Friends & Foes: A Haibun

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As I approach the edge of an old mine dump overlooking Lake Ore-Be-Gone in Northeast Minnesota, a lone, white-tailed fawn and I have just spotted each other. He could easily leap over the edge, and run down the hillside to escape me if he wanted to, but he just stands there, seemingly confused. I don’t know if it’s my long, “white-tailed” beard or what, but slowly he begins to make his way toward me.

Suddenly, he catches my scent, and his confusion clears right up. He turns, leaps over the edge, and soon disappears into the woods below–the very place his real foes lie in wait.

***

a lone, dappled fawn

flees the unbeknownst safety

of my company

 

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–Photos by me

True Sights & Hog Sounds

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I’m staring at the clock;

I can hear the cog sounds

As I’m kneeling here to pray

For some simple, true sights,

But people come and knock,

And my faithful dog sounds–

So I’ll make them go away

And go look for new sights.

I stop down at the dock–

You should hear the frog sounds!

And walking all the day,

I find quite a few sights,

Like a farmer and his stock

Both making hog sounds,

So a warning, if I may:

You cannot undo sights!