In My Seventieth Winter (haibun)

                       IN MY SEVENTIETH WINTER  

                                       (haibun)       

 

 

 

 

Quiet rain all night, falling asleep reading Hamlet . . .

 

       Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die,
       Passing through nature to eternity.

 

And I am surprised to wake to snow, huge sloppy flakes, not really flakes but surreal Dali-esque shapes, somehow stretching, reshaping without quite falling apart, not really falling but seeping from the first gray light, and where they touch the pine boughs not a needle moving, slipping onto them and then off, melting as they touch the ground, some glistening for a moment on the fur and feathers of squirrels and birds foraging in the needles, the dove who trusts me enough to turn his back, huddled in my doorway.  And then it simply suddenly stops, and soon nothing to say it had ever happened.

 

                                 brief morning moon

                                   all  that remains

                                   of the dream





Poetry by countryfog
Read 760 times
Written on 2015-03-03 at 14:52

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arquious The PoetBay support member heart!
She is faithful, in and out of season,
Whether clouded or clear of sky.
Let years and memories glisten;
As raindrops on panes roll by.

Happy 70th!
2015-03-05



I remember seeing snowflakes like that when I lived in Michigan. You've set a scene of peace and the transience of beauty.
2015-03-04



Oops :>o
I meant one tricky pony. Sorry!
2015-03-03



As always, it is a pleasure to read your work, my friend :>)
Like jim, I looked up 'haibun' as I hadn't heard of the form. I admire both elements here, the description so appreciative of nature and the haiku that emphasises our fleeting existence within this world. And I like especially 'the dove who trusts me', of course :>) <3
Applause!
2015-03-03


josephus The PoetBay support member heart!
The word is touch not tough. My apologies.
2015-03-03


josephus The PoetBay support member heart!
Beautifully, delicately written as only you could, my friend. Your thoughts tough mine in this our shared 70th winter. Its good to read you once more here.
2015-03-03


one trick pony The PoetBay support member heart!
before i looked up "haibun" i thought, what a beautiful combination of poetry and prose. after looking it up, i see that is exactly what it is meant to be.

it makes me grateful to read this, it is so lovely, settling as quietly as your huge, sloppy flakes of snow (and i think, melting on my tongue, as i remember it).

is this a poem of acceptance and grace? it seems so.
2015-03-03



The picture you have created is so full of beauty and peace and it reminds one of a life well lived. Wonderfully penned.
2015-03-03