*
One stormy winter night I was working late to finish my annual report. My job done, I hurried home through the deserted streets in a storm that had come up during the evening.
Suddenly a faint voice called: “Sir! Can you help me, please?”
I looked around to see who was in need, but I could see nobody.
“Sir?” the voice repeated, apparently close but still I seemed to be completely alone.
“Who’s there?” I asked. “Where are you?”
“Right here!” the invisible man said, “Right in front of you!”
Only then did I notice the snowman in the garden of a house I had just passed. He had not been there when I went to work. The children, or whoever made him, had done quite a job: I had to look up to him, and I am six feet six, you know.
“Over here!” he called. I swear to you: this snowman was actually talking to me!
“How can I help you?” I asked, trying to act as normally as possible as I approached the fence he was standing behind.
“Sorry to bother you,” he said, “My hat has been blown off in the storm, and I can’t move to pick it up. It’s over there in those bushes. Could you please put it back on?”
Now I may be quite straightforward, but I feel a bit awkward to trespass other people’s gardens late in the evening just to pick up a snowman’s stray hat. I hesitated.
“Come on! Don’t be afraid!” the snowman urged me on, “There’s nobody home! Your footprints will be wiped out soon enough!” So I stepped over the fence, picked up the hat and placed it on the snowman’s head after filling it up with snow to make sure it wouldn’t come off again.
“Ah, that’s better!” he said, “My head was freezing! Thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” I replied as I stepped over the fence. “Will that be all?”
“Yes, I’ll be OK,” he said. “Have a nice evening!”
“Thank you! You too!” I answered, and hurried home to get a drink. And another. And another.
grey-veiled icy docks
greeting a lonely snowman
towering eight bells
Peter, your grasp of real, correct, and inventive English is incredible!
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Thank you, Jane! Much appreciated.
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I like this story Peter: a talking snowman!
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Thank you, Jumasy! I may think of a sequel some day. Can’t promise anything though.
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A beautiful winter tale to tell by the fire place some night 🙂
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Wonderful. Thank you for such a sweetly told story.
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Sheer brilliance! Wonderfuél tone, suspense, humour, detail….my head is freezing! Great line, intricate haiku, well done…
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I’m a believer. What a wonderful winter adventure. I liked the ending. Cheers!
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i would have freaked if a snowman spoke to me. great story realy enjoy it and the haiku.
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Riveting! The closing line of the prose nails it, too! Bravo!
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I didn’t even know haibun could be so much fun as this one is, Peter! I’ve never read another like it.
❤
David
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Great fun – both the story and the haibun!
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Very very impressive. Charming, surreal, and frightfully amusing.
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A wonderful tale… or was it? My inner child hopes it was true!
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Peter, you certain you hadn’t wandered through a field of poppies on your way home?!
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This brought a good chuckle. And another. And another. 😉
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A very entertaining haibun!
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Now there’s someone I’d like to meet! (K)
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Ha – That was fun to read, so kind of you to help. A great winter story.
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Loved your haibun, a fun read!
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haha! Great fun 😄.
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I really love this, especially that end of the prose… it would be a bit disturbing with a snowman like that.
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😀 I love this!
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What a charming haibun!
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