losing branches

Posted on March 1, 2019 by

Written for:  Imaginary Gardens With Real Toads – Season Your Poetry Part II
(posted by Toni)
“Matsuo Basho invented the Haibun form during the Edo period while travelling on a journey – for enlightenment! He kept a daily travel journal (nikki) and thus a new poetry form was invented. One of my trips to Japan, I traveled the route of Basho. Most amazing experience. A Haibun consists of a brief prose portion with a haiku at the end of that portion. Hai means poetry and bun means prose. At the end, the haiku brings the whole of the prose together.” 

“I would like you all to write a haibun for me. The haibun is not to be more than 100 words.”

We construct a family tree for purpose of settling my cousin’s estate.
Flooded by emotions, brings mourning closer to the surface. The unreality
of her being gone is a stabbing of the heart in this cold winter.

I am surprised by names I cannot recall. There are those for which we have no information.  My cousin’s mother had five siblings, scattered to other states. Some had children, adopted children, and went through divorces. Whereabouts of several are unknown.  Family has dwindled, and has become more important.

birds grow and take flight
twigs are gathered in Winter
nest built for newcomers

http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/

About purplepeninportland

I am a freelance poet, born and bred in Brooklyn, New York. I live with my husband, John, and two charming rescue dogs–Marion Miller and Murphy. We spent eight lovely years in Portland, OR, but are now back in New York. My goal is to create and share poetry with others who write, or simply enjoy reading poetry. I hope to touch a nerve in you, and feel your sparks as well.
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20 Responses to losing branches

  1. kanzensakura says:
    March 1, 2019 at 2:25 am

    So sad the diminishing of family. My family has dwindled to three. The haiku is gorgeous.

    Like

  2. Sherry Blue sky says:
    March 1, 2019 at 3:30 am

    So sad how families get scattered through the years. So sorry for your loss, Sara. Your poem is beautiful, especially the haiku.

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  3. Jim says:
    March 1, 2019 at 5:09 am

    Interesting to find a time for the family to gather. It is sad that the cousins are diminishing in numbers. There won’t be more, ever. Dad had three brothers, there were nine of us cousins, three have died. Hint: Mrs. Jim and I help each other remember.
    ..

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  4. Susie Clevenger says:
    March 1, 2019 at 8:19 am

    Families are fragile limbs and it is often difficult to find leaves. We are going through something similar over oil rights.

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  5. anmol(alias HA) says:
    March 1, 2019 at 10:06 am

    Ah, this is poignant and heart-touching. I loved the way you have collated these thoughts and emotions in the form of that last line of the prose. The haiku is indeed beautiful.

    Like

  6. annell4 says:
    March 1, 2019 at 5:12 pm

    Someone has to keep up? Who will do it…in my childhood, I remember family reunions…some people I knew, some I did not. After my Grandmother, and her siblings, were gone, and then my Mom…so many cousins I don’t know? Who will do it?

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  7. Helen says:
    March 1, 2019 at 9:32 pm

    Love the ending ~ and new beginning, Sara.

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  8. Rosemary Nissen-Wade says:
    March 2, 2019 at 11:37 am

    Such a telling line: Family has dwindled, and has become more important.

    And I agree that it’s a beautiful haiku.

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  9. Mike Bayles says:
    March 5, 2019 at 10:14 pm

    I like this haibun.

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  10. Frank J. Tassone says:
    March 7, 2019 at 12:48 am

    A poignant and heartfelt witness to grief, Sara!

    Like

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