Written for Missy’s Mad Challenge.
I was inspired by the image I borrowed
from my amici at blog 57. Missy’s prompt
appears below. Here’s where the prompts took me.

The sun forgot to rise, and I forgot to sleep. Somewhere between the last hour and the first, I found myself on a road that didn’t ask where I was going. The fields lay open and green on one side, patient as they always are. On the other, an old wall …. its plaster worn to an unremembered color, its shutters closed against a morning that hadn’t decided to arrive. I walked without destination, the way you do when the heart has been too full and too empty at the same time.
Azzurro cielo …. that particular blue that belongs to neither night nor day, that lives in the breath between them. It settled over everything like a held note, like a name you almost say aloud.
I have loved you the way roads love distance. Without end, without arrival.
still road at dawn
the sky so blue it hurts
no one to tell
NAR©2026
#missysmadchallenge
The Prompt: The moon forgot to rise and I forgot to sleep
This is “Am I Blue” by Linda Ronstadt
Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

what a gorgeous haibun Nancy! It is so vivid the imagery, stunning!
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Thanks very much, CA. That was such a beautiful image to work with!
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I watched the sky turn that particular blue just after sunset. You’ve described it so beautifully! Gorgeous piece, Nancy. 👏🏻
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You are fortunate indeed to have experienced it in person! I hope you took photos to remind you of that vision. Thanks so much for your lovely comments, Michele. 😌🩵
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It was a most enchanting dusk/sunset/twilight. ✨ I did take photos that I’ve yet to look at but I’m looking forward to it. Thank you, Nancy. 💙
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A beautiful and evocative Haibun
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So pleased you enjoyed this one, dear sis. ☺️
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You’re most welcome 😍😍😍
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Oh, I love this. Great job!
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Thanks, Missy! I’m so glad you like it.
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Ooooo this was delicious!
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I’m so taken with these photos by blog of 57, I just had to write something and go with the flow. I’m so glad you liked it. Thanks, amica mia.
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I just wrote a OLWG to one of Blog 57 photo’s this morning. I love that guy!
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Stunning capture!
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Thanks for a really beautiful comment, Liz 🩵
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Oh so very blue! Beautiful.
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🩵 Thank you my dear friend. 😌
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I love this gorgeous Haibun, Nancy.
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The image was so inspiring 😌 Thanks very much, Lisa 🩵
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Very nice, Nancy.
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Thanks so much, dear Keith 😌
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Kaibunilicious. Brava
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Grazie, caro amico! 🩵
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Here we go again, my poem tonight is about “blue” too …
Oh, I absolutely adored your Haibun my friend, and meandering feeling is so relatable …
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Serendipity at its finest! 🥰 I love this new video; another great one for my playlist! Thank you, my dear friend for your very lovely comments. I appreciate them greatly. 🩵 🎶
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I knew you’d like the video my friend 🎶🥰💙
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And you were right! Sivert Høyem never disappoints 🩵 🎶
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🎶🥰
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I have been there 💖💜
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So have I, sis. 🩵
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