tinywords

Learning English

passing clouds
the changing colours
of bougainvillea

Opening grandmother’s handmade notebook at C, I find a carob pod and recall her story about John the Baptist subsisting on its fruit. At M, her favourite culinary herb, a sacred myrtle leaf. Certain of an olive leaf, I turn to O and imagine those maroon orbs bobbing in brine. At J, a sweet fragrance rises from the page; I see her gathering fresh sprigs, pockets stashed with jasmine.

marginalia
vines entwining
cursive script

(Originally appeared as an Honourable Mention in the Genjuan International Haibun Contest, 2015.)