Ebb and Flow
20January 27, 2019 by petrujviljoen
I hold a shard of stone. It’s seashell from ancient Gondwana, over two hundred million years old. It was just lying there, on the surface of the earth as we tread it, and bound to it by the force of gravity.
In far away England, right across the world from where I am, marvelling, a waif, afflicted, passes away.
Everything is connected they say. It was a haiku by Sutcliff I sent to the survivors (of which I am one) of a cousin who tired of being – breathed for by a machine. Asked them to turn it off, to turn away.
Perhaps the gravitational pull of the moon, the ebb and flow of the oceans, provided the impetus to embrace the final moment.
cutting loose from
the explanatory ooze
a last wave
…
The haiku by Sutcliff:
moon shadows
your breathing
now silent
…
Linked to Frank J Tassone’s call for a tribute to Rachel Sutcliff who passed away a few days ago.
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“cutting loose” is so hard, even when it’s for the best.
I think so!
A beautiful tribute Petru xxx
Thank you!
Reblogged this on Frank J. Tassone and commented:
#Haiku Happenings #5: Petru’s latest #haibun for my current #haikai challenge!
You hung onto Sutcliffe’s theme so well there. There’s a thread joining them, like that thread of life cut free.
I’m going to admit not realising we were supposed to use a work of hers to inspire one of our own – only saw after I posted! It kind of worked out though.
I wouldn’t have thought it was necessary to pick out a single one of her poems to be inspired by that lovely, simple style of hers. Yours worked so well!
Good. Somehow I got to feel guilty for everything I do and don’t do these last few days. 🙂
Don’t feel guilty about a poem! Especially not such a good one.
Thanks. Being idiotic – there’s all sorts of stuff going on over here … don’t ask!
I won’t. You live on the edge of a volcano.
I try to not think about it. 🙂
🙂
I like your poem of taking control of life and death! Well done!
Maybe a bit much – thanks for reading though.
An excellent haibun!
This feels so immediate to me. Beautiful interplay with Sutcliff’s words. (K)
Thanks Kerfe.