Floating on a massive cruise ship, some days with ocean on every side as far as the eye can see, I am reminded that about seventy-one percent of the Earth’s surface is water-covered. The ocean makes up about ninety-six percent of that. I am one person among two-thousand-plus, traversing just a portion of these waters on this day, in this place.
Docked in Geiranger, Norway, the fjord rises up around us. We rest at the feet of Mother Earth. Her shawl of earthen tones and greenery spills out from the sea. Her pearlescent snow capped peaks rise far into the sky. Off ship, we feel very very small. A motor coach takes us up a winding road; so steep the bus seems angled in a partial recline position. We stop where snow makes further progress impossible. Spring melt has just begun. Stepping out into fresh, clear, crisp air, we look out and down. Our ship is dwarfed by the mountains. While the ocean occupies more surface space, landmass leads in terms of relief, colors, and grandeur. I stand, a speck amongst generations who have lived before me and those who will live after me, absolutely mesmerized.
winter’s snow-capped peaks
deter footsteps upon the pristine
Seven Sisters wait patiently
Bjorn hosts Haibun Monday at dVerse today, asking us to write about water. In homage to Bjorn’s Scandinavian roots, I’m writing about our cruise through the Norwegian fjords. The Seven Sisters are magnificent famous falls in the UNESCO-protected Geiranger fjord. Alas, since the spring melt was just beginning when we were there, five were dry and two were quite small in output. They need the full spring melt to achieve their grandeur. Photos taken in this magnificent place. The sun was shifting as we were there. Just a gorgeous day!
lillian the home poet 
I have not yet been to Geiranger.. but there are so many glorious places in Norway… Seven sisters is also the name of 7 peaks in Northern Norway… I also know that spring came late this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We fell in LOVE with Norway! Would LOVE to return.
LikeLike
Your images are stunning, but your words convey so much more. You are so fortunate to have the health for international travel. My young wife, recently retired is finally traveling, as I cheer her on while stoking the home fires.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was such an amazing country to visit. Yes indeed, we are thankful for every day.
LikeLike
Wow, gorgeous places from the photos Lillian ~ I would be mesmerized too from the pristine beauty ~
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of my most favorite places to visit. Would love to go back.
LikeLike
What a gorgeous trip! I love your descriptions of the place and your photos. The haiku at the end is spectacular.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We fell in LOVE with Norway! 🙂
LikeLike
I loved your write!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Wow – looks amazing! What a fantastic trip you took. I love your haiku, too, conjures up perfect snow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When we lived in Iowa many many years ago, I used to love to go out in the early morning after a snowfall….before any footsteps or plows had disturbed the blanket of snow. 🙂
LikeLike
What a lot of lovely water! That trip is going to stay with you forever.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes……we loved every minute of it! 🙂 And thank goodness for photos that let you revisit whenver we want!
LikeLike
The photos are stunning.
LikeLike
Nice photos and description of the fjord and living on the ship. Having sea all around me would be one reason I would hesitate to take such a voyage, but the stop at those mountains might be worth it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Frank. We never thought we would like cruising…and in January we will go on our 10th! Norway was truly wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A wonderful world of water, Grace, that pours into and out of your writing. I love the phrase ‘We rest at the feet of Mother Earth’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Kim! So glad you enjoyed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Lill! I’m sorry about the name confusion! I don’t know how that happened! Too much on my mind.
LikeLike
Wonderful pics and words Lillian – and you are right, we are mere specks on this Earth of ours.
Anna :o]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah yes….and the more we travel this earth, the more I realize how dwarded we are by its vastness and the passage of time. 🙂
LikeLike
This pulls at me — I’m a quarter Norwegian. Really well written and the haiku is perfect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have you been to Norway, Charley? We truly LOVED our time there and hope to return.
LikeLike
Waiting for finances. Still believe it will happen….
LikeLike
Lovely progress in this – you foreshadowed the conclusion beautifully – and then took it further – by adding another dimension in that last sentence – the haiku is the perfect grand coda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. So glad you caught the movement of the piece…or as you say, the “progress” of it from talking factually about the make-up of the earth…and then shifting to the incredible scene itself. Glad you enjoyed.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Frank J. Tassone and commented:
So Basho-esque in economy of description and in capturing the essence of place! Bravo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Frank. And most especially for the reblog! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, Jilly!
LikeLike
Ah yes, the fiords of Norway. Fantastic. I love “We rest at the feet of Mother Earth. Her shawl of earthen tones and greenery”, beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you enjoyed. The fjords are really beyond description — so glad you have our photos to “revisit” when we wish 🙂
LikeLike
Looks and sounds spectacular! and a pretty haiku, to boot. Nice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was indeed! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
LikeLike
Loved the last line about how the falls wait patiently for the spring melt.. and just magnificient photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was such a special trip….so very beautiful!
LikeLike
Ooh beautiful. Your words feel like a call from the snow-capped mountains. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Maria. Always happy to take folks along with us on our trips via photos and words. And thank goodness for photos as we can return any time we wish by just looking at the images again!
LikeLike
What is really evoked here is the sense of scale and our place in ‘all of this’ Very well written and supported by those beautiful shots.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Paul. Yep — the more we travel the more we realize the vastness of this earth and time itself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent! 😎😎😎🥀🥀🥀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
great photo and a fine verbal snap shot. thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you enjoyed! So very glad we have our photos as it enables us to “return” when the spirit moves us 🙂
LikeLike
fantastisk!!! ☺ ^_^
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 🙂
LikeLike