals and the inclusion of the woman was a nice place to give it a sense of setting and a storytelling component.
Bravo!
This is truly a beautiful thing.
My heart leaks appreciation for your words, powerful images, in the hope that the sleekest of crows does indeed eat from her hand!
Thank you!
Beautiful use of language. I loved this.
“Trees also leak crows”
Lovely piece. Thank you.
I love the idea of tree leaking sun! I enjoy driving through tree cathedrals even in the winter. Komorebi is now my new favorite word. Thank you
I love where you took us with this piece. Beautiful writing.
This is wonderful!!!!
Thanks y’all! I’m humbled this piece was published in this beautiful forum and grateful for each of you.