Tag Archives: haiku

September 13, 2013

Apathy – Haibun Challenge

I don’t often do these, but I thought I’d try this week’s Haibun Challenge.

Apathy

So many terrible images slide across the screen. One cannot take in a steady diet of earthquakes, massacres, epidemics, famines. I am overexposed. My brain becomes numb and even that little voice that shouts that such numbness is bad—even it eventually falls silent.

I pass them on the street, holding out their hands for help, but my quick strides sweep me by. I have enough stress and pain and uncertainty in my own life without opening it up to more. One day, when my life is all together, when there is room for the pain of others to replace the troubles that now buzz around in my head.

Now I have cancer. My Facebook status announcing the earth-shattering news has a smattering of sympathetic one-liners (no likes of course) . . . and that’s it? Doesn’t anyone care?

souls like bumping boats

seek the free open waters

until storms threaten

25 Comments | tags: apathy, cancer, charity, Facebook, fiction, flash fiction, haibun, haiku | posted in Dusk

May 2, 2013

The Perfect Knight – Haibun Challenge

By David Stewart

This is my first offering for a haibun challenge run by call2read. A haibun is prose combined with a haiku. This particular one is 220 words total and the theme is Fantasy.

The Perfect Knight

Luiz put on his backpack, tightened his shoelaces and stepped out into a jungle of concrete trees towering into the sky. He wished he had a sword.

He passed the magic shop and waved at the magician, then came to the river where ships roared past. Luiz waited until the ships stopped, then hopped across the bridge, only stepping on the white and avoiding the black surface of the river

Then he came to troll country.

“Hey, Luiz,” a troll called from a nearby step. “Got any money for us today?” Another troll appeared and they towered over Luiz.

Luiz wanted to shout that he was a knight and they were only measly trolls, but he just stood there, his knees shaking.

A baseball suddenly hit one of the trolls in the chest. A kick knocked the other on its back. “Don’t let me catch you picking on my brother ever again!” Angela shouted at them as they ran off.

“Luiz, what are you doing, walking to school alone?”

Luiz said nothing—just took her hand and started walking.

“I thought knights in shining armor were only boys,” he said.

Angela picked up the baseball. “That’s only in fairy tales,” she said. “In real life, they can be anyone.”

trolls roar and threaten

sister knight saves the day

fantasy survives