Marjorie Buettner
Chambered Heart
As my age progresses each year (another rung up the ladder, or down, I cannot tell), my heart, like a bird caught in a cage, flutters and flaps its wings as if it wants to escape my body—flying off to another place. And now, after this torrential storm with thunderous lightning, my heartbeat mimics this thundering pounding; I try to catch my breath as the beat, erratic and impulsive, storms inside of me. Quieter now, the storm fades away, but my heart—this chambered heart—only wants out, out of its cage, flying off, never looking back.
full sturgeon moon
this leap my body shares
with the lightning
About the Author
Marjorie Buettner has published two books of poetry by Red Dragonfly Press: Some Measure of Existence (haibun), which won the Haiku Society of America book award, and Seeing it Now (haiku and tanka). Her most recent chapbook, Dakota Dreaming (2024), won the Poetry Plains and Prairies Award sponsored by North Dakota State University Press. She lives in Chisago City, Minnesota.
Dear Marjorie,
This is really beautiful. It’s the beating of every heart together in a thunderbolt. The word here for me is ‘pensive’ and made me wonder as you have climbed that rung of the ladder of wanting to open your heart. As in Maslow’s stages, perhaps it could be the steps of the ladder or rungs, in place of the pyramid, where we do become more pensive and turn inward to the ‘chambers’ then outward to the universe and what it holds. This haibun is enlightening and wonderful to experience. Karina
Dear Karina,
What a wonderful response to my haibun. I really do appreciate your reading and reply and hope all is well with you!
Marjorie
Such a beautiful caption of longing, Marjorie. Well done
What a wonderful description of your stormy heart. The poem moves through the ima with a lyrical pace that adds to the beauty.