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They closed the door on all that had been and headed down the rocky path to the dirt road. Miriam glanced over her shoulder as she hefted the tattered bag that held all her belongings and all her dreams. She saw a rat run across the wooden porch and disappear into an opening in the floorboards. Bile rose in the back of her throat and she swallowed it, forcing herself not to vomit.
Zach lead the way and she followed, as she had before. Could she trust him this time? Could she trust her future?
in morning darkness
mockingbird breaks into song
defies hopelessness
Linked to dVerse Poetics where Kelly is asking us for narrative poetry with a nod to the mockingbird as we reflect on the life and death of Harper Lee, author of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Please join us.
Victoria C. Slotto, Author 
Escape from Loveless
home iN hopes
oF arms that
Love..
hope
hope
hope..
Mocking Bird
SinGs.. WiLL Love
arrive as refRain
aGain
aGain
aGain.. reFrain..:)
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To survive this life you must keep moving forward. This is testament to the human spirit. Haibun is a great form and works well here, Victoria.
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So much here…..so much not here that is left for us to ponder. I hope the rat is not an omen, skittling in front of her path.
The haiku is stunning — adds the hope that the rat denies.
So well penned.
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Hopeful then oh so ominous. You had me feeling such opposite emotions, being invested in an outcome without knowing much at all. Masterful!
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This is perfect, said all that needed to be said of this scene. And I also love the haiku and how you used it to tie in the mockingbird. Peace, Linda
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Wow, so much in so little! I wanted to read so much more of this tale. The haiku at the end was perfect. This was just shy of a haibun.
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You pack so much into this short scene, it floods the imagination to provide both back story & flash forward. One thing I adore about the haibun, is the opportunity for the haiku to shine, to stand alone, but also provide comment & epilogue; excellent, well crafted piece.
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A telling snippet opening up realms as to what went before and what to come. The haiku is fantastic.
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Those times where we trust even though we’re not absolutely sure. Doubts and hopes make for tentative steps towards our future. Very nice haibun!
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Such tenseness and uncertainty. Brilliantly written, Victoria.
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Syrian refugees brought to my mind…countless others over time in other continents. You remind us birds always sing after the storm..amazing creatures..lovely haibun.
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There is so much to love in the narrative, so open ended, like how there is hope in hopelessness. Maybe that’s where mockingbirds are needed most.
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I love your haiku, especially, Victoria. So much hope.
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Oh yes, their song truly does defy hopelessness. They always sound so glad just to be alive. A lovely haibun that leaves me wanting to know more.
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Gorgeous gorgeous writing!
Lots of love,
Sanaa
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