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Haibun
Into The Future
the leaves
never tire of dancing
—spring breeze
The soothsayer
with his parrot prepares his show outside the mall. People
throng around him . . . curious children, mothers with huge
shopping bags. He meticulously takes out the tiny books and
lines them in front . . . pats his parrot as she peeps out of
her cage, gives her a red chilly telling her to do a good job.
He smiles at the passers by . . .
Sunday special:
the paper boys fresh
with new stories
A lucky day
indeed, for by noon around 13 people have had their future
forecast. All of them return with a smile. He has learnt to tell
only good things. There was a time when he used to tell the
truth, but people frowned and word passed around fast that that
soothsayer outside the mall had a foul mouth and his parrot a
nasty mind! He likes being truthful, but he loves money more, so
he starts to sing a different tune . . . a tune that people
love.
talk of kismet—
eyes on the client's
bulging wallet
"Into The Future"
was first published in World Haiku Review in the Summer
2005 issue.
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