Welcome, poets! I am your host, Frank J. Tassone, and today, we write haibun, the hybrid form that combines prose and haiku. Let us explore the only time any of us truly has: the present moment.
We all have history. Many of us would say our history formed who we are. If we are honest with ourselves, some of us would say that we may look too long at our past. Likewise, we all have a future. We may hope for a better one or fear what comes next. If we are being real with ourselves, some of us would admit that we stare too long at what is to come. How often do we pay attention to what is happening right now? This is the present moment.
As I write this, budding maple trees stretch up to an overcast sky. A persistent robin repeats her song. Raindrops cling on the delicate branches of a nearby bush. My feet feel cold. Muted aches of under-medicated joints arise as a gentle rain continues to fall. The tap-tap-tap of my moving fingers on the keypad of an Acer contrast the dull sound of an electric hum. This is my present moment, right now.
The present moment eludes our urge to capture and crystalize it. It is sand slipping through out clenched figures, rushing to the past almost as soon as we are aware of it. But it is real: it is now.
Many poets have sought to express the mystery of the present moment:
Now
Robert Browning – 1812-1889
Out of your whole life give but a moment!
This poem is in the public domain.
All of your life that has gone before,
All to come after it,—so you ignore,
So you make perfect the present,—condense,
In a rapture of rage, for perfection’s endowment,
Thought and feeling and soul and sense—
Merged in a moment which gives me at last
You around me for once, you beneath me, above me—
Me—sure that despite of time future, time past,—
This tick of our life-time’s one moment you love me!
How long such suspension may linger? Ah, Sweet—
The moment eternal—just that and no more—
When ecstasy’s utmost we clutch at the core
While cheeks burn, arms open, eyes shut and lips meet!
View #45
(after Hokusai and Hiroshige)
I dreamt half my life was spent
in wonder, and never suspected.
So immersed in the moment
I forgot I was ever there.
Red-tailed hawk turning
resistance into ecstasy.
The patrolmen joking with the drunk
whose butt seemed glued to the sidewalk.
A coral quince blossom in winter,
pink as a lover’s present.
And tilting my bamboo umbrella
against the warm slant
of rain, was I not a happy peasant
crossing the great bay on a bridge that began
who knows when, and will end
who knows when.
From Views from Along the Middle Way by Thomas Centolella is used by permission of Copper Canyon Press. Copyright © 2002 by Thomas Centolella. All rights reserved.
The Sickroom Window
Another night of rain passes into a day of stiffened joints. I force myself to get up to open the window. As I do, the world, having been held back by the closed glass, pours in. I let myself lie down again. Tightness loosens into drowsiness as a trace of sweetness carried on a breeze reaches me.
gnarled peach tree –
from “The Plenitude of Emptiness”
frothy blossoms
cling to the clouds
Let us now bear witness to the present moment! However you experience it, write a haibun that expresses the present moment.
New to haibun? The form consists of one to a few paragraphs of prose—usually written in the present tense—that evoke an experience and are often non-fictional/autobiographical. They may be preceded or followed by one or more haiku—nature-based, using a seasonal image—that complement without directly repeating what the prose stated.
New to dVerse? Here is what you do:
- Write a haibun that alludes to the present moment.
- Post it on your personal site/blog.
- Include a link back to dVerse in your post.
- Copy your link onto the Mr. Linky.
- Remember to click the small checkbox about data protection.
- Read and comment on some of your fellow poets’ work.
- Like and leave a comment below if you choose to do so.
Have fun!
Frank J. Tassone said:
Good afternoon, Poets! The pub is open! 😃
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Linda Lee Lyberg said:
Hello Frank! I hope your Monday is going well. We are having an odd day here, but I welcome the change.
Frank J. Tassone said:
Great to see you, Linda! What can I get you? 😉
Linda Lee Lyberg said:
How about a baileys and coffee?
Frank J. Tassone said:
You got it!
kim881 said:
Good evening, good afternoon and, for some, good morning! Thank you for hosting with an interesting prompt. I’m excited about what everyone makes of it. I can’t believe it’s still quite light at 8 pm, the kind of twilight when I listen out for nightingales and owls. I still haven’t heard a cuckoo, and it’s not for want to trying this morning. Spring is definitely here though.
Frank J. Tassone said:
Glad you could stop by, Kim! What’ll you have? 😉
kim881 said:
A hot chocolate, please Frank. It’s really cold in here. I might have to go to where the heat is in a bit.
rogblog666 said:
evening all early evening here time to sit and chill after a busy day. stay well ans safe all.
Frank J. Tassone said:
Always good to see you, Rob! What’s your pleasure, today? 😉
rogblog666 said:
hot chocolate please and a nap
Frank J. Tassone said:
Here you go, with the marshmellows on top!
rogblog666 said:
Cheers
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Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
We have twilight at 9 PM, but a persistent wind from the North has put the spring on hold. Can I have something warm to drink, please.
Frank J. Tassone said:
Glad you made it, Bjorn! One hot beverage, coming right up! 😉
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Ingrid said:
Good evening where I am to all of you, and thank you Frank for providing us the creative space to think about the moment!
Frank J. Tassone said:
Great to see you, Ingrid! What can I get you? 😉
Ingrid said:
Just a herbal tea please: almost time to turn in for the night!
Frank J. Tassone said:
Coming right up!
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T.J.S. Sherman said:
Nice selection of poems to illustrate your ideas.
Frank J. Tassone said:
Thank you! Glad you could join us!
Helen Dehner said:
Hello! A wonderfully ‘timely’ prompt ….I will have a glass of Pinot Grigio (and a little bowl of those stuffed olives you know I love) …. thank you, Sir.
Frank J. Tassone said:
You got it, Helen! Great to see you again!
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RedCat said:
It’s good evening and goodnight for me. Very tired after a full hour of dancing Jive non stop. And I rather stay in this relaxed moment. A glass of really cold water wouldn’t be amiss while I watch the full moon a little bit before going to sleep.
Frank J. Tassone said:
Coming right up, Cat! Happy you could stop by!
calmkate said:
good morning team, thanks for such an inspiring prompt Frank! As a meditator I try to live in the ‘now’ so this resonated deeply.
Frank J. Tassone said:
Happy to see you here, Kate! I’m a seasoned meditator, too! 😀
What can I get you? 😉
calmkate said:
a chai and a bowl of your favourite cereal thanks Frank!
Frank J. Tassone said:
I’ll keep ‘em coming! 😆
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Ron. said:
Thanks for hostprompting Frank. I got nothin, so I posted that..
Frank J. Tassone said:
Glad you joined us anyway, Ron!
msjadeli said:
Hello Frank and All. Late to the party today. Had an unexpected trip to the doctor and luckily the mystery of what was going on was solved and I left a happy camper. Your prompt was more difficult than I expected it to be. Reading it again, it reminds me of when I used to write snail mail letters to my friends. Nice to remember those days.
Frank J. Tassone said:
Glad everything is well, Lisa. Thanks for coming out! I’ll keep coming whatever you’re having!
msjadeli said:
Frank thank you for the welcome 🙂 How about a pint of Magners please?
robtkistner said:
Thanks for hosting Frank. Fine prompt.
Frank J. Tassone said:
Thank you, Rob! Glad you could make it!
ben Alexander said:
Frank,
I really really like this as a prompt in general, and for a haibun in particular!
❤
David
Frank J. Tassone said:
Happy you could join us!
Beverly Crawford said:
My “moment” seemed quite sedate and boring compared to others. It wasn’t my moment for excitement, I guess!!
Frank J. Tassone said:
And yet it is your moment! Glad you came!
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Truedessa said:
Hello Everyone, I could use a cup of herbal tea. I will be around for a a bit and return tomorrow as I am not feeling well. This prompt spoke to me today.
Frank J. Tassone said:
I’ll keep the herbal tea coming. Hope you feel better!
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Ali Grimshaw said:
Hey Frank,
Thanks for getting me writing today. This isn’t the type of poem I usually write. I still am not sure if I am doing it correclty. I would like your feedback.
I did enjoy getting my thoughts down. There is still so much to process about the past year.
Wishing you a wonderful evening at the bar.
Ali
Frank J. Tassone said:
Sorry for getting back to you so late. I’m happy you joined us!
Ali Grimshaw said:
No worries. We are all in different time zones anyway.
jazzytower said:
Hi Frank,
Thanks for hosting. Hello everyone. Hope you had a good weekend.
Pat
Frank J. Tassone said:
I did, Pat, thank you! I hope you enjoyed yours, too. Thanks for joining in!
pvcann said:
Thank you Frank, I’ll have a double shot of single malt whiskey thanks, and I’ll have it in the present moment (O, its gone).
Frank J. Tassone said:
I’ll keep ’em coming! 😆
pvcann said:
🙂 thank you indeed
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