Colleen at Wordcraft poetry suggested this prompt today: to write in response to this Monet painting of his garden in Giverny. I decided to write a haibun as I had a story to tell.
Not Meant for Humans
The walkway seems to have no beginning, and so I tiptoe through the purple and blue blossoms to reach the rough path, feeling naughty and bold but safe for its proximity to a well-painted building. I circle the garden of Iris, the rainbow herself. Round I go three times and then spy a spot of bone under the willow. The sun ray has moved, so now I can see what I have missed. Or did it just appear? I step closer, into the flowers, careful not to crush the blossoms themselves, aware I might be harming stems. My curiosity draws me in. As I bend toward the ground, I part the plants and see a very small skeleton, as of an excruciatingly tiny human. Her shredded wings are faded with age, but once must have been the blue of Iris with yellow dots like bright and miniature suns. Perhaps she fell from the branch above when she was asleep. I understand now why the path repeats itself, an endless spinning trail, meant as it is for those with wings to fly above the garden and to rest in the shade of the well-nourished trees. Still, being human, I invite you to share in my experience.
Watch for tiny wings
hidden by goddess Iris
and her endless path.
###
I’ve been intrigued by fairies lately. And by the notion of fairy skeletons because, after all, what is left of them after they die?
As you can see from the poem, I also constantly worry over our human enjoyment of and curiosity about nature because we are such destructive creatures, even when we don’t mean to be.
I think your haibun has to be a first in the fairy lore vein.
LOL, maybe, maybe not.
😀
Well Done. Luanne. I have never wondered about fairy skeletons till now.
And now you won’t be able to stop thinking about them!
If I come across a skeleton and battered wings I’m going to lose it.
Me too!
😁
I didn’t know fairies had skeletons. But imagine if it could really happen – to find a fairy skeleton. It would be amazing.
So amazing. And they must be real. I found them on Google!
I know I should google this, but what is a haibun? Is it simply a word for a prose poem, or is there more to it? I do love the image of a fairy skeleton!
A haibun is a prose poem with a haiku. The haiku can be before or after the prose poem. I usually prefer to close with the haiku. I keep thinking about fairy skeletons haha!
Who comes up with these things?? 🙂
This is just perfect 👌
Thank you!!!
A beautiful accompaniment to an etherial painting which you have described so well
You capture the magic of the painting well. So much to ponder about the unseen
Such an imaginative tale! I would think the other fairies would sprinkle the dead one in fairy dust and they would just disappear.
Eileen, please sit down. I have difficult news for you. There is no such thing as fairy dust. Unfortunately, the only dust fairies know is dust to dust, just like us.
🤣
Sorry Siri misspelled your name!
It happens!
Ugh, i hate to have it on my watch.
Your haibun is intriguing but to my mind, fairies are immortal 😀 just like imagination.
But Balroop, there are fairy skeletons all over Google ;). I believe that fairies are not immortal, but are more like humans than we know. Thanks for reading!
Lovely story and precious thoughts to go with it.
Thank you so very much!
Oh, my — so tiny and vulnerable!
Yes, I feel as if I should have a little ceremony for her.
By the way, are fairies ever boys? I was thinking about brownies lately, too. Remember those?
Of course there are male fairies–Oberon, for example.
Oh good point. Are there pregnant fairies?
You’ll have to consult an expert. 😂
I do know one. I will ask her.
Oh gosh, no I had never thought of fairy bones. I think I decided they never die – just flit from flower to flower, hiding from us humans with delight. You gave me a whole other perspective. Sad, mournful almost, but also beautiful.
Thank you, Pam! Yes, fairies can have tragedies, too.
That’s sad. They are so light and lovely. May I be lucky enough to find one/some, one day.
I thought I responded to this, but now I don’t see my comment. Maybe your iPad working it’s un-fairy magic? 😂
In any case I love your story, or maybe it really happened . . .
Fairies! I loved your poem, Luanne! You drew me in with the prose, and the poem melted me. Well done!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Thank you, Yvette! I am falling head over heels in love with fairies!
Have you met D.L. Finn yet? If not, you will want to. She is a lover of fairies as well and has written several stories on them. 🙂
I have! I will have to watch for her fairy stories. I noticed that a lot of hers have angels, but I haven’t found the fairies yet!
Here is one for you: https://www.amazon.com/Tree-Fairies-Their-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B095BVNGS5. 🙂
Thank you, Yvette. Just ordered it!
Luanne, this is a wonderful haibun—a true slice of life! What a grand adventure you found within this painting. Monet would have been delighted with your “fairy discovery.” This is so creative. It made my day! ❤️
Thank you so much, Colleen! I was really happy with it. It turned out just as I instinctively wanted it to!
I love when that happens. It’s a good feeling.
This is so beautiful. I looove the depth.
Thank you so much!!
My pleasure.
Hi Luanne, I enjoyed this, very different and appealing. I have finished your poetry book which is also quite extraordinary. I’ll get my review written up hopefully today.
Thank you and thank you, Robbie! So glad you liked it!!!
I’m catching up on my reading. This is beautiful!
Thanks, Robyn. Fairies make such a lovely subject (even dead ones). Hope your beautiful family is doing well!