Haibun Monday arrives at dVerse Poets Pub and our host, Frank Tassone, asks that we celebrate the spirit of Halloween by facing its heart: Fear! The ancient Celts recognized the transitions of light that occurred during this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere. The days grow noticeably shorter. As peak foliage passes, leaves fall, leaving naked boughs and spindly branches like arboreal skeletons across the landscape. ... Small wonder, then, that the Celts believed this time of year to be the one where the veil between living and dead was at its thinnest. Samhain, their celebration of the new year, was one where they placated their departed with feasts in halls that remained locked until dawn. Now, we can scoff at the anxiety of ancient people. But we have our own fears, don’t we?
News on the tube dazes & amazes
Makes one fear life for days on end
Brutal films pierce our tranquil esse
Leaving us pain not soon to mend
On its axis Earth’s rotating
Sun in 25-day-spins pirouettes
The planets orbit while whirling
Nicolaus Copernicus smokes a cigarette
age of fear desensitizing ask for more
*
brute fiction to dodge non-fiction you are here
Mayhem, gore, and our proclivity for more mayhem and gore: this is what I fear.
While at Earthweal, in their weekly challenge, APPROACHING SAMHAIN, they explore the tradition with celebration. Sarah Connor says: I came across a beautiful notion when looking at Samhain/Halloween/Day of the Dead traditions. The word "guest and the word "ghost" both come from the German word geist — a spirit invited to join the feasting on the Day of the Dead. That says to me that we can open our arms and our hearts to the uncomfortable and the uncanny. We can accept the dark gifts they bring — introspection, reflection, mourning, the discomfort of rebirth. So for this Samhain, perhaps you could think about what you have lost— willingly or unwillingly?
I adore both notions. Adore them! and I’m linking up to both websites. Thanks,
both!
Photo: Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
Happy Samhain celebrating, everyone. Be safe. I wish you miracles.
I’m a simple woman who dares to see the beauty in ordinary. I’d love to connect with you and like pen pals, I want something beautiful to blossom between us. Will you join me? Selma is my middle name. Its meaning—peaceful, complete, are euphoric affirmations I like to think of myself as having. They compliment the joy I feel when I write. I sincerely hope you decide to join me on my writing journey. I Wish You Miracles.
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Desensitize, bamboozled with lies, reality brutalized. We are slowly going mad I fear!
Indeed, Rob Kistner, at an alarming rate. Mad!
Thanks for stopping here and commenting.
Lead me to your work please. Show me your words.
Be well. I wish you miracles.
We are desensitized by the boob tube, we let it happen in slow degrees. My father was wise in banning television from our house. It took many years for my siblings and me to appreciate that wisdom.
Your father knew something even then. How very cool.
But what ‘we are exposed to and in a way allowing the boob tube to do to us’ is way too sad. We need to reclaim our essence. It’s my prayer.
Thanks so much for adding your voice here, dear Yvonne. Thanks so much. I appreciate you. Be well. I wish you miracles. 🤗
Brilliant image of Copernicus. Love the final stanza to be present amongst the fiction and nonfiction.
Hello, K. so glad you picked up on the fiction/nonfiction part. And Copernicus. Sometimes the muse surprises. I’m so happy you read and commented. It always lights me up for days, I tell you. Thanks most kindly. Be well. xo
Boob Tube is the best best description of our TV obsession. Mine is on for morning news (Public TV) and music reigns loud and clear the remainder of the day. Love your haibun.
Hello Helen, I haven’t had the pleasure of a visit in weeks. Thrilled you came today, sweet lady. Thanks so much. That boob tube is hazardous, indeed. Be well, dear one. Stay sweet.
‘Nicolaus Copernicus smokes a cigarette’ – what a great image! Desensitization seems a sensible thing to fear…especially as we are desensitized to our wanton destruction of the environment!
It’s a serious problem, indeed. Desensitized to things that are the roots of our very existence. Wish I had a superpower that could reach people on that level.
Oh, so thrilled you like that part with the cigarette. Thanks for pointing it out. I’m so flattered coming from you. xo
I wonder where we are going… I rarely watch TV… but I can still feel the gradual change.
TV watching is not my thing either. And more so in present day. So much has changed and too quickly in the wrong direction. If only we can bring about the right change for our environment soon. Björn, thanks for visiting and commenting. I appreciate you. xo