Words by Dan Hardison
Santa Ornament by Jake Caskey, 1996
December 21, 2018
December 14, 2018
November 25, 2018
Hardison Grocery
Beyond the “Sunbeam Bread” screen door were rows of wooden shelves filled with once-common brands, barrels of dried beans, and bins of fresh local produce. There was a rack of country hams and a refrigerated meat case filled with everything from steaks, pork chops, and whole chickens to pig’s feet, ox tails, and chitlins.
Just inside, glass bottles of Nehi Grape, Orange Crush, and RC Cola could be found suspended in a metal drink box of ice-cold water. The checkout counter, there was only one, had no moving belts or scanners just a mechanical cash register and a front filled with bins of candy.
Before shopping malls, supermarkets, or fast food, this was where groceries were bought accompanied by an exchange of gossip. Once every neighborhood had its own grocery and I grew up with such a store owned by my grandparents.
catching a moment
and holding it forever . . .
an old photograph
— Dan Hardison
Frogpond
vol. 41:3 fall 2018
October 30, 2018
August 27, 2018
By His Side
He is up from his nap and ready for an afternoon walk. As we leave, he stumbles on the threshold of the door. His pace is slow, his movement stiff, but he has a look of determination as we move along the familiar path. We reach our destination (only half as far as in the past), and start the journey home. As we return, he is moving even slower and a bit winded, but tomorrow he will be ready again for another walk.
He is 15 in human years and has multiple health issues. The playfulness and exuberance may be diminished, but in those brown cataract glazed eyes the affection still shows through. I once said, “it is here he will stay” and it is here we will be by his side.
comforting
though faded and worn . . .
child’s blanket
— Dan Hardison
Contempary Haibun Online
July 2018, vol 14 no 2
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