Such a sight in the sky at 4:40 a.m.! A cloud erupting upwards into a mountain? No, an elephant. With a trunk spraying smoke. A mist of cornflower blue transitions into a deep sky blue, tinges
of rose gold at its base. A tree line silhouette stands firm as the smoke dissipates, the trunk shrinks, the elephant fades. Tulip poplars and black walnuts and pines and evergreens and red buds and dogwoods and sassafras shine through the haze.

sky clears and cloud calms
into a green rolling hill
I can climb today

(a haibun–my first. inspired by Geoff White’s beautiful For Ben on His Graduation, June 7)