Dread

A story told in three haiku stanzas

Dascha Paylor

Sep 3, 2023

This haiku trilogy is going to be a bit different. Each line of each stanza features its own image. At the end, I will post the stanzas without the images for easier reading.

Heart races; breath flees

Darkness creeps, obscuring hope

Shadows Cloud Future

Shadows cloud future

Thought shrinks beneath crushing fear

Searching for a light

Searching for a light

Desperate for some way through

Path found; dread released

And here is the story fully told in three haiku stanzas.

Heart races; breath flees
Darkness creeps, obscuring hope
Shadows cloud future

Shadows cloud future
Thought shrinks beneath crushing fear
Searching for a light

Searching for a light
Desperate for some way through
Path found; dread released

I wrote this in response to a haiku prompt consisting of one word: dread. I also employed the technique of repetition. The last line of each stanza is the same as the first of the next.

Though I took time away from formally working on any of my endeavors, I did write some haiku based on prompts from the poetry community that has sprung to vibrant life on Threads. I eventually removed myself from all social media, though, because just being there was draining. You’ll continue to see some haiku from my time away over the next while.

For now, I’m going to try to publish once a week. I’m feeling somewhat better, but I think it’s going to take months to fully detox. As well, my health issues are ongoing and I now may be facing eye surgery. I’m hoping the retina specialist will take a watch and wait approach. As of publication date, I’ll find out in two days. Cross your fingers for me!