summer golf (haibun)

I watch my partner's ball land in the middle of the fairway and contemplate my second shot from the bank. Luckily the ball is perched on a dandelion plant, not far from the needled gorse. I make a practice swing at another dandelion. Establishing that I can remove a single bloom without damage to anything else, I take a deep breathe, exhale slowly and swing.

At this point a large bumblebee tries to extract nectar from my golf ball. Maybe it’s the surprise; perhaps I look up too soon but I am aware of the impact, hear the crack and follow through. The ball remains perched on the dandelion. The bumblebee, I have no doubt, will be on the green.

summer golf -
a wagtail salutes me
for taking a divot