Mangroves (haibun)

[cafeboy]

My aunt told me, in confidence,
“I will leave here before this sprouts,”
referring to a potted mangrove
she watered, in the patio.
Our cul de sac house was never
quite her home. Nor mine.
I never did see an inch of the mangrove.
We left in a hurry-- I, closer by
and she to Texas. I felt compelled
to research the state of their mangroves.
Today, my mother called with news:
My aunt can no longer stand,
it has reached her bones.
My mother was always skeptical with
how long my aunt could last on her own.
Auntie, we are not of household variety,
our roots dangle along the waters--

A mangrove
collects the earth
and holds





*authors note= posted this in too much a hurry. Now revising, revising, revising.

[allmirth]

Reading this gives me a deep and profound ache. The sense of exile and isolation is powerful and painful. Yet, there is a sense of connectedness and hope. The haiku is strongly affirmative. It is infused with faith.

Thanks so much for sharing.
Mirthy

[dwells]

We seem to be searching always; sending out prop roots while getting a feel for the low and high tides, until we are surrounded by others. Growing older, becoming a water-logged forest, and home for the fishes.
Wonderfully wrought CB, and a sad lament for loved ones, when their time has come around. Cheers! - Dan

[Jim]

I could go on and on about this piece - I'd love to see it in the spotlight as a shining example of how powerful a haibun can be.
Many bows Cafeboy

[ObsidianMule]

[space][/space]wow

[cafeboy]

I want to thank everyone for reading and for sharing comments. This poem feels so important to me as I navigate through my initial shock. Im finding your generosity to be unbearably touching.

[entwife]

very powerful. the tone of the prose is captured and brighten in the haiku, well done

[jainrohit]

This gives a raw jolt. The interplay of emotions, expressions, lamentation and the sad state of life in loneliness is at its supreme in this wonderfully written Haibun. I always used to come up with a mood to write a Haibun, only to strike it off at an end. What i would achieve at max was a small 17 syllable ku.

This Haibun has really and definately given me a new inspiration. Although Haibun is or may be prosaic in nature, this is like a blank verse poem, as it has that something which a prose work lacks. This is a wonderful treatise on all those aspects that together constitute to form what is known as life. I concur with Jim above that this deserves a spotlight. Great !!!!!!!!!

[astroannie]

this is intense. It holds, too.

[aoeclald]

The prose builds up the haiku so well; the haiku though is simply breathtaking. A perfectly executed haibun.

Thanks for sharing!

[Josie]

This is powerful. The haiku completed the prose. My favorite line:
I never did see an inch of the mangrove.

Congratulations on the TPS Spotlight.

[astroannie]

This belongs here.

[karrie]

It is so wonderful to read you again. This grabbed me and shook me. Well deserved spotlight!

[BarryC]

awesome piece of work-well done

[The ghost]

The humanity in this is overwhelmingly
touching.