Tag Archive | Haibun

Unremembered

Mar4

I sit in the General Hospital, waiting for my turn when I hear a loud wailing. Expecting to see a child, I am shocked to see an elderly lady in a wheelchair, crying with her eyes tightly shut. I am deeply disturbed and could see that the other patients are uncomfortable too. This incident reminds me of an old cleaning lady in our condo whose eyes glistened as she told me how lonely she felt as her children and grandchildren lived far away. There is another instance of a man in our neighborhood who is dreadfully scared of dogs but has to walk his daughter’s dog, as she is too busy to do so. As I walk away from the hospital, I see an elderly man staring into space.

His treble

the language

of wrinkles

The Wooden Chair in CHO

Feb3

Hi Friends,

The Wooden Chair was the first haibun I had written. This was published in Contemporary Haibun Online’s July issue, 2013, Vol 9. Please find below.

My Wooden Chair

I stroll restlessly in my new house as trees outside are being chopped for construction. Lifeless new buildings are sprouting in the neighbourhood. I wonder mildly about deforestation as I lean back in my chair.

my wooden chair screeches–
memories of a
felled tree

Following the West Wind

Dec4

The west wind howls in the woods, uprooting plants, tossing their nuts, and bending powerful trees. The branches nod to the teasing wind as nesting songbirds hold tight until the wind sails away.

The west wind now pauses by the pink splendor of the woods. Mesmerized, it calms into a breeze and crawls over each stem.

As the pink flowers dance in delight, the breeze finds its way to a corner, resting on an undiscovered flower. The breeze melts into the flower, enchanted by its texture and fragrance.

west wind halts

to trace each pattern

in a pecan leaf

Hope

Aug13

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I stare at the ceiling, wondering if it is 1 or 2 PM. At the corner of the table is a kerosene lantern, not used for many years. I light it and walk into the night. The creatures of the night hush at the sound of footsteps, but the persistent buzz of a bee holds my attention. The bee hovers around a wild plant; an orange bud. The bud sleeps on, unheeding the bee’s buzz and noise. But, the bee does not give up. It sits on the leaves and bends towards the bud, shaking it. Suddenly, there is a loud hiss. It is not the bee, but the flower. It opens up to reveal a yellow inner part, further illuminated by the lamp. The bee moves home and rekindles in my heart the hope to live.

Dawn
orange bud blooms
baby’s first word

My E-Chapbook Published in Proletaria

Mar29

Hi Friends,

My E-Chapbook, Pinewood Hills, has been published in Proletaria. It contains haiku, one-line poetry and haibun. Proletaria publishes wonderful modern haiku and monostichs. If you like reading haiku and one-line poetry, do visit their site.

Do read and let me know what you think of my work. Here is the link.

Tremble

Mar3

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The clouds tremble in the folds of the sky, scattering droplets in all directions. An oak tree’s branches nod in sympathetic understanding. A few miles from the oak tree stands the rose bush, feeling no such empathy towards the rain. A young leaf suspends itself from the safety of the rose bush and jumps towards freedom, oblivious to the travails of the tough world. The entire rose bush shakes, having lost its newborn. The ever-hungry sea, a little farther away, trembles with desire, as it watches fresh raindrops. The new drops join the salty sea to make energetic ripples, awakening sleepy sea dwellers.

turbulence in sky

big clouds invade

a small cloud

Ligo Haibun Challenge – Emptiness

Feb11

Emptiness! That is what I felt as I looked at the war ravaged land. I cannot tell you the name of the place so ravaged by state-sponsored atrocities. However, the once-beautiful city was littered with bodies while the few remaining survivors sobbed. No house had a child anymore; such was the government’s tactic.

Barren land..

infant wails

from unknown place

This was written for the Ligo Haibun Challenge.

 

Haibun Thinking – Quote

Feb3

‘Gathering her brows like gathering storm, Nursing her wrath to keep it warm.’ – Robert Burns

The poet writes and looks at the telephone, his heart still thudding from the ramifications of her phone call. He recalls her angry words of never wanting to see him again and his equally vehement response. He regrets it now and wonders if she is also going through the same agony. The phone rings softly now, almost musical. He knows who is on the line. He smiles, tears his note and leaves to attend the call.

Sea boils with wrath..

each resident reciprocates

waiting for lasting peace

This was written for Haibun Thinking.

Ligo Haibun Challenge

Jan30

Quotes Week

“Wise men talk about ideas, intellectuals about facts, and the ordinary man talks about what he eats.”

I stroll to the food court, listening to the stall owner gossiping about anybody who could not hear him. I smile, knowing that he would gossip about me after I walk away. He tells off everybody, but takes less money and always serves more than what they demand. The street dog enters the food court and barks non-stop. He throws some food at it, while berating the non-paying ‘customer’. The dog, understanding nothing, wags his tail humbly.

Stray intruders fly away

as lame words

fall on deaf ears

This was written for the Ligo Haibun Challenge. Thank you, Pirate and Esenga, for the opportunity.

Life – Haibun Thinking

Jan27

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Trees are cut furiously and logs are rolled down with delight. The horses, Ryan and Julie, dig the earth excitedly, knowing that something is going on. Deforestation is taken to a new level, with no sign of life, except for the humans. There is a strange sadness all around, even Julie and Ryan silent. Their groom unties them, letting them out to graze. As Julie feeds nearby, Ryan runs around in anger and excitement. All of a sudden, there is a loud shriek. Ryan is rolling down, with legs bruised from the log. Two horses now one, as Ryan is shot down. Humans systematically resume deforestation, as Julie watches.

All signs of life

destroyed with haste

machines at work

This was written for Haibun Thinking, a new challenge by Anja, Alastair, Summerstommy and Anelephant. Do please take part to support them and the art of Haibun.