The farmhouse rests on a flat, grain-growing, dusty, wonderful world. I am three. Outside I want to meet the dog who guards the farm.
Then I am on the ground. Someone says they will shoot that dog. Another stitches my eyebrow and cheek. I did not mean to frighten him.
BUSY BUTTERFLIES
LAZY BRUSH AND QUIET AIR
LIZARD RUNS AWAY
Written for dVerse Haibun Monday 28.
Poetry, Short Prose and Walking 
Superb prose, very succinct and just the right amount of suspense ~ I fear those big dogs when I was young ~
Love your haibun ~
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I hope nothing happened to that dog, but at three, I don’t really know what happened. I remember feeling responsible for what might have happened to him even at that age.
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Poor dog. He was probably just trying to be friendly. I hope no one actually shot him. That would be too sad.
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I hope not either, but I don’t know. My main memory of the event was not being bit, but sensing that I might have indirectly harmed the dog by getting hurt.
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I guess he was just doing his job. Poor little boy – someone should have taught you about the guarding dog. But do three year old kids listen?
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I think I just wanted to play with the dog, but I am not even sure of that anymore.
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Oh dear. A lesson learned and well remembered.
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I don’t know if I learned my lesson. I still assume a dog won’t bite. I have very little fear of them. My main memory of this dog is the threat I heard to kill the dog because I was hurt. That is the last thing I wanted to see happen even at that young age.
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succinct
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Thank you!
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Wow, talk about succinct and implied meaning – you are a master at this!
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Thank you!
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This is most excellent… what a story and a memory. The terse prose added so much to the tension,
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Thank you! It was longer and then I recalled the directions to make it short and so I set a limit of 50 words for the prose part.
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Less is more here……every boy must have a story….and the emotions must stick with one forever!
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I am surprised I remember anything from that period of time. Thanks!
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Interesting. Well written.
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Thank you!
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You nailed the haibun form….terse, descriptive, written in first person and present-tense. Wonderfully executed.
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Thank you! I think I like it terse as well. At first I wasn’t sure if cutting out words was good or not.
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A very succinct haibun and I too hope that the dog’s guarding behaviour was understood for what it was.
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I don’t know what happened to the dog, but I do remember worrying about him even at that age. I remember wishing nothing had happened to me for his sake rather than mine.
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The tight prose is just right…and that a child has the burden of an adults outburst and carries the guilt for what may or not happen….well, you tell it with great simplicity and truth.
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I had a longer version, but then I realized I didn’t really remember all the details in that longer version. And so I kept cutting out stuff. Thanks!
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Nice tight writing, Frank. Sorry for the little boy that was you, and sorry for the dog.
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The little boy still likes dogs. Thank you!
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So well told in its brevity…you gave us just the needed info to get the story told. I hope no harm came to the dog who was only doing his job…guarding the farm.
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I hope so, too, but I don’t know what happened to him. It amazes me that I’ve wondered about him for so many years. Thank you!
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kaykuala
Then I am on the ground.
Someone says they will shoot that dog
The dog must have ben happy to play with a 3 year old. Hope nothing untoward happened after that!
Hank
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It is amazing to me that as a three year old I remember that threat to the dog’s life. I don’t know what happened to him. Thanks!
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Wow…so much said in so little space. Well played Frank.
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Thank you!
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Hope the pup is ok!
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I don’t really know what happened to the dog, but my family didn’t hunt and I don’t know who would have shot the dog. It may have been a rash comment someone made. I do remember hearing it and hoping nothing happened to the dog.
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