Thursday, April 15, 2010

Poets and Poems - Gene Murtha


Directions

Let us walk for awhile. Bring along the pick ax, spade and knapsack hanging in the shed. You will find them on your right just inside the split barn door.

Walk through the trellis in the rear garden, it is the trailhead that leads through the forest. Be careful, there are roots to your left sticking up from the grade from an old pin oak—I don't want you to spill me, well, not yet.

Follow the trail until two paths merge, then stop. Take the pick and break up the hard pan. You will find ribbons of clay and sand. Mix them together with the shovel to create loam.

Add the ashes from the velvet bag that you will find inside the sack, this will improve the soil too. If you feel inclined to say something over my remains, then, that is fine, but it is not important, since you have done enough.

It will be spring soon. Already, you can hear the chickadees.

recycle day
a washed out worm
in the rain puddle

[Originally published in contemporary haibun online]



If you would like to participate in this series, send a photo of yourself composing a poem or writing or a picture of a location where you enjoy writing, along with one of your poems (the type/genre of poem doesn't matter). This series will allow us to see the various locations that inspire us or where we go to write.

15 comments:

Norman Darlington said...

Love that serene haibun, Gene.

Pamela A. Babusci said...

great haibun, gene!
thanks for sharing!
hugs, pamela

Karen said...

I love the way this haibun unfolds; the haiku makes the perfect ending.
Karen

nora said...

Lovely, Gene. Thank you for brightening a gray Thursday.

marty45 said...

I enjoyed your work thanks for sharing

Anonymous said...

Powerful, Gene!

snowbird said...

"...where the two paths merge..." beautiful line..... Thanks, Merrill

Unknown said...

... touching, Gene and never once a note of false or exaggerated sentiment. Love the 'voice-over' or 'voice in the head', and the haiku fits perfectly.

Unknown said...

I would like to thank Curtis for hosting a series where poets can see their work resurrecked. And thanks forlks for you kind thoughs both on and off list, and to Bill Higginson. I believe this is the last poem that Bill edited of mine before he passed on.

Always,

Gene

Jessie Carty said...

this kind of work and the trailer piece that Curtis sent to me make me really, really, really want to try haibun!

Curtis Dunlap said...

Hi Jessie,

Yes, Gene penned a fine, fine haibun. I've probably read Directions six or seven times this week!

Unknown said...

Basically, a haibun is a journey, and usually, I write a haibun as an narrative, this example happened to be a voice-over
as Lorin explains.

Like a good haiga, the key is to
allow your haiku to unlock another
door.

Carole said...

A favorite of mine, Gene. And it's lovely to see you among all that green. It looks to be an inspiring place to write.

Carole

Pris said...

I just found this, Gene.It's been a while since I've read your work and such a fine haibun here as a treat!

Area 17 said...

Thank you for this original post.

As many of you will now know, Gene passed away yesterday.

I miss you, and so many others will too.

deepest condolences,

Alan, With Words