Whisper Zone

Haiga (or “haiku painting”), by Rick Daddario

Like haiku, haiga focuses on simplicity. 
Economy of words, palette of feelings…

Babaji

He makes his daily rounds, dragging sacks and bags
containing whatever he found - empty bottles, papers, rags.
His eyes are always sad, hands clasped, raised in prayer.
Children torment him if they’re bad; good ones pretend he’s not there.
Like him we pass each day gathering our things,
not realizing what they weigh. The ego stubbornly clings
to its identity. As if in a trance,
The soul lives in captivity, blind to its own existence.

Salima (India)

I am not twenty ~

No longer lean, smooth, unmarked.
Now my body is strong,
still lithe, under a cloak of yielding softness.
My skin is not pearly
in winter.
Nor flawlessly unlined and brown
in summer,
from idle days spent perfecting
just the right look.
My scars, my cicatrices,
both inner and outer
have been earned;
often suffered for.
Reminders of where I have been.
I am not a girl
who falls asleep to dreams of possibilities.
I am a woman
who lives them.
Building on adventures lived,
planning explorations yet to come.
My body, although there is more of it now,
holds my soul.
Be kind.
As I am learning to be.

Gayle Nabrotzky 08/2008

Queen of Shopping-Spree Glee

(Recite to the rhythm of  
“T’was the Night Before Christmas”.)

A roller-shod sprinter practices her stuff,
This “Princess of Plenty” has not got enough,
She’s steady of hand; grabs only the best loot,
From Penney’s and Mervyn’s and Sears to boot.
With coupons and discounts, scrutiny and scanning,
It took months and months of sheer perfect planning.
She widened her scope of specials at Best Buys,
Enlisting all relatives with use of their eyes.
Block Busters and Suncoast are loaded with fun,
Those late fees at Hollywood keep her on the run.
When parking and loading at Zupan’s Market,
She’ll be cocked & aimed; sighted on Target.
As a great shopping warrior, she’ll be on her toes,
Buying gladiator gear at Copeland’s and JOE’s.
Swift as a reindeer, readying her cart,
The “Queen of Quite A Lot” knows just where to start.
Into a Wal-Mart and out in a dash,
With the flick of her card, she doesn’t need cash.
Bed Bath & Beyond sells weapons: broom & toilet brush,
Enforcing “crowd control” in the mad check-stand rush.
Riding escalator banisters to beat the throng,
Heading to Nordstrom’s for stockings and thongs.
P.J.’s and slippers of wolves, seals and teddies,
Will not go unnoticed at Kmart or Freddie’s.
You may scoff at the gall of this shopper… and laugh,
But she’s already gone and hired her own mini-staff.
Through Meier & Frank’s hustle and bustle she’ll fight,
This single-minded woman is a salesclerk’s delight.
As we’re thinking of turkey on Thanksgiving Eve,
Her U-haul is all rented and ready to leave.
The big day arrives; she squeals at pre-flight,
She’s ready to leave before dawn’s early light.
Shopping Spree Glee… whoopieeeeeee!
The final store’s closing, at the stroke of midnight,
With a contented smile, she wishes all a good night.
As we arise the next morning, with a yawn and stretch,
This “Goddess of Way Too Much” has schemed next year’s fetch.

Jadia L. Ward