Haibun

All living things manifest their livingness by their ability to

• grow

• move

• breathe

• respond to stimuli

• eat and drink

• excrete

• reproduce

 

I have been present at the birth of each of my children, and also at the birth of puppies, kittens, calves, lambs, birds, insects, flies, flowers and trees. The shortest lived stage of each is the last of these abilities.

 

shortest night —

sounding out his name

a morepork

 

All dying things manifest their livingness by slowly losing their ability to

• reproduce

• excrete

• eat and drink

• respond to stimuli

• breathe

• move

• grow

 

I have been present at the death of each of my parents, of relatives, of friends and also at the death of dogs, cats, cows, sheep, birds, insects, flies, flowers and trees. The loss of the last six body functions more or less follow this order of withdrawal in the final hours or days.

 

Where in this process resides consciousness, will, imagination, love and malice and when do they leave?

 

longest night —

the artist paints

his white 'I AM'