The sky parted with tiny drizzles, hesitant as to how they would be received. Finding no resistance, the sky poured with audacity. Birds flew to their nests, except one. This was a tiny sparrow, seemingly having no nest of its own, decided to take shelter in my balcony. I waved my hands, trying to shoo it away. It flew away and returned, continuing this act for a few minutes.

“Let it be.” said my little brother. “What does it eat?”

He got cooked rice from the kitchen and left some in the balcony. The sparrow looked at the rice, while eying us suspiciously. We left the balcony and forgot the sparrow. But, we found it in the evening in the huge neem tree, sharing grains of rice with another sparrow.

Rain parts with earth

grains of friendship

take root in balcony

I prepare for my next act while awaiting my girlfriend. The fresh field whispers to me as do a pair of giggling voices.  Those two girls whom I noticed during my fire-eating act are here again, looking at me. My girlfriend joins me. She immediately enquires if I was eying the two girls, instead of congratulating me on my previous performance. I shrug and pretend disinterest. This is the best thing to do. A vehement denial could prove that I am lying and an acknowledgement would provoke her insane jealousy. If she prods further, I would turn further irritated. But, she drops the topic as we prepare for our fire act.

Hawk watches

love birds

half-hidden behind leaves

Hi Friends,

We are back to celebrate Ligo Haibun special with you. Ligo (Jāņi), celebrated from June 23rd to June 24th, is the world’s largest festival of nature. It takes place in Latvia, and definitely outside the capital, Riga. Līgo, pronounced [Ligwa], is also the name of our Weekly Līgo Haibun Challenge, and because this week coincides with the Līgo festival, we have a Līgo special. Now on to the challenge, in which we also have prizes for the haibun selected for the Honourable Mentions in Dispatches.

• This week you are required to choose TWO of the visuals in the slideshow below, and write a haibun using each one in your haibun. The two visuals can, and should ‘interact’ in your haibun. I have uploaded 17 images. To view the other images, do visit Pirate’s blog
• Your haibun should have ‘nature’ or an aspect of nature as a general theme
• Do not write anything about Līgo – which would be too difficult in context and stylistically

Good luck!

Add your haibun to the link below.

Now, getting to the honourable mentions for this week:

Sarah Ann Hall: It is not just the humans, but the nature and animals too long for the sun. Don’t miss Sarah Ann’s powerful haibun on sun.

KZ: A young girl leads the crowd with optimism and hope in dark times. Amazing descriptions and haibun

Reading Pleasure: A woman crushed by poverty and desperation. A perfect closing haiku to the narrative

Anja: The sun dances and the nature waits to be admired. But, life is not the same for a woman who moans the loss of her lover. Expressed beautifully in Anja’s haibun.

Jules: Historical facts coupled with deep thinking gives out a unique message

Kir: Just walk with the tow-headed boy to feel his enthusiasm and excitement.

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The Sun

The bitter hungry sun bursts from the sky, malignantly burning everything in sight. This reminds me of my hometown, But, the sun is the only common factor. Everything else is foreign to me – the order, cleanliness and shining roads. People are friendly and the doors are open, but their hearts are unfortunately closed to me. I do not long for the muddy roads of my hometown, but just the sense of belonging.

Foreign shores

crude closeness wins over

distant politeness