A New Year's walk (お正月の散歩)

Katsuragawa is still, as if in deep thought.  The golden fruit of the crabapple tree always looks like a celebration, champagne bubbles on bare limbs.  The empty sound of the Hankyu as it passes over the bridge; too early for passengers.  Sumi-e mountains stretch into the soft morning light.  The smoke from Matsuo Taisha rises, a blue smudge over the sleepy green hills.  The sun cuts through the clouds and briefly the brown river grass turns to gold.