T his child gazes wonderingly out of her open bedroom window. This warm Spring night in May she has captured the Flower Moon, bloomed full. This night they hold in share dreams of the future, the near and the far. Colorful pails on the ocean’s beach, festooned in starfish and octopus. The sweet taste of jam on buttered crustless bread, only a little smudged on smiling cheeks.
Lipstick smeared on a giddy grin. Tea and cookies with bear, bunny, mrs. whiskers — and daddy. There will be crayons, play-doh, soccer balls, skinned knees, and confusion about stupid boys. There will be hair curls, and muddy hands. What a joy she will know, lost in the world of pretend.
Then the further strum of imagination, that brings song to the burgeoning young heart. The rhythm of spirit that brings the thrill of dance to young feet, that elevates the courage of youth, that will help drive away the awkwardness, fear and sadness.
An all-night campfire shared with friends beneath a canopy of forever stars. More questions about boys, maybe girls — this time different questions. Questions about her body, about tomorrow, as the hands of time carry her dreams into the future, toward the doors opening on possibility.
But now, this moon child is filled with excitement! Amazed, wondering, wishing — she is loved, happy, and safe.
holds eternity’s promise
brings sweet tomorrows
rob kistner © 2021
Poetry at: dVerse
A sweet and serene serenade to the innocence and joy of youth. Well done, Rob!
Thank you Frank! 🙂
This one touches on all the wonders of a child’s imagination, plus an poetic overview of her future. You always seem capable of writing from a feminine POV, not always easy for a man; a testament to your heart, and your relationships to women in your life; kudos.
Thank you Glenn, I tried to paint this with a broad stroke. I have always been intimately in touch with my feminine side. I derive probably my greatest pleasure from this aspect of my nature. Certainly even more true as I have gotten older. My ability to sing well, my love of music, my ability to write poetry, my rhythm and former (pre-old-age) ability to dance well, my love of art, my innate proficiency with design and colors, my love of euro-contemporary furniture, my love of the abstract, my strength of interior design, my ability to effectively coach women’s sports, my satisfying ability to cry — all these, including my strong intuitive sense… I believe I draw upon my feminine side in all these aspects of my personality. I would be utterly lost without them.
I love what you did with this Rob. Going from Childhood dreams to death dreams for the future. Amazing Haibun! Well done.
Thank you Dwight, I always appreciate your kindness. 🙂
Thanks so much for the King Crimson, Rob, I haven’t heard that track in a while. Your haibun is beautiful. I love the image of the child with the ‘sweet taste of jam on buttered crustless bread, only a little smudged on smiling cheeks’ and the ‘lipstick smeared on a giddy grin,’ and how the moonchild grows up in the course of your words. By the way, one of my husband’s friends calls me Moonchild!
Thank you so much Monnchild! ???? you should never have told me… lol
This is delightful: what a happy moon child she must be! I love that image of ‘the ocean’s beach, festooned in starfish and octopus.’ Such are the joys of childhood.
Too bad it hoes so fast for us, but for them, yome stands still. The miracle of a safe and loved childhood. Sadly they all are not si safe — but we dndure!
The wonder of a child…if we could only return to it.
Childhood is joy land
Mystic merry toyland
Once you pass its borders
You can ne’er return again
No you can never – return – again! No Kerfe, we can’t go back… until you have a child, then you are right back in it, and it’s wonderful! 🙂 I have been playing with my grandson for the last 5 years. He is now a very btight and active 7 1/2 years old. He readily reminds you of the 1/2 … 😉
Like a father’s wish for his daughter. Lovely!
Thank you Jane. It felt very much that way. I held my daughter Jennifer in my mind all the while I composed this.
Lovely Haibun – especially your Haiku closer which sums it up, the promise of the future’s possibilities.
Thank you Marion. 🙂
I have been told I was very fascinated by the moon as a child. and I can still feel the loss of that wonderment.
Nect time there is a full moon, just go out side and find a quiet spot — than forget your age, and just dig the moon. It takes a few minutes to go mindless, but it is wonderful. I do it frequently, and it works. Other places I like to go mindless is up at Lost Lake in the old growth of the Cascade Mountains — or on the cliff lookout above Indian Beach, gazing out into the Pacific Ocean. I go into a meditative state, and once I reach it, all the pain and weariness rushes out as the wonderment comes rushing in. It keeps me sane for a few days afterword.
Every word is picture perfect and the picture is the expression of every word!
Your haiku could be a mantra for life.
It is my hope Ken.
There’s a timeless feel to this for me–perhaps it’s the moon seeing generations of moon children. There’s joy in how this child grows–I agree with Jane, a parent’s wish.
It was the feel I had writing it Merril. Glad it resonated 🙂