Living in the Light

Lines and Water

At the Chicago Air and Water Show we watch antique planes from World War I go straight up into the air and turn down dizzy across Lake Michigan looping and looping. Then we watch more advanced planes go even higher into the air and turn down looping, pretending to run into each other. They were from World War II. Finally we see planes that could float above the water like a UFO. They move even faster. They were from World War III.

Along the lake we watch seagulls rest one per piling in the water, well-behaved, living in the light, indifferent to the air show, keeping their distances and yet clearly together. Back home I notice that my neighbor’s flower bed is still colorful, but showing its age in the light of summer joy.

PETALS DROP WITH AGE
AUGUST AIR WARMS SEAGULL PEACE
EVEN WE CAN FLY

Linked to dVerse Haibun Monday hosted by Toni with the topic, “What did we you do on your summer vacation?”
Photos: “Lines and Waves” above and “A Neighbor’s Garden” below by the author both linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge with the themes “Living in the Light” or “Rain”.

A Neighbor's Flower Garden

Author: Frank Hubeny

I enjoy walking, poetry and short prose as well as taking pictures with my phone.

47 thoughts on “Living in the Light”

    1. The progression of the show made me realize that technology has advanced very rapidly over past hundred years. The flowerbed is more interesting than the planes. Thanks, Björn!

      Like

  4. I like the way you move from man-made fliers to seagulls, Frank, and that they are resting on the piling – they sit on the groynes here, and sometimes on the buoys – and, of course, the reminder of summer in the flower bed!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Toni! There was only one bird for each piling. I was surprised they didn’t bunch up. Maybe taking off would have been more difficult if they had.

      Like

  9. It’s a beautiful picture of Lake Michigan. We used to like to go to Petoskey & find Petoskey stones. The airshow sounds wonderful. Still, it’s nothing in comparison with the flowers. Great contrast!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We once traveled to Traverse Bay which is where those Petroskey fossils come from if I recall. However, we found more fossils on Green Bay because we spent more time there near Door County. I guess they were all part of coral communities many years ago. Thanks, Walter!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. How exciting to watch that airplane show Frank ~ I also like how the seagulls were indifferent to the air show. Summer blooms are waning but they are still colorful ~

    Liked by 1 person

  13. This haibun is pitch perfect; loved it. Your contrasts and symbolism fit together so well. I dislike large cities any more, so we have driven around Chicago several times, staying out of the traffic & vibe.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We usually avoid going downtown. In this case we parked a few miles north of the event and bicycled along the lake to it. Otherwise the parking would have been difficult and expensive. I am glad you liked the haibun, Glenn!

      Like

    1. It was meant as something of a shock. Perhaps having those planes will be a way to prevent that war from happening. Some of those planes did look surprising. Thanks, Robbie!

      Like

Comments are closed.