Cynthia Rowe

Mind Jousting

There had been a spat. As usual, it was about nothing. Well, nothing important. An argument, just for the sake of it. One of the games that you both played. Intellectual, often. About the meaning of a word. About brain size. Whether men were more intelligent than women. Larger brain size, you said. But a higher percentage of body weight, she said. Topics that most people don’t care about. That night, she pulled out a suitcase. ‘I’m leaving.’ 

tangle-weed
the hiker loses
his way

You pleaded, ‘Please stop her.’ ‘She’ll be back.’ ‘How do you know.’ ‘She always is.’ ‘But…but I’ll miss her.’ ‘She’ll be back as soon as the drive-in movie is over.’ ‘But…’ Your lower lip trembled. ‘How do you know?’ Outside the car engine revved. ‘Her suitcase is empty,’ I said.

slippery rocks
my body arched
in protest

The following night she purchased two copies of the evening newspaper. To see which of you could complete the crossword first.

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About the Author

Cynthia Rowe is editor of Haiku Xpressions and a past president of the Australian Haiku Society. She has published eight novels and three poetry collections, including Stone Circles, winner of the Snapshot Press eChapbook Competition. Her Japanese genre poetry and other poetic forms have won many awards.