Dusk
Photo: Victoria Slotto
Desert evenings have a beauty all their own. Most every day we enjoy a sunset that stuns us with its wonder. Hummingbirds vie for their place at our feeders, mama and daddy lead their ducklings for an evening swim as twilight colors dance on the water’s ripples. It is still warm, but cool enough to sit out on the patio and soak in beauty, sip a glass of wine and give thanks for the blessings of another day of life.
Photo: David Slotto
Have you noticed the beauty of an aged person’s evening hours? Fine lines, wrinkles tell stories of both joy and sorrow. Of life. Crevassed lips that have loved, whispered, cursed, blessed, sinned, asked forgiveness and forgiven turn up in smiles, down in sadness—likely both, at one time or another. But most often, it is in the eyes that you read the nuances of a life well-lived. There you will find clarity, serenity, wisdom and acceptance. Acceptance of loss, of failure, but especially of the realization that there has been love. May this be so for each of us.
hawk swoops in, alights
mama duck shelters her young
at dawn, three remain
This week I’m happy to host dVerse Monday Haibun. The Kigo is CHIJITSU, lingering day. Please join us with your Haibun of two or three terse paragraphs followed by a seasonal haiku.
Victoria C. Slotto, Author 
Dusk, brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful words of truth that touched my heart. I see the desert skies daily, and its beauty does make you realize there’s something greater at work here and we all are a part of it.
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This is a lovely tribute to the elderly. I always feel the older generation is a bit neglected in this fast paced modern world. A very poignant haiku too.
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Thanks, Robbie. I worked with the elderly much of my nursing career and now I’m one of them! I see many of my peers who have lost a spouse as the forgotten ones.
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Absolutely beautiful…from the dessert’s parched yet beautiful sunsets, to the elderly parched skin…the beauty of lines and creases and folds of nature both.
As always, beautiful writing from a wonderful person who has a gift with words 😊
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I would make sure to see the sunset as often as possible if it looked like that. And actually when we lived in N. MI on Lake Michigan, a huge part of the town walks down and waits for the “show”. And the second stanza is very moving and a homage to the older, aged person. Advertisers should wise up – old age is not something to run from.
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Beginnings and endings and the circle of life. Observing and honoring them all. (K)
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A beautiful swan song, Victoria. I especially ove this line:
“Crevassed lips that have loved, whispered, cursed, blessed, sinned, asked forgiveness and forgiven turn up in smiles, down in sadness—likely both, at one time or another.”
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This is such a beautiful, reflective poem, Victoria.
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Everything about this haibun is a celebration of a life, lived not for oneself, I imagine. And you ask, “Have you noticed the beauty of an aged person’s evening hours?” I am afraid I want to get there only too soon. Thank you, Victoria and blessings on your journey.
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It’s all in the eyes, isn’t it? How lovingly you describe the lingering time of the later years.
There is incredible photography out there of time worn faces. We can’t all be like Jane Fonda😊
I edited my post so it is more readable now, btw.
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I love the features of an older person. The wrinkles give character and beauty to age. It seems so odd to see women and men trying to stretch themselves young! How silly. Loved the haiku!
Dwight
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Thoroughly beautiful. I love the stories and lessons etched into wrinkles. Quite powerful .
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I admire that old person’s face and expression of a life well lived ~ Would love to see a desert evening one day Victoria ~ Love your haibun and haiku of the protective mother duck ~
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I love how you highlighted the aged and brought honor to their twilight.
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Your writing is stunning and the photo is luminous!
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The haiku is so delicately touching, unsentimental. Like your treatment of the serene expression in the eyes of an old person.
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You describe it beautifully!
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Beautiful description. I especially liked: “it is in the eyes that you read the nuances of a life well-lived.”
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So beautiful – the signs of a life well lived, so inspiring.
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I have never been in a desert, so I savour every detail you write about the place where you live, Victoria, including the wonderful humming birds.
I love the way you describe ‘the beauty of an aged person’s evening hours’ and compare them with the beauty of the landscape , especially ‘crevassed lips’.
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I agree with Björn on dusk as a summary of a day, a life, well lived
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I do love the way you write the parallel between the dusk and it’s beauty and an aging person… the lines the experience, I almost think that the dusk can be the summary of a day well lived.
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So inspiring!! 🙂 God bless!
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Your haiku left me breathless and a bit sad. But the way you wrote about the beauty of the elderly…it put tears in my eyes. So many times the beauty in these people are overlooked.
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