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”.
Apologies for the confusion in the prompts, I’m hopeful we’ll have everything back to normal by Friday. Great photos, thanks, those flowers are so vibrant.
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No problem about the prompts. I’m glad you liked the photos, Dale!
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A wonderful haibun Frank and I love your last line especially ‘EVEN WE CAN FLY’ :o)
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Thanks, Xenia! The seagulls weren’t impressed by our flying ability. I was glad I wasn’t in one of those planes.
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I felt a chill down my spine on world war III…. just hope that it doesn’t go any further. The getting back to the flowerbed i have a feeling it feels different.
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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!
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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!
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Thanks, Kim! The seagulls are more graceful when they fly and less noisy. My neighbor’s flowers bloom all summer.
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It must have been amazing watching those planes above the water. But those gulls! And the flower bed! Lovely. Excellent work Frank. I love the last line of your haiku.
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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.
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You are probably right about their flying.
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Perfect haiku for the prose! Having grown up in Waukegan, Illinois, it’s nice to see Lake Michigan again 🙂
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Lake Michigan is amazing. It is like an ocean. It may even have sharks for all I know since I don’t swim. Thanks, Lillian!
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Yes, yes, yes. You hit it Frank. The key word is “Fly”, which locks in so much of the story.
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Yes, it all ties in with flying except for the flowers which are sort of flying away with the summer. Thank you!
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Lovely, and very much how it is at this time of year.
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Thank you, Alison! It is a nice time of year.
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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!
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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!
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Never knew about Green Bay. Traverse City is a beautiful resort
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Fantastic, Frank! Again, as Dale said, sorry for the confusion on the prompt!
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No problem! I hope Dale has his new site set up the way he wants it. Thanks!
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I’m pretty sure he done now.
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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 ~
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The blooms are still beautiful. The birds did not seem to pay attention to the planes and some of those planes were noisy. Thanks, Grace!
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Beautiful Frank. I love the show of progress yet not a progress at all. The seagulls are in the light.
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Thank you, Hélène! I am glad to see you active on your blog again. Best wishes!
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Thank you Frank.
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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.
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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!
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Haibun! Lines, waves and flying resonate for me.
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Thank you! It is all wavy and the lines seem more like guidelines.
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WWIII … quite the contrast the the seagulls warming themselves and the summer floral beds dimming… Nice photos
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I was hoping those two paragraphs would provide a sharp contrast. Thanks, Margaret!
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I love your description of the planes. I can feel the movement in it. And the “World War III” line is priceless.
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Thank you! The progression in technical ability did seem to run through three world wars although hopefully the third never occurs.
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I like the seagulls standing sentinel … each on his own post! It sounds a perfect day. Thanks for sharing.
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It was a nice day for a bicycle ride to the city and between the seagulls and the planes performing like acrobats in a circus entertaining. Thanks, Bev!
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Your allusion to WW III is rather alarming, Frank. We were recently at the Duxford Air Museum and it was a great experience. We also saw planes that looked like UFO’s.
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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!
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Vacation Novelty
Staycation Home
travel
same
travel Different Change..:)
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Most of our vacations are staycations or going short distances. Thanks, Fred!
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Me too..
Frank..
Wife
Adverse
To
Leaving
Yellow Boy
in other caring pets..;)
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I loved the little flowerbed observation. The haiku was well placed.
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Thank you! It was all centered around that flowerbed.
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I like the contrast of natural and man-made, prose and haiku. (K)
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Me, too! The planes and those seagulls are very different in the way they move through the air.
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