Picture by Mary
Door County, Wisconsin, on Shore of Green Bay
In the distance a white boat meanders between the summer islands. One can see the gentle rise of river currents and flight of white gulls under the sun. But we know something else is buried beneath the river's tranquil sand. It is heavy of secrets from files of lost and missing individuals. They all point to the river's passage, whether by accident or by design. We patiently comb the river's depths for clues from traces of hair to ropes around the blocks, all summer long.
Months passed, and now we must leave town with our winter boots. Only the red chairs are left, a reminder of what could have been. We vow to come again when its springtime to renew our mission. The silence is deafening but we hear the echoes of the dead souls. Lost in the river's darkness.
no snow dust
nor icy wind on my cheeks-
my wounds are deep & red
Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Haibun Monday - 4, Hosted by Mary ~ Based on Searching for traces of the Missing in Winnepeg's Red River
Powerful!
ReplyDeleteSome secrets sure try and stay buried, or bodies.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the mystery here. We definitely do not know all of the secrets held by winter's darkness. So many dead souls never to be heard from again.....
ReplyDeleteThe echoes of lost souls...lovely!
ReplyDeleteHarder to hide dead secrets in a river than in a bay, but hey, that just deepens the mystery. Love that you went with the red chairs, as I did, & that the first (inacceptable) haibun I posted was an older one about the Red River in TX; synchronicity indeed. Your haiku is excellent, perfect summation.
ReplyDeleteI really like this, Grace! You used the backdrop of the summer islands in a mysterious way that has us want for more of this story.
ReplyDeleteVery mysterious and dark. The red chairs looking out at the river, seeing all and saying nothing. I like the twisty bit on this.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed this, Grace. I don't think you usually write dark and mysterious like this...especially with such sinister undertones. There's always someone who knows something...
ReplyDeleteThis is so chilling - the realization that a beautiful body of water can contain such tragedy. It's always such a surprise to see the many directions that a prompt like this can lead. I especially liked the Haiku.
ReplyDeleteThis is so chilling - the realization that a beautiful body of water can contain such tragedy. It's always such a surprise to see the many directions that a prompt like this can lead. I especially liked the Haiku.
ReplyDeleteFrom water we come
ReplyDeleteto water we go..
without
water we
die.. to
kill in
water sad...
Such irony
iN
giving life..:)
The secrets the body of water can hold, and the way some people need that last moment of parting, a story too common, yet everyone unique... I like the thought of parting and how need that closing, in the haiku... The wounds still raw and red like the chairs and rivers.
ReplyDeleteOoooh, I'd never have expected that. This peaceful, calming image - and then you go and show the possible turmoil, the darkness, the mystery which lies underneath. Very subtle, mere hints, I love the ambiguity in this one. And the spirit of 'trying again' another year.
ReplyDeleteI'm just now reading the story in 'Women Who Run with Wolves' called Cleaning the River/The River Under the River. Can't help wonder if your haibun was inspired by it? If so, returning the comb the river once more seems inevitable.
ReplyDeleteLife will again be born and darkness be gone :)
ReplyDeleteMysterious - I want to know more!
ReplyDeleteWhat else could be buried there.The propensity of discovering a treasure trove would be less likely considering the big area to cover. A map might be useful
ReplyDeleteHank
"We hear the echoes of the dead souls". A wonderful poem, Grace. Too many missing women, everywhere.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, lost with no answers...sigh...no snow could cover this type of wound. Such an imaginative piece, Grace...very believable. :)
ReplyDeleteanother deep carve, into loss, and the passing of time. ~
ReplyDelete