#Haiku Happenings #6: Robert Davey’s #haibun appears in Blythe Spirit!

After visiting my mother in hospital I drove to see my sister, who lives in the next county. Ellen no longer sees Mum.

I took Ellen to Hay-on-Wye for the afternoon. With summer long over the town was almost empty. We explored the quiet streets and tourist shops.

chained

outside the souvenir shop

a glowering totem pole

In a second hand book shop we browsed in the children’s book section. On a shelf of Ladybird books Ellen grabbed a copy of “Things to Do and Make”. ‘I had this one!’ she said. Despite being about fifty years old it was in perfect condition.

We looked through the colourful pages, at the toys that could be made at home with cardboard, elastic bands and cotton reels. There were windmills, marionettes, boats and gadgets, delighting the illustrated girl and boy in their immaculate home. Between us Ellen and I had managed to make most of the toys.

After Ellen had bought the book we drove up Hay Bluff in the late autumn sunshine. From the car park we took in the panorama of the Black Mountains, Ross-on-Wye, the vast Welsh landscape and the Bluff itself, rising into cloudless blue. Sheep and ponies were grazing around us. We wanted to climb the Bluff but I did not have time.

on the hillside

two distant walkers

ascend to the sky

Things to Do and Make – Reseeding Infinity