The broom rests against the vinyl siding adjacent to the storm door. Its yellow bristles scatter out like unkempt hair from one side. A black foam guard overlays a gray plastic staff. Mira steps outside, chattering with her sister overseas. She sweeps curled, yellowing maple leaves on-handed as she converses about God-knows-what in Portuguese. Even though the sun hasn’t set, crickets sing as a passing train and highway traffic drone on. She finishes sweeping, then heads inside.
Our friend M. once left her broom next to her back door. Her army-wife neighbors told her that is what military spouses do when their “backdoor man” is in!
I’m confident I don’t have that problem.
early twilight
rustling steps on
fallen leaves
Photo by Saskia Wustefeld
first published in Image Curve, September 3, 2020
for Poets and Storytellers United’s Writers’ Pantry #36: Change of Season (posted by Rosemary)
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Frank J. Tassone 
I was amused at the “backdoor story”. I loved it all!
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Smiling here! Thanks, Frank.
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I never heard of the broom/backdoor man story. But I do remember talks about certain spouses having codes–lights, open or closed doors. I still don’t understand why a cheater would have a sign up to announce their partner in crime was in–then again, cheaters aren’t known for their sense.
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Nice Haibun I had to look up the word backdoor man We don’t have a word like that in Dutch
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Love the haiku. The broom tale is interesting /amusing, and as Magaly points out, perhaps not very practical.
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Ha ha.. that’s an interesting haibun!
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This really was a great laugh to imagine the scene!
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