As August begins, chipmunks are busy a-gathering, their cheeks bulging with seeds. They still make time for chase across the driveway, under the shrubs and back again. Butterflies swarm swarms of blossoms, welcoming affections of others of the same patterns in brief amorous encounters. Monarch caterpillars wander in solitude, grazing fuzzy milkweed leaves in lackadaisical fashion. Only the honeybees stay focused in their work, seeming to know the imminent cooling mass wilt that most regard as still far away will come. They benefit from hive memory of eons. Many regard the polar extremes of work ethic as grasshoppers and ants. My vote goes to bullfrogs and honeybees.
Green leaves promise
endless summer. Those in the
know know better.
Frank J. Tassone is today’s host for dVerse’ Haibun Monday. Frank says:
Whatever inspires you about this month—the namesake of Augustus, the solemn memorials to inhumanity and survival, madcap vacationing in sultry weather, or traditional Autumn—write a haibun alluding to August.
Tao Talk 
Beautifully evoked, Jade! Love the imagery of so many summer denizens at play, while industrious honeybees keep up their labor.
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Frank, thank you!
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My goodness! I get the prompt in my in-box and there you are ten minutes later!!
I love this Haibun, Lisa. Bullfrogs and honeybees are worthy of your vote :)
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Thank you, Dale, glad you enjoyed the poem.
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I did! I was supposed to write mine when I got home but I needed more steps, ended up at a friends, stayed for supper, came home and went to bed! Maybe later today ;-)
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Hey, life happens! I went to live jazz music in the park last night and it was heavenly.
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How wonderful!
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So beautiful, Lisa. <3 <3 I always love how you evoke nature in your work.
"Green leaves promise
endless summer. Those in the
know know better."
Indeed they do. Summer can't last forever, but at least we can enjoy it while it lasts.
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Thank you, Lucy :)
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I’m sure they all know really, but they like to party while the sun shines :)
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:)
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I always enjoy your vision of nature, they serve as such good reminders to pay attention to the little things that often have better habits than we big things have (and could learn from)
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Thank you, T!
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During these dog days of unvaccinated chaos and the new death of the young, it is so lovely, so fitting, to shift our focus to the busy bees. You rocked the prompt and held up ,Nature to the black mirror of plague.
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Many thanks, Glenn. I kind of think of poets as honeybees.
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I love the idea of hive memory. You capture this last fanfare of summer so well.
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Sarah, thank you so much. Fanfare is a very cool word.
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What a lovely picture you share with us Lisa. There’s nothing more beautiful than watching our creatures at work and play ☺️💕🌺
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Christine, you are right. Thank you :) <3
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Nice haibun Lisa. The activities of summer move on all around us and we are often not aware… Nice photos!! :>)
dwight
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Thank you, Dwight. Yes they are :)
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All the creatures know, surely
Happy Monday
Much❤love
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Thanks, Gillena!
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oh great poem Lisa with beautiful visuals.. !💖
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Universal clock is running and they know it.
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Beautiful Lisa. I love your upbeat take here. To me August is by and large the misery we must endure before Autumn. Unless I can get up into the mountains, then a glorious respite washes over me, and I can again endure the oppressive heat of the 8th month in the valley.
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Rob, please find a way to make a trip up to the mountains soon. I bet your son would gladly take you there if you asked.
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Lisa, you’re so observant. This is lovely.
I particularly liked this idea –
Yours,
David
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Thank you, David.
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There aren’t any chipmunks in Manhattan that I know of (although I’ve seen them in the Bronx), but squirrels fill that niche here. I haven’t seen many bees this year which is worrisome, although evidently people are starting hives on their roofs. Nature reflects both the seasons and the state of the world. (K)
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Now that is interesting about beehives on roofs. The poor bees, but rooftop hives are better than none at all I guess.
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It’s amazing what people have on their roofs theses days. But lots of greenery–thats good.
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:)
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I can feel the joy of nature in your haibun – I can’t comment on bullfrogs but bees get my vote too for their busyness.❤
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Happy you can feel the joy of nature in the words, Marion.
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Exquisite descriptions Jade🤩
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Thank you very much, Jude.
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My pleasure.
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The bees never have any fun like the rest…I guess they have to stay focused on the work ahead. I see our squirrels start working in the fall…but playing some also.
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A little of each works for me also.
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