When I was a teenager, I felt that I was caged by my parents, by school and by petty rules of society: wear suitable clothes, don’t smoke, don’t drink, be home by ten, that sort of thing. I rebelled, escaped from the cage and did my own thing. Later, I felt trapped by responsibility: earning money to pay bills, feed us and keep a roof over our heads, be a good mother. These days, I have the freedom that comes with retirement: my daughter’s long since flown the nest, I’m not tied to a strict schedule and I don’t have to beg for days off. I have plenty of time on my hands and years of experience, and I no longer feel the need to fly too far from home.
a kestrel flies high
wings sun-blessed above the hills
distant tinkling bell
Kim M. Russell, 11th June 2018
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Haibun Monday: Complexity of Freedom
Björn is our host this week and he would like us to write about freedom. He says that freedom is one of the most popular, as well as one of the most misused words, and that freedom comes with costs as well as benefits. Björn asks us to think about the benefits and the cost of our freedom, and to take an example of choices we made to limit or expand our freedom.
writing in north norfolk 
Oh I love this so much… when the door is opened to the cage we cannot leave… maybe true freedom is to realize this place is a perfect place to be.
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I love hearing about the freedom that comes with retirement!
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Beautiful Kim- Home is always the best, isn’t it?
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There is freedom and time to be relished when kids are grown, and we have retired. Good for you to keep yourself busy with things that you enjoy, at your own pace, and staying in your own home. Love that tinkling bell sound in your haiku Kim!
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What a beautiful haiku. Your haibun is very profound. I am finding the same thing – now that I am retired and free of a lot of responsibility I don’t necessarily want to fly all that far from home.
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And when I do, I’m always relieved to be home again.
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Retirement can be, and should be a blessing. It has for me, despite some health issues–but my sweet wife just retired, and since she’s never cultivated any hobbies, she finds it hard to be idle.
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I’m so pleased to see you back, Glenn!
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I like the idea that with freedom one doesn’t need to fly far from home.
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I did fly quite a a way at the weekend – and was so glad to be safely home again!
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Lovely. I hope I may reach that freedom some day before its too late.
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🙂
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We always want what we can’t have…and then wish for something else. i know what you mean!
love the images in your haiku especially the tinkling bell…..to come home.
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Thanks Viv! The tinkling bell is ambiguous, as it also tells the bird-handler where the kestrel is.
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That makes sense….I see it now 🙂
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Lovely.
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Thank you!
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You are welcome!
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We don’t know what we got till it’s gone, and then sometimes it comes round again and we rest. Hope my rest comes someday.
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I had to make a few sacrifices but it’s been worth it.
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Maybe freedom comes from inside us? We run and run, but freedom isn’t about where we are, it’s about who we are.
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I think that’s true Sarah. I like being able to do things at my own pace, when and how I want to. Reading and writing give me that kind of freedom.
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you want to read a book called Kes it’s about a boy and his Kestral in a mineing community in yorkshire
.
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I used to teach that years ago. Great book!
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True freedom is the comforting feeling that you can leave, but it’s fine if you choose to stay, there’s always a tinkling bell in the distance. Love this, Kim.
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My favourite earrings are dangly silver balls that tinkle.
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Love it!
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FreedoMStaycation
ouT oF tiMe diStance
sPace
TraVeL
WithiN
Lives
PriSon or Free
HoMe ForEveR Now
HeaVen’SVoCaTioNoW..:)
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