It is the 5th of October – my birthday. I’ve just turned forty five. Someone calls from the yellow forest to wish me well. She doesn’t divulge her name but, judging by her voice, she must be the blue sparrow. I terminated my relationship with her long ago, but she still insists on calling. After the small talk, she starts with her usual silly questions — Why don’t you get married? Why don’t you want children? Why don’t you sleep at night? Are you still taking your pills? Do you know why the door of the dollhouse is open? Do you know where all the dolls have gone? In order to shut out her questions I dip my head deep in the water of a poem.

dive fishing —
thrashing silver
in her beak

Réka Nyitrai & Alan Peat

Ekphrastic haibun based on ‘Blue Sparrow In The Yellow Forest Painting’, Sufina Hisham (2018)