Silence, or: The lambs

A haibun

I can’t recall ever being afraid of death, although my father’s death led me to reflect deeply upon death’s effects upon the yet living. Still, as uncomfortable as that line of thinking is, it leaves me tearful rather than fearful.

Papa’s death has also led me to think a lot about suffering. He was lucky enough to die very quickly (and unexpectedly); I don’t think he suffered when he died because he was unconscious, which is comforting. This also leaves me thinking about the alternative, which terrifies me.

Of course, suffering is hardly limited to physical pain. What if I were to become physically paralyzed and unable to speak? What if I were deprived of my ability to express myself?

denied chlorophyll
dying leaves' true tones revealed
decline in silence

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d’Verse ‘Haibun Monday’

Theme: ‘Fear’

At d’Verse, poets were challenged to write haibuns with the theme of ‘fear’.

Haibun?

New to Haibun? Write a paragraph or more of prose, or prose poetry, then follow it with a haiku—one that includes a season word, and juxtaposes two disparate images that, when paired, give us that “aha!” experience.

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Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.

–Ben Harper (b. 1969)

Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!