This week the Ligo Haibun Challenge presents a choice of two photo prompts. A photo courtesy of Meme
(shown here) 
and the other below, byYePirate. I picked the photo I felt would be more challenging. But before my written piece I’d like to encourage all writers, those who’ve been writing for awhile as well as those just getting started, to enter this Challenge.
For more specific rules on the whys and how-to’s – click on the tab at the top of my blog marked Ligo Haibun. I’m hoping you’ll decide to give it a try. To submit your entry (after publishing it on your own blog) click on the “link box” (with the happy face) below. Others will be able to come and read your offering as well! I hope you enjoy the experience.
Special mentions for the previous Ligo Haibun Challenge are:
Bjorn: Don’t let the beauty of nature charm you for death lurks in the corner. Check out Bjorn’s captivating piece on the topic, ‘Dewdrops’.
Anja: Sensual prose with a lovely haiku. Welcome to the Ligo Haibun Challenge, Anja!
Yarnspinnerr: Informative haibun; the prose intrigues you with its cultural and spiritual knowledge and the haiku complements it very well.
Be sure and visit their blogs to read their entries.
~
And now my entry for this week!
~
Parade Rest: A formal standing position of rest in the military.
He sighed, shoulders hunched slightly forward, rifle held casually. Looking out at the people enjoying their weekend, he meditated, searching for a purpose to his life. A mental process he engaged in each day while on duty. Did what he do really have meaning? It wasn’t as if the Royal family needed protecting; at least by him standing here at parade rest, watching the world go by.
He sighed again, almost time for the changing of the guards. Still, he was proud to be a part of the history of his country; playing his role, now just for show, the tourists enjoyment! Straightening his back, he moved his rifle into the exact and correct position. The mounted squadron approached, signaling the beginning of the ceremony.
For the moment his purpose was to be the best he could be in performance of his duties. At the back of his mind he continued to search for something more, a validity. Life today was more like a changing of the times instead of a changing of the guard. He supposed he was just one of many struggling for a renewed purpose, a reason to be more than a guard standing at parade rest.
Have a great weekend,
~ Penny
The Why About This 
this is great reflective writing. wonderfully done. 🙂
Wonderfully written, Penny. So reflective of life 🙂
Hi Celestine, I think we all do that, on different days when we find ourselves dwelling on the “why of it all”! Have a great week ahead! 🙂
Penny, this was very well done indeed:)
Pingback: Līgo Haībun Challenge – The Bay | Alastair's Blog
Wonderfully written. I can easily imagine I would feel the same way standing there, day after day, watching the tourists, going through the motions. Struggling for a renewed purpose.. such a thoughtful piece. I’m glad I followed the link to this challenge. Such quality work.
Hi Steph, I missed your comment earlier this week. I apologize for this. Thank you, for your lovely compliments, they are very much appreciated by me.
Wonderful write Penny.. and having standing guard myself at the royal castle, I can tell you a lot runs through your mind when you stand there….
Thank you. I can only imagine Björn, or maybe not! 🙂
I like this piece very much, and personally always have a battle with first/third – or second person. I wonder how it would have done written in the first, or second person. Your message was delightful, almost painful.
Thank you, yepirate . Now that you mention it, you’re right. I think It would have been much stronger in first person. I do get the pain part!
Your piece really grew on me – is a wonderful, layered work. I think it might even have been interesting in the 2nd person!
‘Much stronger’…I don’t know if I would go so far – it’s beautiful. I can say that because it’s where I should have gone with mine, presuming I could have!
Well, I sure was surprised to find my haibun up there. Thank you.
An excellent haibun and your haiku reminds me of our old philososphy of swadharm whic loosely translated means ones personal duty. Not very popular or discussed these days …. but it is a solution to many of our personal conundrums.
Your welcome Yarnspinnerr, a pleasure to have you there. I agree with your solution of things. Values, purpose, honor, duty, just of a few of the words (and their meanings) that need to be reintroduced into the mindset of society today!
You have either crawled inside my head or you have my home bugged. I was just speaking to my husband about this very subject yesterday. BTW, nothing seems to be too big a challenge for you. 🙂
We do think alike, so that’s not surprising, And BTW … au contraire, there are those days … 🙂 xx
For some reason, this went automatically into my “read” (as in – red) folder.
Nice to see you on the judging panel Penny. Hopefully it’ll bring more people into it. I love reading these.
I like the way you did yours. It was similar to what I was going to do. Glad I read yours before I put mine in 😆 I’ll See what I can do instead.
Thank you Alastair, It is a challenge but I’m hopeful more will give it a try also! Good luck with yours! 🙂
Thanks. Going to do mine tomorrow 🙂
Great piece.
As always beautifully written, with a pensive haiku.
And a valid point well made.
But AnElephant has to bite his tongue when it comes to the anachronism that is the ‘Royal Family’.
A valid point to you on the Royal Family! 🙂
I sometimes feel as if I’m standing in a parade rest stance. My mind takes to me never-ending questions on life & purpose. Then – I snap out of it.
xx 🙂 🙂 xx
That brings to mind the movie where Cher slaps Nicholas Cage and says “snap out of it”! 🙂 xo