Haibun is a combination of prose strong in imagery and at least one haiku (I prefer synru). The prose in a haibun is trimmed to its essence just as a synru is composed of few words chosen for their particular meaning. A haibun relates a journey, whether the travels are a physical exploration of the world or an internal journey of discovery. Often haibun contain a revelation or epiphany obtained through experience. The prose can reflect fragmented thoughts or complete sentences, but the sentences are tight with all the words serving a purpose.


dreams can be bloody
sometimes they come straight from hell
gives me no respite


I fought sleep on this foul night, felt it in my bones things were not right. I sat alone in my beloved easy chair while my woman snuggled into the bed we share. Not tonight will I repose beside her, for I smell the sickening, odoriferous smell of myrrh. The easy chair was comfy and made me doze, a voice whispered he's the one we chose.


running from the smell
to the front porch swing I went
the old one had spoke


I pushed the swing, made it squeak, squeak, squeak, heard the water bubbling in the creek. A cold night it was and I was wide awake while something inside my chest made me ache. Wasn't afraid, it would be her they would get, they would be relentless and never quit. Oh, my, this feeling I know I've felt before, the old hag has outsmarted me I can feel the gore.


at the stroke of one
a wooden stake through the heart
I'm no more, I die