The women gather at the riverbank
Musician, hunter, poet, mother.
Far from the withering gaze of the preacher
They bare their breasts to the sun.
Sacred herbs for the midwife—
Sweetgrass and yarrow, sage, and cedar.
They gather and gaze
At the image of their mothers
In the mirror of the river.
In the mirror of the river.
Like snails in an aquarium
loosened from their shells,
loosened from their shells,
In the reel of the river
They bare their breasts to the sun.
They bare their breasts to the sun.
Bird’s plaintive cry o’erpurple nestling on the walkFlees in silent flight.
May is a time of transience, and Frank Tassone, Monday’s host at dVerse, asked us to face the inevitable passing of it all with a Haibun, a literary form that blends prose and haiku.
25 comments:
The prose tells such a wonderful story of woman and nature... magical.
This is a lovely poem, both story and image. You did everything just right!!!
Lovely images of women celebrating May's transience
Much♡love
Bjorn, Thank you so much!
Judy,
Thanks! I wasn't sure.
Gillena,
Thank you for commenting.
I very much enjoyed your haibun. I loved this "Like snails in an aquarium
loosened from their shells," Such a sense of freedom. :)
Haibuneriffic! I especially like the mother-mirroring river. Thanks.
Di,
thanks so much!!! Glad you liked it.
Ron,
Thank you! I'm happy to liked my river.
I love this: "They gather and gaze
At the image of their mothers
In the mirror of the river."
And the repetition of "they bare their breasts to the sun".
The women are responding to the inimitable call of nature and bringing their whole selves. I want to be one of them!
Kim,
Thank you!! That's the feeling and sense of self (freedom) I was aiming for. Though it be fleeting and rare as a warm May day. Thank you so much for the comment.
Enjoyed very much..
Lovely writing, Yvonne ... ending haiku is breathtaking.
Tony, Thanks!!
Helen.
Thanks and same back to you!!
How deliciously beautiful is this. I loved the mirrored image of their mothers in the water. I know that image so much. I know that image so well.
Both parts of the haibun are splendid. So happy I read. Thanks so much. (I’m Selma. Selmamartin.com) bless you. 🤗
Reading your stunning haibun, I wanted to join those women at the riverbank and bare my breasts to the sun, Yvonne! Women proud to be women and mothers, still tending the ancient knowledge, make my heart sing. I especially love the simile ‘like snails in an aquarium loosened from their shells’. But oh, that purple nestling on the walk!
What a beautiful story and haiku. I love your haibun, Yvonne. ❤️👏
What a beautiful story and haiku. I love your haibun, Yvonne. ❤️👏🥰
The preacher's "withering gaze" is to be avoided by all, especially by his parishioners, IMO, as no preacher should ever show contempt to anyone. How naturally your haibun flows, Yvonne, nurtured at nature's own bosom, each detail of the scene reaching their climax in the beautifully spun haiku. Simply lovely.
Hi Selma,
Thank you so much for commenting!!
Kim,
Thank you. This warms my heart, the connection made.
Lesley,
Thank you. I'm so glad.
Dora,
Yes! Exactly right. Thanks for the lovely comment.
I love this, Yvonne. It feel like a magical tale.
Hi Purple Pen!
Thanks. I wasn't sure where it was going, but I like the magical spin to it.
Thanks for commenting!
I love how you make the reference to the women being away from the preacher and doing what they feel to be good. A reminder that life is too short to be bound up in mores and rules. Ironically everything is impermanent so why do we make life so complicated?
pvcann, why indeed.
Thanks for commenting.
Sorry for this late response, Yvonne. I love the poem-haiku combination, and how deftly you bring each woman to life. Brava!
Thanks Frank! And thank you for your thought provoking prompt.
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