Number the Octobers that have risen and set
since last I fingered the vertebrae of the galaxy
as it ribbed across the midnight blue,
(my favorite in the box of 64 with a sharpener)
How many yellow-orange halogen glows
super-center the corroded sky, denying
my telescope little more than
Love’s pearl white disc
burnt sienna Bradbury imaginings of
rings and Europa?
What is our fear worth?
Bittersweet unheard colors
Earth’s forest green cry
© Jilly’s All Rights Reserved
Posted for Frank J. Tassone’s Haikai Challenge #4 referencing or using the word Darkness. My thanks to Frank for indulging my resistance to restraint and encouraging me to play with the limits on Japanese poetic forms.
Jilly's 
I love this! You addressed the scared-of-the-dark light pollution we have created; so many people would lose their minds if they saw what the night sky really looks like! You wrote cleverly around the issue as you colored outside the lines for your haibun. Worthy Haiku, Jill!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Charley! I have a great longing to go somewhere in which the Milky Way is visible – it has been too many years since I have seen it and that yearning birthed this poem.
LikeLike
I know what you mean. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it… bare eyes and all! (My bare eyes… not the Milky Way’s!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely write, Jilly. The phrase ‘ the vertebrae of the galaxy’…..dreamy. You certainly give my brain a workout when i read your poems. Ended on a great haiku. You get an A!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Vivian! I always wanted to have straight A’s – alas, ’twas not in the stars for me. tee hee 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then please accept mine. They’re from my heart 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh! Oooh! “since last I fingered the vertebrae of the galaxy”!! And unheard colors in the Haiku!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
And what is our fear worth? Good question. Love the way that hangs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That first and last lines were originally switched – my writing partner suggested this order. What say you? (at the very least, I’m pleased that I could swap them!)
LikeLike
I like it posed first (as is), but would have been fine in either position.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful write – my favourite in this lovely jewel of verse – ‘the Bradbury imaginings of
rings and Europa?’ – wicked 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I’m Bradbury fan, so he fell in there easily.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Frank J. Tassone and commented:
#Haiku Happenings #9: Jilly write’s a beautifully poetic #haibun for my #haikai challenge 4!
LikeLiked by 1 person
…and my Monday just got WAY cooler! Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, Jilly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post. You make the point about light pollution so eloquently. If you get a chance please check out a post a wrote on the same topic
https://thesciencegeek.org/2015/10/24/dark-skies/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person