Haibun for Two – February 17, 2015

Credits: The Scream Edvard Munch

One early morning we went to the beach when I lived in  Djibouti.

The beach was already nearly covered with wall to wall people.  The sea went out gradually here, so it was a fine spot for kids and it was a Sunday morning too. I remember that a lot of children were romping and splashing in the shallow water.  Other’s were making sand castles. There was such a festive air of pleasure and innocence.

Suddenly there came a scream from a little farther out to sea where the water was deeper.  The life guard did not react immediately, people often played around screaming and splashing but this time the figure was obviously in real trouble.  He ran to help the person and we who stayed behind exchanged opinions; “he must have gotten a cramp!” … “how’s it possible to drown in just three feet of water!” …. “could it be a shark?”  A mixture of cynicism and fear snaked through the watchers, but the general opinion was that all would be well.

The life-guard brought the young man back to the shore and did what he could to reanimate him, but there was nothing anyone could have done.  A silent scream of horror went up among those looking upon this tragic event. The man was so young.

a silent scream
observing impermanence
a day at the beach

© G.s.k. 15

 

Rarely does it happen that on two different prompt pages you get the same prompt, but that’s what happened this week with The Scream by Edvard Munch … so, I’ve written a haibun for both Carpe Diem haiku Kai and Haibun Thinking.  This was a true story.