Campus Spring: A Haibun
The rain quiets everything, but not leaving the
same void of sound that the week before’s snowfall had. It
dampens the world gently, suffusing the air with it’s own
intoxicating rhythm, and releases all the scents that have been
sealed within the winter-bound earth. The world becomes alive
with vivid scents, more potently now than at any other time of
the year. All my senses are seduced by the freshness released
in this early spring rain, and I linger in it. The vague hints
of spring’s approach that have hung on the breezes the last
few days and the slowly warming weather taunt and tease us with
anticipation of what is coming.
three college boys
launching a kite—
a light rain falls
As night settles over the landscape, the warmth
in the air remains. The wind sweeps by outside my window, calling
me out into the spring night that effervesces. All around, in
the world beneath my window, the night has called to all of the
residents. Some few have crept out in pairs or threesomes, though
the hour is late. They will be tired in class tomorrow, but tonight
their hushed voices fill the breezy air with a quiet song. I wish
to be outside among them, and for a minute I almost go. But homework
and duty keep me shackled in. I resign to observe and savor the
night alone.
face pressed
closely to the screen,
catching night breezes
As sunset approaches, students playing various outdoor
games dapple the field, trying to hold on to those last few hours
of a bright, fair day. I too cannot bear to be inside, eating
my dinner on a bench beside the field instead. The space is not
large enough for all of their different games, so they play each
group interlaced with the others. Students stand more or less
evenly distanced from all others throughout the entire field;
balls fly in all different directions at once, barely avoiding
each collision like the parts of a well-tuned clock. The picture
created is vaguely amusing, but there is only so much green, and
the pleasant weather cannot be uncelebrated. As the sun sets,
some of the games have ended. Students drift along the walkways
aimlessly, unwilling to go indoors and settle into homework. Two
girls stand chatting idly. A throbbing beat pulses from somewhere
where a stereo has been turned up to be heard from outside. A
few boys refuse to admit that the light in getting too dim to
play, and the day is over. From all around, the air buzzes with
the hum of their voices, intertwining with the thrumming beat.
Everything feels alive and eager for the spring weather to stay.
We have been huddled inside too long and yearn to bust out.
Sun’s shadow
creeping over the model—
Too fast to draw
~
cold stone bench
promising that winter
is not yet far gone
Lunar Eclipse: A Haibun
Seeing the lunar eclipse was high on my priority
list, though I’d only learned of it the night before. I was
more or less horrified to discover that this was not true of everyone,
specifically, the friend and floormate I had counted on convincing
to accompany me. I hated the idea of having to go out and stand
alone in the bitter cold parking lot by night, but I had to see
the eclipse!
After bundling up and heading for the door, I had
one last desperate thought to ask another floormate if she might
join me. I knocked on her door and found her there with another
friend already watching the eclipse through her window! I joined
them gladly, and the three of us knelt before her window in the
dark watching the earth shadow veil the moon’s silver face.
Our eyes felt as full of wonder as a child’s; at least, mine
did. When the shadow was almost once again completely retreated,
I left because my friend needed to get some sleep. But I was satisfied
that I had not missed the magic of the event. It is, after all,
not so much the lunar eclipse, but what goes on under it that
is most significant to the experience.
frosty morning after
full lunar eclipse
nose prints on the window