Bats swarming at dusk
Dark cloud gathers to feed
In search of winged prey
Once again Chèvrefeuille has a great challenge: to share and be inspired by your favorite haiku written by Yosa Buson (1716-1784), one of the “big-five” haiku poets. This was a great challenge for me as I had not read much of Buson’s work. I chose this haiku not only because of its beautiful imagery but because I am quite fond of bats. They are a wonderful part of our ecosystem yet they suffer from an undeserving, very bad reputation. Bats also symbolize autumn and upcoming Halloween (which also plays into their bad reputation). My response is not as serene as Buson’s but it is a behavior that I find fascinating nonetheless.
We have numerous bat boxes around our farm. They are very interesting creatures, and excellent mosquito control. You’re right, they get a bum rap. My kids and I watch em dart and dodge around at dusk some nights. Still kinda spooks me when I get a fly-by though.
That’s great! I only have one bat box on the side of my house. I would like to have more. Yes, their stealthy flying can be unnerving but I have never had one get caught in my hair :).
They don’t really bother me, and we like having them around. But when one swoops past past my head under the dark of night, it makes me duck and dodge like I’m under attack or something. Then I realize what it was and it’s all good.
I love bats, and was disturbed by the comments I read on a friend’s Facebook page. Bats had recently returned to her neighborhood, and she was elated, but many people made disparaging comments. Bats are so misunderstood!
I like the gentle spirit of bats. I worry about people who infected the central US cave bats with “white nose syndrome.” They fo help us we it our ecosystems and keep bugs from overpopulation, too. Lovely words and photograph.
Thank you for the kind words and wow, thank you for bringing this up. I had forgotten about the colony crashes that were happening – much like honey bees. So sad.
Dancing Echoes 
September 25, 2015 at 9:48 am
We have numerous bat boxes around our farm. They are very interesting creatures, and excellent mosquito control. You’re right, they get a bum rap. My kids and I watch em dart and dodge around at dusk some nights. Still kinda spooks me when I get a fly-by though.
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September 25, 2015 at 9:57 am
That’s great! I only have one bat box on the side of my house. I would like to have more. Yes, their stealthy flying can be unnerving but I have never had one get caught in my hair :).
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September 25, 2015 at 10:18 am
They don’t really bother me, and we like having them around. But when one swoops past past my head under the dark of night, it makes me duck and dodge like I’m under attack or something. Then I realize what it was and it’s all good.
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September 25, 2015 at 12:57 pm
I love bats, and was disturbed by the comments I read on a friend’s Facebook page. Bats had recently returned to her neighborhood, and she was elated, but many people made disparaging comments. Bats are so misunderstood!
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September 25, 2015 at 1:20 pm
I agree! People always bring up rabies by they are less susceptible to rabies than mammals on the ground -plus rabies is rare these days anyway.
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September 25, 2015 at 3:27 pm
Reblogged this on Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser and commented:
How cool is this – firey pic?
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September 25, 2015 at 3:41 pm
Thank you so much!
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September 25, 2015 at 3:45 pm
Beautiful-have a great weekend!
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September 25, 2015 at 3:47 pm
You too!
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September 25, 2015 at 11:30 pm
This is a serious work. Your haiku is evocative, and yes, very Autumn-like. People with passion for things have a most attractive trait.
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September 25, 2015 at 11:47 pm
Thank you!
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September 26, 2015 at 1:52 am
I like the gentle spirit of bats. I worry about people who infected the central US cave bats with “white nose syndrome.” They fo help us we it our ecosystems and keep bugs from overpopulation, too. Lovely words and photograph.
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September 26, 2015 at 6:34 am
Thank you for the kind words and wow, thank you for bringing this up. I had forgotten about the colony crashes that were happening – much like honey bees. So sad.
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September 30, 2015 at 4:12 pm
Yes, bats are marvelous creatures. Your haiku gives the insectivorous ones the credit they richly deserve.
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