He always yearned for that tantalizing touch, the bashful lowered eyelash or the soft quivering lower lip. His search was random, travelling the subway system in search of paradise. Sometimes he would see the swaying cotton shirt revealing golden legs of summer, or the bouncing blond hair kissed by summer sun. It all reminded him of his paradise lost.
But came November with rough skins, the dry cough from a cold that never would give in and the revolting smell from wet unwashed wool. At these time he would dive into apathy, and his search of paradise would be put on hold.
At one such day he found himself sitting right opposite to an elderly lady. The pressure from people leaning over him in the overcrowded car made him uncomfortable. But at least he was glad he had found a seat.
The lady all of the sudden smiled at him, it was an uneasy hesitant smile, but to him it had the sweetness of honey. He knew he had found his paradise as he reached out and clasped the wrinkled hands of his high-school sweetheart.
wrinkled hands
recall their youthful eagerness
– paradise found
Study of hands by Leonardo da Vinci
It’s been awhile since I last contributed to Ligo Haibun. This week I thought I write on paradise (I have added a little apathy too).
Björn Rudbergs writings 
That was a beautiful piece 🙂
Thank you.. a little sweet maybe.. but sometimes I need to put some honey in my writing,.
Oh, Björn…this is so touching. I also love how you included da Vinci’s piece.
Thank you… it was hard to find a good picture for this.. 🙂
Lovely write… yes, it is sweet, in a really good way. 🙂
Thank you HA…
This made me smile. Of course I made assumptions and enjoyed the surprise. Love IS timeless. Beautiful haiku.
Of course the author leads you through the story to a place of surprise…
it just slipped through/ like a tear drop/ this paradise.
Beautyfull
Oh so sweet. Love the twist you had me believing it was a young man. Well told.
Ah I’m so happy.. I can lead you a little astray
My enjoyment of your haibun is on two levels. First, it flowed with rich emotional meaning, encompassing the passage of time – love found and lost and found (okay, I love the second ‘found’ better – happy ending and all that – :)) Second your haiku is expressed so perfectly!
The title similar to your FF entry was entirely unintentional…
My comments were honestly unrelated to my own post Björn! I enjoyed your story for it’s own merit and being a person who does enjoy a happy ending in general I added that perspective, lol! 🙂
I understood that… but it was such a nice coincidence… and your longer version sounds as being meant for the haibun almost…. 🙂 It would be perfect IMHO… 🙂
Thank you, very much, Björn. Coincidences are often pleasant, I find! 🙂
How lovely. A lesson that we should never give up.
Never ever… there is always hope
really lovely. It has taken him so long to find his soul-mate. words rich with meaning
Thank you… it was fun to write one … it’s been a while.
Excellent piece, Bjorn.
Who knew you had such a sentimental side!
Surprise 🙂
Very lovely and touching.
Thank you 🙂
i really love this haibun – something about finding someone you knew long ago but lost touch but to return and still love is there. i’m all over this. love it. ♥
Thank you. One of these cases were I started to write, and never knew how it would end.
ah, a true writer.
Gorgeous. The smell of wet wool, so evocative of winter. Love the theme of your haibun. A beautiful haiku with no hint of apathy.
Thank you for visiting ‘Unfair Trade Winds’.
Coincidence – some believe there is no such thing.
I liked the happy ending here.