Haibun: Erasmus

A longish poem for me and ended with an American Sentence, a departure from the usual ending for a haibun.

“And the passing comet, we wish-would cleanse our earth.” ― Danikelii

C2020 or, the Comet Erasmus, was last seen 2000 years ago. I stood outside for three nights in a row, watching the smudge of it in the early pre-dawn. Since my husband died almost a year ago, I have slept badly, I usually go to sleep around 7:a.m. and awaken about 9:00 a.m. I frequently go outside all times of the year to watch the stars. I read about the comet Erasmus and realized, it was coming to make its presence known, just for me.

I stood outside and watched with my binoculars. I used Venus as the marker to sight my way to this elusive comet. Two thousand years ago! Who knows if the earth will be here when it makes its next pass. The pearly grey sky with the slight tinge of pink at the horizon, barely showing between the trees. An owl hoolted before going to sleep. I was humbled by the comet. I felt so small, so pitiful in my humaness. But we all of us wear comet dust in our hair. We are all of us made of these trailing miracles.

I remember thinking when I was 10 and watching the stars from the roof of our house, gazing at the stars and occasional comet. A comet is just like a cat. They both have tails and do as they wish. –

Traveling light without a sound; we are stardust.