Category: Uncategorized

Haibun: At Twenty Below

finaltracks

I’m out for a hike in the woods on this frosty December morning. It’s about twenty below (F) out here, so I’m quite encumbered with layers of clothing. It gives it all a surreal feeling, like I’m walking on the moon.

The snow under my feet makes the same crunching sound as my corn flakes did earlier. My breath freezes instantly on my beard.

I feel sorry for the deer and other animals out here that have to endure this cold for months to come. I know they have winter coats, but so do I, and I’m freezing already!

I crunch my way along, wondering how snakes could possibly survive this.

***

when out in the snow

at twenty below, even

your shadow turns blue

finalshadow

 

–Photos by me

Escort

FINALescort

As I lay on the beach

Under tangerine skies,

Amid scattered

And twisted debris,

Thirteen dark birds

Were dispatched

From the sun,

And fast they came

‘Cross the dark sea.

They came to escort

A lost soul to the west;

Some soul that was

Newly set free,

And their black

Beady eyes

Looked around

For their prize–

Oh, why were they

Looking at me?

 

–Photo by me

 

the giant deer

finalsnoe

the falling snow

in the headlights

had me hypnotized

as i navigated our

family shuttlecraft

thru the meteors

from the back seat

of our chevrolet

it made me sleepy

so i crawled back

under my blanket

leaving my father

at the helm again

my parents chatting

and the low drone

of the wheels soon

had me drifting off

suddenly my mom

screamed and i sat

bolt up-right just in

time to see a giant

deer leap right over

the hull of our craft

i was sure of it

to this day i don’t

know what i saw

it sure seemed real

but i haven’t seen

any giant deer since