big tent poetry: Write a travel log in which you encounter a mythical creature and for an extra challenge in haibun form; photo: sculpture, .Baz, flickr
day 5. 5 am. the trek of a lifetime begins. location. a dry airless desert
early morning enters these cloistered walls of shape shifting sand dunes
immediately the mind motor starts to spin tiny sticky secret sightings
footprints passing i’ve awakened the others. ancient baptism beguile
heading towards a gathering, cool clear waters sparkling
submerged under a deep pail pouring—over, saturate and shackle
seeking ablution misty moisture clears the alluvial residue of restraint
day 10. 1 pm. it’s really hot here. location. a dry airless desert
finding a few dry bones beneath a sandcastle sinking
the touch takes a telepathic thunderbolt turn
a sudden request registers roars the surrounding sand blowing shroud
vociferous and unrestrained, i’m talking to a tempest
blown adrift, an impossible power, her reply sui generis
day 12. a million grains of sand erupting. location. a dry airless desert
tumbling towards the hot blazing sun
the dunes erase the graveled highway route
the tempest taunts my travels today
glazing in the glare of her furrowed face
the eyes burn with a stinging bite
the grit of sand’s language she savors the trace
unable to sit she bears her teeth a blustery breeze disturbance
in the folds of cloth’s lucidity sincerity shields my soul
bumpy and unsettling tactics transpose
we continue this tumultuous encounter
day 21. 7 pm. the wind continues. location. within the tempest
a whirl and a mist her breath blows, chewed and charmed the scent of souls
wanderers corralled, lost along their way. when where does she come from i hide in her midst.
running wild wounds
healing sooth salve surrender
savor the escape
*diapedesis, breaking through
sui generis, of its own kind
