Reflections at the River

A Haibun

A warm summer evening chases us down to the river. We brought a small grill, some hot dogs with fixings and a cooler of beer. With hot dogs roasting, we put out lounge chairs under a large oak tree. Settle in with beers and listen to the cicadas singing.

It has been a long time, just her and I alone together this way. Carefree and chatty. Our lives have become burdens, troubled — unlike the slow moving river we watch from our chairs.

calming reflections stones skipped across the river our burdens unfurled

With bellies full, we take blankets to the river bank and watch the moon rise. Fireflies dance around us as we talk of simpler days — long nights at the coffee house listening to slam poets and even longer days at Uni. We’d made time for our crafts, letting the rest of the world take care of itself. She, an artist; I, a writer.

penning poetry dabbling with watercolors artist lives fulfilled

But that was a long time ago. No longer the vagabonds of our youth, we sigh as memories overtake us. Soon, the moon has risen high in the sky and the world around us beckons once again. We stand, take blankets, chairs, grill and cooler back to the truck, but before we go, we look out across the river one last time. It may be years before we get this chance again.

Indigo river silvery strands glistening Luna’s reflection

©2020 Lori Carlson. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to Brett Christensen for the 13th June 2020 Haiku/Tanka prompt “reflect ”

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Lori Carlson writes poetry, fiction, articles and personal essays. Most of her topics are centered around Relationships, Spirituality, Life Lessons, Mental Health, and the LGBTQ+ community. She currently writes for Loose Words,💜POM💜 , Illumination, The Friday Fix, House of Haiku, Know Thyself, Heal Thyself, The Purple Pen, Blue Insights, a Few Words and Invisible Illness