Ten (times five) Haiku Motif on Foot Fall Challenges - Disney World ©
Excitement gripped me
All of my life I was told
It is magical
The very first day
Out of the four that we planned
Previewed all to come
Exiting the car
A long walk before spotting
The entrance ahead
Then it hit me, wow
That’s a lot of people there
I mean really, wow
Still a good I think
Two football fields away from
Ticket booths and lines
Now we’ve joined the edge
Of crowds of people milling
About in all ways
These others it seems
Going left, going right, even
Up, down, and sideways
I am just amazed
Without giving it much thought
We have reached the booth
We manage to stay
Together avoiding a
Major headlong crash
Only a light brush
Of shoulders, step left or right
Say sorry and nod
Civility rules
It is still very early
It is magical
We got our pass cards
Touch them to the sensor and
Also the finger
We enter the park
But still have to plan next steps
Stand off to a side
As we move we see
A large family approaching
Split up let them pass
Retrench to our plans
Look at map read directions
Reference the landmarks
Go right, no go left
I think that is correct, well
Watch out! near side swipe
Give those kids a wide
Berth and double back again
Wait what’s that rumpus
It’s a parade yeah
We cannot move now not yet
Music and marching
Try again to go
To our first destination
Stop let others pass
These others it seems
Going left, going right, even
Up, down, and sideways
That guy looks like he
And I will crash. Play chicken!
But no, no problem
It’s become routine
Like I’m not even thinking
Crowds just seem to part
We have arrived to
A pavilion on Japan
Its art and culture
Inside we're weaving
As we soak in the displays
This is really great
Time is passing fast
We suddenly realize
We are both famished
We move toward a small
Foodstand, jump around a child
Get into a line
Get some Japanese
Morsels to eat, sit somewhere
And eat they are great
Next destination
A Mexico pavilion
On the move again
Crowds again it seems
Going left, going right, even
Up, down, and sideways
Mexican culture
Dia de los Muertos is
Big, you know "Coco"
Everywhere Flower
Garden festival, awesome
Great topiary
Hurry step it up!
Going left, going right, even
Up, down, and sideways
We want to get to
World Nature and see Awesome
Planet the movie
We can't believe it
Six thirty and now it is
Starting to get dark
Go to Germany
Going left, going right, even
Up, down, and sideways
See the pavilion
Steins. lederhosen and more
Getting exhausted
The day's highlight is
Going to start very soon
Called Harmonious
The Crowds are growing
Around the lake for a good
Vantage point for show
Can't stop here our view
Will be blocked, we move again
Can't squeeze in there
I see a place move
Going left, going right, even
Up, down, and sideways
No place to sit but
There's a railing to lean on
The show is starting
Colorful searchlights
Flashing dazzling mind blowing
And music pulsing
Projections on trees
On buildings and in the air
And music pulsing
Fireworks lighting the
Sky with every color
And music pulsing
Lights projections sounds
All magnificently timed
We are overwhelmed
The show ends and the
Crowds are moving to exits
Again we join in
We need to get to
The Lyft ride share pick up point
Feels like miles to go
Walk at snail's pace, still
Going left, going right, even
Up, down, and sideways
Our feet feel like lead
Our legs are starting to cramp
Our backs are aching
The first day of four
Is ending with well over
Sixteen thousand steps
This poem was inspired by my amazement that my wife and I survived a four day visit to Disney World. Walking through the crowds felt to me like crossing the Red Sea with the Pharaoh hot in pursuit. In the end, we got back home safely.