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The Art of Dying: A Haibun

Jan 5

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One day I will practice the art of dying. Darkness will gain the upper hand. No one will ring mournful bells from the church spire to announce my passing. While feuds and wars continue on Earth, I will be at peace, having slipped away into a wild and wonderful place. No more false living for me!

Tattered butterfly,
tell me again the reason
nothing stays the same.

 
  

Haibun © 2020 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More Sunday’s Whirligig #247
 
More Writers’ Pantry #1 at Poets and Storytellers United

 

Posted in 5-7-5, haibun, haiku, Sunday's Whirligig, Writers' Pantry

23 Comments

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The Parting

Dec 30

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“I know that I will miss you,” he said with a slight shrug.
“But the cat has lost its tail, there’s darkness on the rug,
And cruelty is sport for fools, of which I am one;
Better we should part this day, and let the deed be done.”
 
“I will not discourage you,” she said without a sigh.
“You’ve been just short of horrible in all the years gone by.
You thought that I was fragile, you thought I was a toad,
But I withstood your onslaughts—now go, and hit the road!”

 
Poem © 2018 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More Sunday’s Whirligig #194

Posted in light verse, Rhyming poetry, Sunday's Whirligig

4 Comments

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Spaces

Feb 7

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photo DSC_0170201_zpsmnwvrwtj.jpg
A red leaf among pine debris, Lockett Meadow Campground, Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona, autumn 2016
 


On the forest floor
even hidden spaces hold
both darkness and light.

 
Photo and haiku © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More Macro Monday 2
 
More Ruby Tuesday Too
 
More Midweek Motif at Poets United: “Space”

Posted in 5-7-5, Arizona, Coconino National Forest, Macro Monday 2, Midweek Motif, Poets United, Ruby Tuesday Too

14 Comments

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Light

Jan 2

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photo IMG_2188_zpshssflmab.jpg
A Yuma County, Arizona home still glows with Christmas lights in 2017.
 


Though Christmas is past,
light still shines in the darkness
of a desert night.

 
Haiku and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More Blue Monday

Posted in 5-7-5, Arizona, Blue Monday, Christmas, haiku, Yuma County

2 Comments

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Enough

Dec 22

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photo DSC_0294_zps58xwhlul.jpg
Decorative candles on a church wall, Yuma County, Arizona
 


only a candle
to drive away the darkness
but it is enough

 
Haiku and photo © 2016 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Posted in 5-7-5, Arizona, Carpe Diem, church, Yuma County

4 Comments

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Hyperbole

Nov 23

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photo b2304b8c-b3ca-4e3b-a3ee-7edf3e95c83e_zpshrtz2qkb.jpg
A section of a church bookshelf

 
Many years ago I was invited to teach an adult Sunday school class. I read the text that we were supposed to discuss, the words of Jesus from Luke 14:26: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
 
“This is an example of hyperbole,” I said. “Jesus is exaggerating for the sake of emphasis. He doesn’t really expect you to hate those who are near and dear to you.”
 
Willard bristled at my statement. “My Bible says that you have to hate them,” he said.
 
“It’s a figure of speech,” I countered. “Can you follow Jesus and hate your wife?”
 
“It’s not a figure of speech,” Willard insisted. “It says hate and it means hate.”
 
The rest of the class grew increasingly uneasy as Willard and I traded verbal blows.
 
At last I said, “I guess we’re just going to have to agree to disagree.” And I moved on.
 


one way to the light
goes through the house of darkness—
I open the door

 
Haibun and photo © 2016 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More Ruby Tuesday Too
  
More Midweek Motif at Poets United: “Hyperbole”

Posted in 5-7-5, haibun, haiku, Midweek Motif, Poets United, Ruby Tuesday Too

13 Comments

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Hem

Jul 8

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Anado's Virgin
Virgin of Guadalupe candelabrum by artist Anado McLauchlin, La Cieneguita, Guanajuato, México
 


the hem of her dress
blazing a way through darkness
thread by slender thread

 
Haiku © 2016 and photo © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More Haiku My Heart at Recuerda Mi Corazon

Posted in 5-7-5, Anado McLauchlin, Guanajuato, haiku, Haiku My Heart, La Cieneguita, Mexico, Recuerda Mi Corazon

8 Comments

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Downplay

May 7

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photo DSC_0264201_zpsohbovd1h.jpg
Discarded materials from a construction site gathering evening shadows, Southern Arizona
 
 


In a box of castoff wood,
Shadows do what shadows should:
Downplay darkness, accent light,
Making all the world seem right.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 


Shadows find homes in strange places.

 
 
Text and photo © 2016 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More Six-Word Saturday
 
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Posted in Arizona, Rhyming poetry, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Six-Word Saturday, Sonoran Desert, Southern Arizona

16 Comments

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Warrior

Apr 17

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Tiny guardian photo DSC_0077_zpsat0q9hak.jpg
Yuma Pioneer Cemetery, Yuma, Arizona
 


holy warrior
doing battle with darkness
at a loved one’s grave

 
 
Haiku and photo © 2016 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More Blue Monday
 
More Macro Monday 2
 
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Posted in 5-7-5, Arizona, Blue Monday, Macro Monday 2, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Yuma, Yuma Pioneer Cemetery

7 Comments

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Riddle

Mar 26

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photo DSC_0035_zpsfpn4avn8.jpg
Yuma Pioneer Cemetery, Yuma, Arizona
 


The shadows are long, the cross is askew;
What Death has accomplished, who can undo?
 
A riddle, I think, whose answer is right:
Forsaking all darkness, look to the Light.

 
Poem and photo © 2016 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
More Poetry Pantry #295
 
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Posted in Arizona, poetry, Poetry Pantry, Poets United, Rhyming poetry, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Yuma, Yuma Pioneer Cemetery

22 Comments

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