Recently, I had the honor of being chosen by Elisa Ang as the Featured Writer for Pure Haiku’s Unfurling theme. When Elisa explained why she chose me, she noted that
the writer expresses life’s journey–from the time it springs forth to the time it bids farewell in profoundly creative way…”
I absolutely love that she got what I was trying to do! So one last thank you to Freya and Elisa and a new thank you to Colleen’s Poet’s Choice Challenge for providing me the opportunity to present the five haiku as the fluid set I imagined them to be.
I never met Sue Vincent, but when I learned she was ill, I wept. And when I logged into Word Press today (after several days absence) and learned she was gone, I wept again. Tears are blurring my view even now. We often never know the ways we affect other people’s lives but I’m glad I got to say “thank you” before she departed. She made me believe that my silly little poems sometimes mattered. And her work was beautiful until the very end. I hope she knew how much she mattered. If you have not, take the time to read Swift Passage.
Three days. It had been three days since they delivered the box. Technically, three days, four hours, and 37 minutes. But who’s counting.
She knew he was there. The gate squeaked. It had been over two weeks since he’d left. Technically 15 days, three hours, and 22 minutes. But who’s counting.
Or 14 days, 21 hours, and 13 minutes since he’d returned. Drunk, sunburned, screaming multiple profanities at her window. But who’s counting.
Maybe he’s dead. Like Benjamin. And Lila. One more makes 213,323. But who’s counting.
Alone. Still. 197 days, three hours, and 23 minutes. But who’s counting.
Tina Stewart Brakebill 