Warmed by the Glow

My head throbbed with each footfall as I walked down the dim hallway, but the children were asleep, which made me a conqueror. I was exhausted, but satisfied with the victory. Sharp light pierced my eyes as I emerged into the living room, and I cringed away from it. What happened to that fierce warrior? I snuck a peek out the window, and my breath caught- a golden glow had fallen across the yard. Trees in the distance split the light, sending dusty rays all directions. I hastily positioned myself on the edge of the chaise so that the sunbeams hit my face. They warmed my skin. I closed my eyes and saw the glow through my eyelids. The sun was quickly slipping downward, so I leaned forward and then stood, to chase the light.

sunburned sky will guide

heavy spirits up toward

cloud shaped memories

!!! I was honored last week by being nominated as the Poet of the Week for Colleen’s Poetry Challenge for the Haibun above. For “Warmed by the Glow” I used synonyms for Follow and Lead. My knowledge of the different forms of syllabic poetry has greatly increased since I started participating in Colleen’s challenges. I love writing poetry!

The Embrace

I’m afraid to disrupt the sacred theater unfolding around me, but the spongy moss underfoot propels me forward. The bay of water peeking through a wall of giant fir trees beckons.  The stillness throbs, and my heart races, here at the edge.

the humming portal

awaits

a voyager

I pause at the top of the stairs, hand on peeling rail. Cool air surrounds my skin, and I hover in the moment with it. Pale orange, pink, and blue gently mingle in the sky and again on the water, a painting that deserves to be shown off twice. Slowly, a sleek body glides across the surface, an enigma.

whispers

suggest

communion

A bald eagle screeches, and its mate echoes the call across the bay. With that invitation I eagerly make my way down to the beach. The remnants of our fire from the night before tickle my nose, smoky and rich despite its human origin, or can I even claim that? The elusive swimmer, a harbor seal, keeps me in its sight.

dark eyes

reflect my own

full of questions

Three boats sleep in the water while my mind awakes to possibility, to pulsing life, and to my presence woven into this colorful tapestry. All preconceived notions of who I was slide off my shoulders onto the crushed clam shells and rocks below. A clam defiantly spouts a stream of water across the beach, making me smile. Yes, I am ready to embrace life again.

colors burst

before my eyes

then soak into my skin

heart outstretched

it ushers in

truth

no longer hidden

 

 

(a haibun poem for Colleen’s Poetry Challenge, using synonyms of Mystery and Attract)

This is my first time studying haibun poetry and trying to write my own. Although mine is long, there were so many forms of haibun, and so much was up to the discretion of the writer, that I felt the need to use many paragraphs to describe this special memory.

Edit to add:

I did not do this correctly as a Haibun, but I will leave it as is, as it’s own little piece right now- a sacred memory of an important turning point in my life.