Picnic on the Beach, by August Macke
Gina is the host of dVerse today. Gina says:
Our theme for this week’s haibun is picnic! Share with us a memory from a picnic – your haibun must not be fictional but a real experience!
Write a haibun based on the prompt, with 1 to 2 tight paragraphs, ending with a seasonal haiku. Bring the season indoors or take yourselves outdoors; however you choose, the haiku should have a seasonal reference.
The small sailboat is loaded with a soft-shell beverage cooler and another with sandwiches. I carry them criss-cross the chest with their long straps, while he totes the large beach bag with towels, sheet, sunscreen, and bagged snack foods. They are packed on the boat to avoid water and being stepped on. We launch from the nearby launch ramp and set sail for the beach near the state park.
The boat has a crankable centerboard, so we crank it up and pull the boat onto the beach. Chauncey, our dog, jumps off and sniffs a million new smells as we lay out the sheet and anchor it with our shoes, clothes, and two coolers. We walk along the shore, passing kayakers making their circuit around the lake. Schools of tiny minnows swirl in the shallows. The splashing of the water as we walk is lulling. After a bit we return to the sheet and sip cool drinks, eat our sandwiches, and throw chips for Chauncey.
Summer day’s picnic
Sparkling water is the glue –
bonding memory.
Tao Talk 
Sounds like a lovely day!
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Thanks Linda, it was.
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I love the thought of bringing the picnic on a boat… I would use the kayak, but that is also a perfect day.
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Sounds almost perfect. With a picnic trained dog too :)
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Chauncey was a perfect little gentleman in every situation. The only time he got out of hand was when visitors came over. He swarmed them with welcome for about a minute, then he was fine.
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That wouldn’t bother me. It’s when the dog has to be tied up to stop him chasing everything that moves, including people, that it gets wearisome :)
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You probably know this already, but dogs are bred for certain traits and some aren’t. He (Boston Terrier) was designed for fighting, believe it or not, as they are small dogs. He never chased anything — or ran from anything. That said, he didn’t have a mean bone in his body. He was buddies with our chickens.
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I know we’re responsible for most of their behaviour. Mine was bred for chasing. That’s what he does. All the time. As I said, it gets wearisome. I love him really :)
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A wonderful summer interlude, peaceful and serene. I enjoyed hearing about it.
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Thank you, Beverly, and am glad you enjoyed it.
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I like how sparkling water glues the memory.
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:) Thank you, Frank.
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There is a genuine sweetness to this piece; a perfect couple’s picnic. I do miss having a dog sometimes, but we’ve been dogless for a decade.
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These were happy times.
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This is so dear and innocent. What a lovely memory for you.
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Thank you, Linda.
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Lovely story with the sailboat as the transportation to a special place!
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Yes, thanks Kathy :)
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this was a most perfect Haibun Jade, just telling the scene, no added words or descriptions, very pure, and the reader is just immersed in your lines. thank you for writing the prompt, I really like this side of your writing.
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Thank you very much, Gina, for the feedback and am glad you liked it. <3
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This is a delightful summer memories. Love the idea of bringing over the picnic stuff on the boat.
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A perfect day. Beautifully written, vivid imagery.
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Thank you, Helene, glad you liked it.
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My pleasure.
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It’s summer here on my part of the world. I miss the splashing of the water, thanks for bringing it to mind. :)
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Glad it made you smile, Maria :)
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Perfect write up. And lovely poem
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Thank you, Sadje :)
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You’re welcome Li
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fond relaxing memory, written like we were there :)
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it’s a golden memory
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and one you will cherish the rest of your life :)
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I liked the part about anchoring the picnic sheet with shoes and cooler boxes. That is truly beach style.
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Thank you, Fatima, as windy as it is here much of the time, it’s the only way to keep the sheet in place.
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Fun art and your words painted a great picture of the day also.
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Thanks Sabio. They were happy times.
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Sounds like a lovely way to spend a afternoon! Thanks for taking me with you!
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You are welcome, happy to oblige :)
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It sounds like a lovely day/memory!
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:) Yes, Merril, it was.
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I’ve always wanted to go sailing and you make it sound wonderful, Jade, especially when a picnic is involved. I like the oxymoron in the haiku ‘Sparkling water is the glue’ and the idea of bonding memory.
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Thank you for the wonderful feedback.
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Such a delightful, serene scene!
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:) Glad you like it.
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Picnic on a summer is always the best..
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Yes it is :)
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