AHippyElephantCant hide his excitement
He recognises a place he has been man
He is all too aware
It is difficult to share
The memories of beauty and love he groks at that scene man
This week’s Līgo Haībun Challenge comes courtesy of the delightful Penny, assisted, one assumes, by Nightlake and The Pirate.
Copyright Penny L Howe 2013
The hippy kid arrives in San Francisco at last, forty-five years later.
He has a gnawing fear, unfounded, that he is too late.
The city is everything he expects, everything he dreams of and believes in.
He breakfasts in Union Square, rides a cable car all the way to the stars, has conversations with the concierge, an artist, and his server.
He is immediately at home and at peace.
He walks the famous bridge, and is enthralled by its majesty.
He takes a boat ride round the bay, and visits the notorious Rock.
He is thrilled by all of it.
He takes her hand as they walk through the park at Fort Mason.
They have their picture taken on Marina Boulevard with the Golden Gate as backdrop.
But the Exploratorium takes him completely by surprise.
The Greek-style architecture is amazing, the statues wonderful and the lakeside setting breath-taking.
She smiles gently at his confusion, at his mild embarrassment at being so unaware of this masterpiece of Ancient Europe in the heart of Modern America.
beauty and dreams
never die
make love not war
Sound Bite Fiction 
Very cleverly done, and I like the juxtaposed misfit idea..We’ll be doing the Honourable Mentions in Dispatches on a monthly basis soon, which should work well, with continued weekly challenges. .
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Your comments are much appreciated, although AnElephantCant help pointing out that the juxtaposed misfit is, in his case, less an idea than a reality!
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I was a misfit of the 1960’s in:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_Village
Hip Hip hooray. It was a different time then…
Cheers. Jules
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You a misfit?
C’mon, Jules, AnElephant bets you were cool!
Hugs
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Nah, misfit. More with the out-crowd than the in-crowd. But maybe that was a saving grace? Left me time too brood and brew my words… and maybe not get into things one ought not get into…That’s where I fit best daydreaming and penning them, them words that is.
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wonderful haibun 🙂
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Wonderful comment!
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i tried to leave a reply but do not know if it went through…love your Hip haibun is what i said. ♥
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Don’t know where it went, probably wandering happily around etherspace chatting to all the other lost comments and emails.
But thank you for trying again, and glad you liked Hip Haibun!
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…and i am sure this “lost space” is full of them. ha-ha 🙂
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I recall what you wrote recently and it really made a lot of sense to me regarding the haibun, also the piece that nightlake recommended you read, had similar ideas. Sometimes a haibun emits more powerful emotions when the writer does not write from a first person perspective. Releasing the writers ability to be more revealing with emotions. As is the case here. A trip long waited for and finally realized. An excellent haibun and haiku!
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Thank you again, Penny.
AnElephant feels validated when his writing is supported and praised by you.
And the trip may have been long awaited, but it was gloriously worth it, no disappointment anywhere.
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Flowers in her hair,
flowers everywhere.
Hope she made you
happy, happy, happy?
Love your peace. From one old hippy to another! x
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AnElephant loves The Flower Girl!
And his sister Willow.
Happy Hippy Hugs.
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The narrative is strong and has a personal touch to it, despite not being in the first person and a haiku with message. enjoyed reading:)
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Glad you liked, Nightlake.
AnElephant still believes what you sent him to read, that the first person can sound self-serving.
Emotions are more easily and honestly expressed – for him at least – in the third.
Your comments are as always very much appreciated.
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A great piece of peace!
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Thank you, RoSy.
Peace and love to you.
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Peace, love, and fog on elephant feet, man!
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Stay cool, sister.
Thanks and hugs.
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I like the opening line. It arouses my curiosity. And I also like how the haiku sends us back to the hippie theme evoked at the beginning. Well-crafted!
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How very kind of you.
For many of us old hippies San Francisco is always our Mecca.
Glad you enjoyed.
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HFAR loves San Francisco too! Excelle !nt
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Glad you liked.
San Fran is wonderful, is it not!
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An excellent piece 🙂
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Thanks, Alastair, it is such a recent and happy memory that it was a joy to write.
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I remember last year, or earlier this year you went to Stan Fran’s Disco. Those kind of memories stay for a long while
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I like this piece very well written. I like phrases like: She smiles gently at his confusion; the whole concept of a gentle smile intrigues me.
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Thank you, sometimes a smile is radiant, sometimes beaming, and sometimes gentle and understanding.
These are qualities much required when dealing with old hippies and Elephants!
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