Haibun

Today is the day my entire Creative Writing class, consisting of eleven students, one teaching assistant, and one teacher, head out on our quest to the Lost River Cave located close to Western Kentucky University. We have no idea what to expect upon our arrival. All we know is that the cave is supposed to be surrounded by beautiful scenery created by the one and only Mother Nature. We load onto the bus that has been sent to take us to our destination point, with bodies full of excitement. All that can be heard is the constant chatter that is us speaking to one another unable to stop. Our eyes are aglow and our skin is itching in anticipation. How much longer must we wait to arrive?

Enticing nature
Invites sweet peace into your soul
Eyes full of wonder

After unloading ourselves from the bus that dropped us off at the park we continue on our way to the spot designated for us to meet our guide. Other fellow journeyers met us there and exchanged pleasantries. Finally after a small wait our guide arrived. After introducing herself as such she proceeded to lead us along a dirt path running through dense woods. After only a couple minutes worth of walking she stopped in front of a large hole filled with water. The sun streamed down through the surrounding trees and in the spots where the radiant beams hit the smooth surface the water glowed blue. I couldn't help but stare at it as the guide began to share stories and myths that had grown around the "Blue Hole" over the years. She spun tales of monsters and great depths of the water that had all standing within it's presence wondering of it's origins and powers. Before we left I could swear I saw a tiny disturbance within the water as if a creature from it's depths was bidding us farewell.

Sunlight filters down
Cool sapphire blue filled with dread
Myths float to the surface

Our feet continued to walk the dirt path after leaving the mysterious waters. With a short period of time we arrived at our much anticipated destination. Lost River Cave. Our tour guide gave us a fairly lengthy speech describing how the cave had been found, the many purposes it had served in the past, the many owners that had abandoned it, and how it had come into the possession of none other then Western Kentucky University. Ready to move on into the depths of the cool moist cave we each grabbed a royal blue life preserver, that also doubled as a wonderous seat cushion, and made our way down a narrow steep staircase to the waters edge. For you see one thing that we had learned was that Lost River Cave in fact did have a river running through it an amazing tidbit that I'm sure we would have never picked up on our own. We were forced to wait for a moment as the readied our fine water craft and pulled it along magestically until it reached the point at which we were now located. We were then allowed to board two at a time in order to keep the weight even distributed on both sides, reminding me of Noah's Ark. Though the plan was good in theory it was not so grand in practice. As our shoe clad feet clomped alog the metal hull the boat swayed on the water in a not so graceful dance. Finally we all managed to climb aboard with nobody deciding to take a short swimming lessson and we were on our way to explore the cave's dark secrets.

Rocking back and forth
Choppy waves break the surface
Miniature ocean

Within the first few seconds our small group was presented with it's first obstacle in the cave. The wishing rock. Our guide barely had time to recite her well rehearsed speech about how the wishing rock was named so because you would hit your head on it and wish you hadn't. For the Wishing Rock was a very low hanging rock that caused you to duck into the boat so that you could be sure that you would not leave the cave decapitated. As soon as our guide got the "very original" pun out of her mouth she yelled "Duck" and all you could see in our vessel was the fall of heads against the metal bar that ran the length of the boat right through the center. We held our breath afraid to move even the slightest inch. It seemed to be a great time for class bonding as our faces were located only inches from one another. Eventually our heads cleared the danger zone and we were allowed to rise up again as if zombies rising from a grave. A quick look around showed us that we had entered a much larger part of the cavern. All around us were rock formations dripping water and being lit up by man placed lighting giving an entirely eerie yet magical effect. The simple awe that nature could create this sort of place overcame my sense's as I stared around me. Who knew such beauty could be found so far underground.

Small cramped up space
Overhanging fear prevails
Don't raise up to fast

Our guide steered our boat with expertise as we made our way around the area that they had sectioned off especially for tours like ours. She continued to feed us stories and explanations for all of the wonderment that we were being introduced to. One such fact that is very common would be that stalactites hang tight from the ceiling and that stalagmites might grow tall enough to reach the ceiling. Our necks craned in all directions, trying to take in every single detail possible. Finally we had almost completed a full circle and were coming near the end of our fabulous adventure, when our guide paused the boat. She looked at us and we stared back at her expectantly. Her flashlight beam cut through the gloom and landed on an empty space located higher above us. She automatically launched into a story about Jesse James the notorious robber and his crew of thieves hiding out in this very cave after they had robbed a bank. The police had surrounded the main entrance of the cave in hopes that they would eventually decide to come out, but days went by and they never appeared. The police just assumed that they band had found one of the other smaller but possible to escape by exits. According to the story some people still say today that Jesse James' ghost is hiding out in the cave, and that you can see him occasionally. When she finished her story I pondered over it for quite awhile. For I had an ancestor that had run with Jesse James' crew and I couldn't help but wonder if he had been a part of it at the time of the story. If so what would it have been like? Trapped in a dark cave, in the days where no human had yet rigged electrical lights throughout it in order to provide safe passage, but instead having to use lanterns and such to light the passages. How hard it must have been to find a different exit out of the cave, not having any idea where they were or what w as lurking beneath the darkness surrounding them.

Faded ghost figments
History presents itself
Within the shadows

After our little visit with Jesse James history, the tour only lasted another five minutes or so, then we were heading back to Wishing Rock to make our exit out of this wonderland. Yet when we had all ducked down to get in a little more class bonding time we heard a scratching noise and our boat ceased to move. We sat their on our lifeless craft trying to figure out was going on. Our guide kept trying to turn us around but it was a lost cause. We were stuck on an underground rock. When we finally realized what had happened we carefully raised our heads up as far as we could to look at one another in fear. "Please don't let us have to swim out of here," was most likely a common thought in most everyone's mind. Luckily our guide had a much better idea then swimming lessons. She told us to take our hands and place them on the low hanging sheet of rock above us. We did so, then she continued on directing us to pull the boat along by pushing on the cold clammy rock we were now touching. Again we listened and within seconds our boat was free and we were puttering back to our original entrance point. After unloading our boat, again two by two, we made the decision to trek over to the butterfly garden in order to gain a little more natural beauty. We followed a dirt path through the trees talking, singing, and laughing all the way. Eventually we came upon a small building claiming to be the place we were seeking. We entered as a class and took pictures like a maniac. Everywhere you looked there were butterflies. High, low, right, left it didn't matter one bit. Their wings shimmered looking as if they were gossamer. I paraded around looking at all of the flowers and the butterflies that were claiming them. Eventually though I gave up and sat down to contemplate and write a haiku.

Sweet whispers of wind
Carry small examples of life
Rainbow wings drift along

After writing my haikus my group and I got up to leave. With sad faces and our spirits dampened we made our way towards the gift shop where we would sit at nearby tables and eat our lunch before saying farewell to this place. We unpacked our lunches that consisted of sandwiches, chips, cookies, bananas, and a drink. Deciding to make the most of our limited amount of time left, we laughed and talked as we ate our food. All of us managed to finish early so we headed off in separate directions. Some to the gift shop to explore, others to play cards, and yet other to do what else but write. I myself decided to rummage through the gift shop to see what goodies I could find. I came out with two rings, a necklace, and three sticks of delicious rock candy in my hands. I then sat down to watch a game of cards being played until it was time to leave. As our bus pulled up and we began to pile onto it I gave one last glance towards our surroundings. I was sad to see it left behind, but I was glad to have had the experience of a lifetime.

One final look
The miracle of nature
Evident everywhere