Photo: V. Slotto
Desert Days Waning
a Haibun
Winds batter our desert, stirring up water on the pond. Clouds hang over the mountain, try to decide whether to move on in and bless the valley with rain or to continue their teasing ways. The heady scents of warm-weather blooms fill the air as the sun begins his descent behind the Santa Rosa’s.
Six surviving baby ducklings grow rapidly, Mama scolding them for taking off on their own, without her protective oversite. Soon our finches, sparrows and hummingbirds will stop by and find that the feeders have been put away for a while, reminding them that they, too, need to think about migrating north.
I should be packing, but the allure of words drags me into outstretched arms and I succumb.
i am your poem
holding this moment in time
jasmine’s sweet fragrance
I hope you will stop by dVerse Poets’ Pub where I’m hosting Open Link Night. Bring a poem of your own–any topic, any form–and settle in to enjoy the work of our poetry community. And don’t forget–the prompt for Haibun Monday is open all week.
Victoria C. Slotto, Author 
I’m so used to birds migrating south, that I rarely consider that there is a point from which they must also migrate north. Lovely haibun!
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the personification in this poem adds such a special touch to the imagery. beautiful job.
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Such an entirely nature piece. I felt it.
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Lovely. It sounds like the desert wants to keep you there.
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I love haibun and haiku! I always thought living in the desert would be beautiful and stark. Sounds like you are moving may I ask where to?
Thank you for hosting Victoria! I haven’t been at dVerse for long but everyone has made me feel right at home. Hugs!
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Going home to Reno–we’re snowbirds. :0)
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I was going to step out for a bit myself but the lure of words as you so aptly put it dragged me back in. Wish you well on your move.
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LOVE “the allure of words” and “jasmine’s sweet fragrance” 🙂
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[…] Linked to Dverse, Open Link Night, hosted by Victoria S Slotto. […]
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You’ve painted a beautiful scene with your words….and then the allure of words. I am your poem — and our words can be a snapshot…holding a moment still on paper (or screen) for us to hold.
Lovely.
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Bella. I especially like the opening and the haiku.
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Really vivid description of seasons in transition. I like how both prose and poem could stand alone, but together they are just so much more.
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I love how after everything–the good, the bad and whatever comes–there is poetry, waiting for the speaking, wanting to be birthed, lingering for just a while longer.
Fantastic tone and descriptions. And your haiku is a crown. ♥
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Love love love those teasing clouds. And your ‘ku is gorgeous.
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So lovely, yet poignant, written by a high desert lover. Palm Desert is something else; worked out of Palm Springs for several years, temps coming down to 100 at night; wheee. /I am your poem/ hits me mid-Zen, I think. Nice you have two homes though. I’m pleased that you “liked” my tribute poem; meant every syllable of it too.
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I love how you narrate a look around the desert as you prepare to leave, Victoria, and love the vision of that poem holding you…sweet.
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Wonderful imagery. I like the indecisiveness of the clouds. You captured the feeling of time standing still..the reluctance of moving forward. The haiku is so lovely!
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I love the way the last line of the haiku, the scent of jasmine, links back to the first paragraph with its heady scents of warm-weather blooms – I feel kind of hugged by the haibun!
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The poem sounds very loving, holding you there
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Victoria, I would gladly trade you, right now, as Winter won’t release its grip over southern Ontario. April is almost over, and still wearing my winter jacket, here. Nighttime, the temperatures are hovering just above freezing. Sheesh.
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Gorgeous haibun 😀
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This reminded me of visiting my father in Desert Hot Springs in May a few years before he died. He and his wife were getting ready to pack it up and head to Yellowstone for the summer and it seemed so strange to me to leave the warmth of the desert for someplace cooler. By the end of May, the shops in town were all closed up for the season and that still makes no sense to me.
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The first and last lines of the haiku are gorgeous read together. The essence of haiku – I too when I have must-do tasks, seem to find escape in words. I like this haibun – the prequel to a travelogue….safe journey to you!
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I really love the haiku here.. how it condense the moment of lingering before you move … just like the birds. The feeling of waiting for a rain that doesn’t come is also something that speaks desert to me…
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