Pearls of wisdom (haibun)

It was midnight when she walked home, taking the shortcut behind the counselling centre. A cool soft mist felt good on her face. No moon to light up her path, she tread carefully, stumbling over tree trumps and fallen branches from the long winter that had finally passed. As she reached the street, she noticed the street lights were out and blackness shielded her way.

Suddenly, there was loud crack in the sky. She counted “One thousand and one, one thous…” the sky lit up telling her the lightening was fairly close. Grandmaman always said, “Si tu es en vélo ou tu as des semelles en caoutchouc l’éclair ne te touchera pas.” Well, now, who could argue with Grandmaman! For once she was happy to be wearing her Hunter boots she had just purchased. It was a frivolous expense but the money was a present for her milestone birthday.

Now the rain began to pour and she knew running would not stop her from getting soaked, so she walked at a slow pace, lifting her face to the sky letting the raindrops cleanse her weariness.

treading through darkness
allowing thoughts to simmer
draped in its safety

Faces of youths flashed in her mind, their voices expressing their pain. Sadness, confusion and hopelessness proclaiming their needs turning into a cacophony until all she could decipher was a steady rumble.

Another crack erupted from the sky and turned into an explosion of lights. Just as she was entering the Métro, she sighed…who knew?

nature takes its course
granting ever so wisely,
what we need

Like thousands of empty shells until you find a pearl of enlightenment, darkness can be your friend.

©Tournesol’17/03/30