Author: Tranature - quiet moments in nature

The stories, poems and photographs on Tranature are the original creative work of Xenia Tran, inspired by the natural surroundings of the Scottish Highlands.

Tanka Sequence: Light in the Shadows

white crocus buds and leaves appearing through snow

grey walls
a grey polished floor
reflecting
our movements
the jangling keys

doors
opened and locked
by strangers
behind us a free world
turns grey and disappears

female prisoners
scan my face, my eyes
while being open
it is hard not to look
at what I can see

how blue
the light around the mother
who hurt
her child’s abuser
tears running down her cheeks

we talk and listen
to each prisoner’s song
first in rows
then in a circle
a pink light glows

© Xenia Tran

Ribbons, Winter 2023: Volume 19, Number 1

lilac white crocus buds appearing through snow
flowering currant lit up by the afternoon soon

More than twenty years ago, I ran a series of workshops in a women’s prison that linked the chakra system and its colours to meditation practice. The first session in this series inspired the above sequence.

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday and a peaceful rest of the week,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #241: Spring

Weekly Prompts Midweek Challenge: Wait

Haiku: She Sparkles

Mathiola Incana Alba

close up of Mathiola Incana Alba


she sparkles
from the inside out
incana alba

© Xenia Tran

close up of Mathiola Incana Alba seen from above

May women all over the world always be free to sparkle and live their lives in peace.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re sharing a video of the talented Danish trio Stundom, who recently performed their beautiful piece Stjerner i Par (stars in pairs) on BBC Alba:

We are taking a short blogging break and will be back on Wednesday 22 March 2023.

Wishing you all a peaceful week ahead,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #239: Finding Peace

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Haiku: When Time Stops

a woodland trail towards the sea with small clusters of snowdrops

when time stops
towards the sea
snowdrops

© Xenia Tran

close up of snowdrops in the morning sun

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

CFFC: Things People Visit

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Wordless Wednesday: Small Treasures

close up of purple crocus buds covered in small raindrops
close up of a white crocus bud covered in small raindrops
close up of a lilac crocus bud covered in small raindrops

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Wordless Wednesday

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge: Treasure

Haiku: Fiddles and Bows

a wooden walkway across bog lands towards the mountains

fiddles and bows
an old man bends his tune
the highland way

© Xenia Tran

The Bamboo Hut, Issue One, 2023

a lochan below snow-capped mountains

In the spirit of the poem and Amy’s prompt, we are also delighted to share an instrumental piece by Scottish musician Jonny Hardie, inspired by his visit to Goa:

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday and a peaceful rest of the week,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #236: East meets West, North meets South

Your Daily Word Prompt: Kinship

Wordless Wednesday: New Growth

close up of a pine cone resting on moss
macro shot of moss emerging between fallen needles

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Wordless Wednesday

CFFC: Things People Grow

Haiku: Owl Song

close up of a snow-covered clematis seed

owl song –
mother’s hair as white
as the field

© Xenia Tran

The Bamboo Hut, Issue One, 2023

close up of snow-covered lunaria annua seed pods

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #234: Messages

CMMC: February Close Up or Macro

Haiku: Lone Hiker

a snow-capped mountain above a stream full of snow-melt

lone hiker
his red scarf flaps
in the wind

© Xenia Tran

haikuKATHA Issue 15, January 2023

blue sky appearing above a bend on a hillside trail

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Rag Tag Daily Prompt: Recharge

Haiku: Evening Snow

trees, shrubs and fishermen's cottages in the snow

evening snow
one by one she packs
the bare branches

© Xenia Tran

The Asahi Shimbun, 30 December 2022

a narrow street with fishermen's cottages in the snow

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday,

with love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #232: Looking Back

Jez Braithwaite’s Water Water Everywhere #161

Tanka: Quiet Falls

(For Joe)

a great blue heron wading through a tidal lagoon

quiet falls
where you once stood
a great blue heron
pauses to feed
beside his own reflection

© Xenia Tran

haikuKATHA Issue 16, February 2023

close up of a great blue heron standing beside a seaweed-covered breakwater at low tide

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday and a blessed and peaceful 2023.

With love from Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Jez Braithwaite’s Water Water Everywhere #160

CFFC: Feathers