O at the Edges

Musings on poetry, language, perception, numbers, food, and anything else that slips through the cracks.

Emptying Haibun

Posted on May 28, 2018 by robert okaji

Emptying Haibun

Waiting, I open myself but nothing enters. Even music’s comfort avoids me, preferring calmer ports or perhaps another’s wind choices. I drop the weighted cord through the flute, pull it, and watch the cloth ease out. Some days pain drags behind me no matter what words emerge, what phrases follow. Last night brought the season’s first fireflies. This wall of books grows taller each day.

exhaling, I note

smudges in the sky —

oh, dirty window

14 thoughts on “Emptying Haibun”

foreverisreallytomorrow on May 27, 2018 at 7:25 am said:

Great display of writing here.

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- robert okaji on May 27, 2018 at 7:45 am said:
  
  Thanks very much.
  
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  - foreverisreallytomorrow on May 27, 2018 at 8:42 am said:
    
    You are welcome.
    
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derrickjknight on May 27, 2018 at 8:02 am said:

Spare writing with closely observed touches

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- robert okaji on May 27, 2018 at 9:55 am said:
  
  Thanks, Derrick. The little things frame my days.
  
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  - derrickjknight on May 27, 2018 at 11:26 am said:
    
    Yes
    
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Jazz Jaeschke on May 27, 2018 at 12:10 pm said:

Pain dragging along uninvited would sorta smudge up one’s view. Hope, though, in the flicker of fireflies. Intriguing mix of downs and ups in this.

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- robert okaji on May 27, 2018 at 1:18 pm said:
  
  One gets accustomed to certain pains, although flare-ups can wreak havoc on routine. But fireflies!
  
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onecarriage on May 29, 2018 at 10:04 am said:

I love the seamless transition from prose to poem. I have never read a haibun quite like this.

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- robert okaji on May 29, 2018 at 10:43 am said:
  
  Thanks, Craig. I hope that’s a good thing. 🙂
  
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  - onecarriage on May 29, 2018 at 6:24 pm said:
    
    Very good!!!
    
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    - robert okaji on May 30, 2018 at 6:56 am said:
      
      🙂
      
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rivrvlogr on August 16, 2018 at 10:11 am said:

“exhaling, I note”
I love how that plays to both the title and the flute in your prose.

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- robert okaji on August 16, 2018 at 11:54 am said:
  
  Thanks, Ken. I don’t recall it being intentional, but it works!
  
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