AnElephantCant claim to have wisdom
After all he is practically wild
But even he can learn
So his thoughts take a turn
When he listens to the words of a child
This week’s Līgo Haībun Challenge comes courtesy of the wonderful Penny, in cahoots with her cool companions Nightlake and The Pirate.
Copyright: David Thoughts From The Outdoors
Conversation with a Grandson
I was just about your age when we moved to South Africa.
We lived in a place called Isipingo Beach, a little village which sat high on a bluff overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Oh, a bluff is a headland, steep and rocky, with the river and the ocean bordering it on two, maybe two and a half sides.
It was great, we pretty much ran wild, had a freedom that is not possible living in a city nowadays like you do.
I remember that the playing fields were just outside the village, at the foot of the hill, obviously, where the ground was flat.
That’s where we played rugby, soccer, field hockey, cricket, whatever!
There was only one road in and out of the village and it was a long way round to get to the pitches, so we would just go down through the woods.
Yes, I would go through the woods by myself, it wasn’t really so scary!
Maybe a hundred yards or so, and quite steep.
But the exciting part, at least for a wee Scots laddie, was that there were monkeys!
Of course they were in the trees!
And they were never happy.
They would chatter loudly, leaping up and down, and hurling stuff at whoever was passing.
Stuff like twigs, fruit, berries, faeces ….
Pooh.
Yes, really!
Why?
Now that is a good question.
I guess because they didn’t like strangers intruding on their territory.
You are very wise, Grasshopper, they acted just like some people do, people who are afraid of anything or anyone different.
to be different
is not a crime
but a blessing
An excellent haibun. And to me, more importantly a wonderful read and great share. I really enjoyed both your story and the accompanying haiku! 🙂 xo
a wise grandparent…makes for a wise child later. i love your haibun offering. ♥
Isn’t it fun to turn those memories into Haibun? Nicely done. It IS ok to be different! 🙂
great memories
Niiice – & the haiku at the end ties it up so well!
Dare to be different, yet do stay just the lovable way you are, sweet Elephant.
I couldn’t post at WP this week as the form wouldn’t co-operate…
I was influenced by a day in the kitchen…
http://julesgemsandstuff.blogspot.com/2013/08/just-saying-concrete-haibun-for.html
Wonderful.
Great message – really nice atmosphere and tone in this recounting of childhood, and superb symbiosis that is almost a parable. Nice, straightforward haiku, a style I personally like most, without crazed, tongue-twisting dictionary-leaning syllable-laden lexicon…
Lovely story sir elephant. Those memories and places are special. You have captured them well.