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The Beauty of the Night: a haibun

The Beauty of the Night

The Beauty of Night | Digital oil painting©️Lesley Scoble
I am on holiday in the sub-tropics and have enjoyed a long evening at a local bar with friends.

I stagger through some long grass. It’s not quite a stagger, more of a lurch (I blame that last ouzo I drank) and I weave a zig-zag path through a field of wild grasses. I’ve mislaid my friends. They could still be in the bar, as far as I know.

I stumble and topple onto my back. I can’t believe how many stars I can see. Where I live, the sky is not dark enough. City lights pollute the sky. Wow! It’s so beautiful. I wonder how the moon is so big and bright. By Jupiter! Is that Jupiter up there?

Dark night lit by stars
Mountains in deep silhouette
Nature’s secret cloak

I try to stand but decide the beauty of the night needs further study, and stay where I am, reclining among the fragrant grasses that are swaying in gentle waves all around me. A soft breeze combs through my hair. The scent of nighttime flowers waft upon the tropical air and lulls me with their perfume into a perfect euphoria.

I close my eyes. Cicadas chirr in the stillness of the warmth that surrounds me.

Chirrups in moonlight
Sussuration of grasses
Play a sweet nocturne

I can hear a bell ringing with a gentle tone in the distant hills; and imagine the bell that must hang from the neck of a mountain goat… or a cow grazing in the night. Ding… ding… ding.

The beauty of night is a symphony.
~

Lesley Clare Scoble, June 2024

Cow bell audio

“I imagine the bell that must hang from the neck of a mountain goat… or a cow grazing in the night. Ding… ding… ding.”

Grasses in the Wind at Night

Listen to the cicadas

I wrote my haibun, The Beauty of the Night in response to the W3 Prompt #112 hosted by David, The Skeptics Kaddish. The Poet of the Week is Jude Itakali who invites us to write a haibun on the theme of Beauty of the Night, with at least three onomatopoeia words in it. Thank you, Jude, for your beautiful prompt.
My thanks to David, as always.

Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. An artist, actor and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture won the V&A inspired by… Award). Scenic artist & book illustrator, playwright (her musical play, Rapscallion performed in inner city schools and theatre school); TV dancer; Animator and illustrator for TV production. Set up Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd drama and filmmaking workshops in London – producing award-winning films made by children.

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31 responses to “The Beauty of the Night: a haibun”

  5. A wonderful haibun, Lesley. I loved the transitions so much. I too have written a bit about the bar but I may not finish in time to put it on Mr. Linky.

    I really enjoyed yours. Time for me to ponder on my choice for poet of the week

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Lesley, reading your post and enjoying your art and the sounds of nature was a holiday for me. 🥰 Thank you very much! If you are on holiday, then safe travels and thank you for bringing us with you! 💗

    Liked by 1 person

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