Today’s NaPoWriMo prompt was to write a haibun. Surprisingly, given the number of haiku I’ve written over the years, this is a first for me:

Empty Pockets

A mile walk from the bagel shop to the tidal river, and all the walkers and their dogs are out on the first warm Saturday of spring. Everyone talks like best friends long missed. Briny ocean breeze teases dreams of an early wishful-thinking summer while English bulldogs sniff the back ends of passing Goldens. Neighbors gawk like tourists from the bridge – the cormorant goes under for the fish while spectators guess where he’ll come up next. It’s never where you’d think.

Stomachs growl
after the walk – alas
pockets are empty