Category: Haibun

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What We Haven’t Done

Haibun She intended to be early. I intended to repair the loose pavers. Neither of us realized our intentions. Which one of us will hear about our respective failure first? a car door’s slam...

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a Lunar Eclipse Unseen

Haibun Quarter to three in the morning. Clouds roll in — blocking the moon. I had set the alarm to wake me at eight minutes past three. My plan was to wake Frankie, so...

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Vineyard Visit

Haibun A patio of filled tables and empty bottles. A trio plays the Beatles, the lead singer tapping a tambourine against her thigh. We stopped at the Torne Valley Vineyard on the way back...

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Ascension

Haibun A flash of red. A cardinal perches high on a prematurely blossoming maple. He marks his territory, repeatedly singing the same crescendo. Moments later, he’s gone. No bird takes his place. Ides of...

haibun poetry 2

Her Infirmity is My Insomnia

Haibun I wake up at four in the morning. Try and sleep again. Mira coughs, inhales hard. Coughs again. She gets up and sprays her nostrils with her over-the-counter spray. I listen to her....

haibun poetry 3

Buying His New Bicycle

Haibun Frankie leaves his bike by the Toys”R”Us customer service desk. Someone already put a sign on it: “bike exchange.” “Think of all the joy another boy as old as you were will get...

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RA Flare-up

Haibun Too long since the last shot of Enbrel. This familiar stiffness and grating pain throughout the shoulders, elbows, fingers, and knees. This dull, constant pain that shortens tempers and lengthens anxieties. I already...

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Answering the Call

Haibun The girls prance up the driveway. With their long-legged strides and pre-adolescent growth spurts, they could pass for high school track stars. Frankie races downstairs and opens the front door before they even...

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Euphoric Acedia

Haibun Afternoon winds blew apart gray cumulus clouds that canvased the sky. Patches of radiant blue appear. Frankie wraps his arms around my neck, covers my mouth, and says, “complainer.” Mira, rising with a...

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Reunion Requiem

Haibun It’s been years since we all last met. Of course, we would feel a little awkward at first! Christine takes another chip off her plate. Peter sips his Pepsi. Neither says a word....

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A Noteworthy Change

Haibun Songbirds chirp outside. They join the gurgling coffee maker. The sky brightens earlier and earlier. Barely past six, it’s almost blue. budding boughs so still on the table this empty bowl more by...

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Stumbling Along the Way

Haibun “All I care about is the way. I find it in my craft, that’s all.” —Ting the Cook Chuang Tzu, Chapter 3 A quick rush of rainfall. Wind chime songs. Drops cling to...