Life Seasons–dVerse Monday Haibun

Photo: Pixabay
Labeled for non-commercial reuse

Life’s Seasons
a Haibun

Lately, I’m almost afraid to answer the phone when Aunt Joyce, the matriarch of our family, calls. I love this elderly, alert, wise woman who has outlasted her generation, and seems to be the glue that holds much of our vast family together. But recently the calls have been peppered with sadness—stage IV cancer, death and more death. These are members of my generation that she reports on. Brings it home, it does, as I’m the oldest of the bunch.

Outside my “treehouse” office, I spotted a large, artfully woven nest a couple of weeks ago. It remained empty until Saturday when I spied papa bird standing on its rim. He ruffled his feathers, puffed out his red breast, then sidled up to mama, snuggling for a few moments, remaining as she flew off for her break. Twelve to fourteen days, my Google Assistant tells me. Will I get to witness birth?

full-throated robin
sings summer joy lustily
I prune dead roses

nesting

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Labeled for noncommercial reuse

nesting
a quadrille (44 words, excluding title)

outside my second story window
breezes ruffle feathers
lining an empty
robin’s nest.

i saw her only once
and she saw me
perhaps she was afraid

but still, there sits the nest—
an empty reminder
of so many
empty dreams

sunlight backlights
hopeful branches

I’m hoping to join in as much as possible for daily prompts offered during July at Poetic Bloomings. The prompt for today is Summer Breezes. Of course, I’m late–but still looking forward to being a part of “An Entertaining Summer,” The theme of the monthly challenge. Because of the bi-weekly prompt at dVerse, I’m starting to think in quadrilles.