Deliverance In The Dark

by Frank J. Tassone · 16 March 2017

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Haibun

Cotton sheets cling to my skin like a burial shroud.

Memories of Mom arise. Her pain-soaked blue eyes, looking out from a frustration-worn face, pulsing oxygen through nasal tubes insufficient for her to rise from bed.

Speculations emerge. Students laugh away the opportunities I offer. Networks with whom I negotiate ignore my recommendations. A torrent of career-ending opportunities buffet a floundering career.

Finally, a single image ripples across the imagined dark waters of Pine Meadow Lake — a crucifix. Realization accompanies it: “I worship a crucified God.” It is an epiphany, an outstretched hand reaching for me, as storm-tossed waves swallow me for the last time.

afloat
in the dark
I sleep

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photograph by IV Horton

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Frank J. Tassone

Frank J. Tassone lives in New York City's "back yard" with his wife and son. He fell in love with writing after he wrote his first short story at age 12 and his first poem in high school. He began writing haiku and haibun seriously in the 2000s. His haikai poetry has appeared in Failed Haiku, Cattails, Haibun Today, Contemporary Haibun Online, Contemporary Haibun, The Haiku Foundation and Haiku Society of America member anthologies. He is a contributing poet for the online literary journal Image Curve, and a performance poet with Rockland Poets. When he's not writing, Frank works as a special education high school teacher in the Bronx. When he's not working or writing, he enjoys time with his family, meditation, hiking, practicing tai chi and geeking out to Star Wars, Marvel Cinema and any other Sci-Fi/Fantasy film and TV worth seeing.