Monday, March 30, 2020

The Beckoning

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A July moon softly glows through my window-screen, barricaded, unlike the night's breeze that cools my skin from the day's humidity and shapes the draperies into ghost-like apparitions.  Beyond the sill, Willow beckons me with her long, pliant branches and dangling, whispering leaves tinkling like gentle wind chimes.  I tiptoe down hallway, past my parent's room.   Find me beneath Milky Way, Dippers, and North Star, face upturned.  Feel a bit dizzy with the immensity of it all.  I run, steal myself beneath Willow's feathery strands, the tickling about my shoulders and neck a sensation comforting me as I listen to the cicadas and toads (both of which I am afraid) hopefully chirping far off in bush and field and not here beneath umbrella'd security.  Silhouetted, an owl hoots from my old tree fort, its large stout limb juts out into the field and I imagine the owl feels as adventurous as I do midday imagining I'm a cowboy or Indian; whichever takes my fancy.  I wonder, does the owl ever dream of being something other than he is?  I tiptoe towards split rail fence for a better view, climb up and lean over just as a flash of shadow and whir of wings sends my heart a-flutter; sends me scampering back inside.  Screen door slams, my backside hits pillow and mattress as Mother calls my name and Father gets out of bed as the July moon softly glows through my window-screen.

Moonlit shadows glide
Caution is thrown to the wind
Young rabbits tempt fate

by Margaret Bednar, March 30, 2020

This is linked with "dVerse Poets, Haibun Monday - Snapshots of our Lives"

Take an old autobiographical poem and rework it into a haibun.  HERE is the one I used.

10 comments:

ms_lili said...

Magical is the only word I can think for your memory, Margaret. Brave little rabbit indeed!

Dwight L. Roth said...

Reads like a story book Very nice images.

Kim M. Russell said...

‘Night Sounds’ is a gentle poem, Margaret, and appeals to me as I love willows – we have a corkscrew willow in our garden, which I can see from my window. They do like to communicate. And I love the owl! I also enjoyed your background haibun, which took me deeper into the scene, and feels quite eerie, with the ‘ghost-like apparitions’ of the draperies, the cicadas and toads.

Kerfe said...

You've caught the dreaminess of childhood.

brudberg said...

Cicadas and frogs are so exotic to me... something from films and memories from brief visits to the south...

indybev said...


Well, weren't you the brave scamp, venturing out amidst the night sounds! I loved those same sounds, but enjoyed them from my bedroom window! Great story. I enjoyed. Stay safe!

Jim said...

Love those nights sounds of yours, Margaret. I love the ones around me now too, but I sure didnt when I was growing up. Then for my pre-bedding toilet trip I had my younger sister go with me. The outhouse was back behind the henhouse at the edge of the grove. I bribed my sister to escort me by letting her carry the flashlight. She also still remembers our making those trips.
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Jim said...

My feelings won't be hurt if you take this off. Weve been missing you for our NaPoWriMo activities. Tomorrow is Aptil 6. I hope you are okay, stay safe.
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Margaret said...

Ha. Can’t imagine night trips to the outhouse! I am too busy homeschooling my son these days and I have four extra people in the house - children and spouses from NYC and San Francisco. Thank you for thinking of me. I’m fine, good in fact. Just busy. I’m writing a little bit.

Magaly Guerrero said...

You are always so good at descriptions that takes us there.