My father’s birthday was on September 13, and I still remember the year it was time to celebrate his 50th birthday. Guests were soon arriving when my little sister showed up with red itching blotches on her skin. Was it Scarlet Fever? How should we tell the guests? Should the party be canceled? After a short panic, my mother managed to get hold of the family doctor, who managed to calm us saying that it was just hives from something she had eaten. It was probably the plums our babysitter had brought the day before. The subsided and my father could celebrate his birthday, but all I could think of was that I never tasted those delicious plums, and plums were banned in our household for years.
purple-laden boughs —
the neighbor’s plum tree invites
a pilfering boy
Today at dVerse Xania Tran Guest hosts with Haibun Monday, and the topic is about September.
September 26, 2022
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Another kind of forbidden fruit….
ooh you reminded me I have some frozen plums in the bottom of the freezer. came looking for inspiration for my haibun found an idea thank you.
That does seem unfair! I bet that’s why the memory stuck with you so powerfully.
A beautiful haibun Björn and what a powerful memory of your father’s birthday. So happy I was able to offer you plum wine at the bar tonight!
Could have been worse, but what a shame about the plums!
What a sweet hsibun and adorable painting
Happy Monday Björn
Much💛love
I thought you were going to say the red splotches were stains from the plums. Glad your sis was ok. Such a sweet image you chose to go with your haibun.
I enjoyed the story Bjorn. Too bad for those plums as they are really delicious.
I enjoyed your memory and the youthful angle of it.
Bittersweet memory. I hope you can enjoy plums now.
Love the memory haibun – with a great close about the pilfering boy!
Today I ate a plum. I will think of this story next time. Love the extra layer of mischief in the haiku.
My mother’s birthday was the 13th of September too! You took me back to my childhood. We had plum trees in our orchard.
Love the story and poetry lines. Perfect.
A sad anniversary and what a memory, Björn! I used to be allergic to strawberries but thankfully grew out of it. The yield from our plum tree hasn’t been great this year, but the quince tree came through for us and I’m making quince parcels today! I take it you used to go scrumping as a child – great fun!
A multi-layered haibun, Bjorn, precise and evocative.The haiku allusion to St. Augustine and the pears fits in so seamlessly I almost missed it.
My father demanded all of our attention and affection on his birthday, and if one of us had fallen ill on “his” day, we’d hear about it forever and after.
Memories are bridges…forbidden things call us strongly…
Yours is a wonderful Haibun story … a great capture of an old memory I will add. Let’s hear it for plums!!
Plums… I’d forgotten how wonderful those purple gems taste straight off the tree. This haibun was a great childhood memory.
oh. i love the celebratory beginning, the panicked middle, and the nostalgic realisation about plums.