Frank Hubeny

Pleasantly Surprised

Conspiracy theories come in pairs. There’s the nutty theory I won’t believe in, because–well–it’s nutty, and there’s the opposite theory that, for some possibly nutty reason, I do. Motivated enough I could likely prove anything is true, which doesn’t imply that nothing is true.

Every time I take a stand I lock the front door, but I keep the back door open to offer protection to those good folk polarized in the same direction that I am. If there are monsters coming at me, this is a reasonable thing to do. Often I am pleasantly surprised by who comes through the back door seeking and offering protection. Sometimes it is the very people I thought would be storming the front door. Sometimes I look out the window on the front door after a major storm and see blue skies, pleasantly surprised at the absence of monsters.

FRESH SNOW BRIGHTENS PATHS
EVEN WINTER GRAYNESS SHINES
DOORS REMAIN UNLOCKED

Text: Linked to dVerse Haibun Monday with the theme “pleasantly surprised”. I am hosting today. The bar opens at 3 PM EST.

Photo: “Puzzle Pieces Prior to Polarization” by the author.

Skin

Skin is what I see, not what’s within.
Castle walls might block me, thick or thin.
When they crumble mysteries begin
To lock outside whatever went right in.

Photo: “My Right Hand” by the author linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo prompt with the theme “skin” and Trablogger’s Mundane Monday.

Seagulls in the Sun

Seagulls with their points of view
Sometimes don’t agree.
The Sun that warms them loves them, too,
Chanting by the sea.

Text: Linked to dVerse Meeting the Bar. Victoria is hosting with the theme symbolism. Hopefully these seagulls symbolize something besides seagulls which may not always be pleasant. I see them as enchanters of earth, sea and sunny sky.

Photo: “Seagulls in the Sun” by the author.

One-Liner Wednesday — Worries

It’s that one time in a million when my neurotic intuition is right that worries me.

Linked to Linda G. Hill’s One-Liner Wednesday.

Visit

The day turned cold and dark. We went to bed.
Our eyes closed on a starry, winter’s night.
Visitors appeared and we were led
Through lost, forgotten, ancient, truer light.
Their messages grew clear with inner sight.
When morning showed the brightness of fresh snow,
Those secrets we uncovered we let go.

Text: Linked to dVerse Poetics. Lillian is hosting with the prompt word “visit”.

Photo: “Covered” by the author taken last winter.

Crunch

Santa’s crunching on the snow.
Children want to see
Reindeer, sleigh and Santa, so
He crunches merrily.

Some complain that he’s not real.
Some pick on his weight.
Some complain no matter what,
Ending every praise with “but”,
So long as he’s not late.

Text: Linked to this week’s dVerse Quadrille where De Jackson (aka WhimsyGizmo) is hosting and the 44-word quadrille must contain some form of the word “crunch”.

Photo: “Waiting for Santa” by the author.

Textures

This funk I feel will heal somehow.
The textures of my mind are strange,
But they will change and even now
I feel those textures rearrange.

I’d rather think the world’s sublime
Than whine about each little thing.
I’d rather waste my time with rhyme
Than worry that I cannot sing.

Photo: “Three Textures Somme Woods” linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge and trablogger’s Mundane Monday.

Santa Self-Care — #writephoto

Mark loudly rang his own doorbell. “Thank you, Santa!” He heard Julie’s feet pitter-patter as she rushed to the door. “Have a nice day, Santa, in your snowy fairy glen at the North Pole.”

Julie looked outside. “Where’s Santa?”

“Sorry, Julie. Santa’s gone. He left gifts for you.”

Eventually someone would have to tell his daughter about Santa, but Mark couldn’t do it. She’ll have to cure herself even if she breaks her own heart.

Later that day Julie answered the door. “Santa! Back so soon?”

“Who was that?”

“Sorry, Dad. Santa’s gone, but he left you this present.”

Text: Linked to Sue Vincent’s Thursday Photo Prompt and Charli Mills’ Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge with the prompt “self-care”.

Photo: Sue Vincent provided the photo for the prompt.