shadow ink pools
matte vacuum reflection
absorbs no light
Miraged oasis in the distance, the desert traveler’s pace quickens. Skin bag long dry, biology mandates relief to stay imminent collapse. Stumbling, she falls to her knees in gratitude — which flips to horror. A crow lands.
perched in dead palm, caws
to still-moving carrion
scant tears wet sand
She follows black wings, the only movement on a mercilessly vacant horizon. She’s not sure when she loses consciousness, but she awakes to cool night and a bill pecking her hand. It hops just out of reach, again and again, as she pulls herself up the slow rise.
dune hides butter moon
below, village fire burns bright
dark portend brings life
This happened to me (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)
top image link here
bottom image link here
Merril is today’s host for dVerse’ Monday Haibun. Merril says:
Today I want you to write [haibun] about a time you looked up and saw. . .something.
Tao Talk 
Wow, sounds like quite an experience. And yes, stick to it!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Mary!
LikeLike
Beautifully done, Lisa–and since I know you have vivid dreams, I’m sure it did happen.
Besides, you included a crow. 😏
Unfortunately, too many places are like this now.
Thank you for adding your voice today!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Merril. My pleasure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Lisa!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the drama and the inclusion of a “butter moon” ❣️
LikeLiked by 3 people
Many thanks, Tricia <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooo…i want to know more about this experience Lisa. I loved reading this! ☺️💕
LikeLiked by 2 people
:) I hope good things happen for her now that she’s crossed the desert.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am scared by that experience and wonder what it means. Love that butter moon description.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Grace thank you and not really sure where it came from. Hoping she’s on the other side of scary now.
LikeLike
This is fabulous Lisa. It ended way too soon my friend. I loved the darkness, and the tension, and your mastery of this mystery! 👍🏼🙂✌🏼❤️
LikeLiked by 2 people
Rob thank you! <3
LikeLike
A very surreal haibun, Lisa! The images and implication of the crow’s presence really make it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dwight, thank you. My head has been a little spacey the past couple of days and hoping this haibun helped clear it out…
LikeLike
Read the opening of an epic sci-fi. Brutal heat. Your images make it all too real.
LikeLiked by 2 people
K, you reminded me I just watched a movie called, “Gold,” (on HULU) set in a desolate place like that. It was a disturbing movie and I think the residue was still with me when I wrote it. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you enjoy the film? It sounds the sort of be into.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoy probably isn’t the right word. It was compelling but difficult to watch in a lot of places. Have you seen Revenant with Leo DeCaprio and his battle against survival in the mountains in winter? This is somewhat similar but set in a wasteland like that top image.
LikeLike
Love your opening haiku Lisa! It led me on through the landscape indeed!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Carol, thank you and glad to guide you through it to the other side :)
LikeLike
A for adventure. Nice haibun.
Thanks for dropping by to read mine
Much💚love
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks much, Gillena!
LikeLike
What an intriguing story Li.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Sadje.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
Drought is cruel, and death is often the outcome. I felt that close here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, it is, Jane. A lot of my perennials bit the dust this year. We’ll see if they sprout up again in the spring.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The above comment is from Jane Dougherty, and she’s not ‘false’ whatever WP says. It doesn’t like me at the moment.
LikeLiked by 2 people
WP has a pernicious ghost in the machine.
LikeLike
The above comment is from me, Jane Dougherty, and she’s not ‘false’ whatever WP says. It doesn’t like me at the moment.
LikeLiked by 2 people
So engaging and strange! Loved the butter-moon.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Jay. Nice to see you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice to see you too, Lisa🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A guardian angel in the form of a crow. What a wonderful story told in Haibun style!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Dale! What all you have left to follow are dark portends or death…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Truly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a strange, but a unique experience. You’ve captured everything about it in your haibun – the angst, the horror, and the redemption.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well-put, Nitin, thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Strangely true.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading and commenting.
LikeLiked by 1 person