Slowly floating down the canal at Kinderdjik, we looked up amazed at the giant windmills. We were told that people lived in the windmills and there was a waiting list for those who wanted to live in one. It was a beautiful, serene site, the bank lined with reeds and ducks floating nearby.
About half-way down the row of Windmills, I looked up, surprised to see a young girl perched on small shelf peaking over the big steel wheel that turned the windmill into the wind. She seemed to find it interesting to watch all the tourists come and go wondering why they were so captivated by what she simply considered to be home.
As we approached, her mother, behind the reeds, was hanging their clothes on a line to dry. This is a much simpler life than most of us live. It is a wonderful place to come of age.
Looking up I see
Girls’ shy eyes peering at us
Wash dries in sunshine
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Merril’s Monday prompt for d’Verse is Looking Up. Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
Roth Poetry 
Love that final crisp poem at the bottom of the narrative! Delightful writing. 🥰
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Thank you so much, Jaya! I am glad you enjoyed it!
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Thank you for sharing your story and photos, Dwight! I’ve never thought of anyone living in a windmill. I wonder what that would be like?
I think the Netherlands would be such a fascinating place to visit!
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It is very interesting. The quarters are very cramped as you might imagine. It was a beautiful place.
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I’m sure it was. Thank you for sharing!
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You are welcome!
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Also, I guess chasing windmills is better than tilting at them. 😏
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:>)
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Nice one yet again, and I must say your photography skills are impressive.
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Thank you. It does help to have a good SLR camera. I have an older model Nikon D200
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oh, nice.
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Wonderful picture and poem.
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Thank you very much! Glad you enjoy them.
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Your poem goes perfectly with the prose and the photos. The girl was having an idyllic summer, I’d say.
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It was so beautiful to see her sitting up there watching the world float by, dreaming of what is to come in her life. Thank you so much, Liz for your kind comments.
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You’re welcome, Dwight.
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I had no idea people lived in windmills!! I’m a little envious of their simple life, enjoyed the reflective verses!
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Thank you, Tricia. Yes, most of them have people living in them. The have to manually rotate the blades to make them catch the wind or be still. It was most interesting.
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Yes, intriguing!
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Deeeelightful! We’ve been there for the tulip festival. You brought us back!
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That must have been a gorgeous sight to see! It was so much fun to see! Thank you Jan.
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Dwight this almost reads like a fairy tale. Wonderful photos and skillfully written haibun.
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Thank you so much my friend! I am so glad you enjoyed it. It was a fabulous place to visit. A whole ‘nother world!
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You’re very welcome. Such a calming place you took us to.
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Beautiful writing. I never knew people lived in windmills, but from what you’ve described, it seems like a peaceful, serene life.
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It is very unique indeed! A totally different life for sure. Thank you so much!
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What a sweet story! I think home is just home no matter where one lives.
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That is right! Mansion or Windmill home is home and will always be remembered as such! Thank you Mary.
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I enjoyed the story as I have not seen the windmill in my life. Thanks for the photos too!
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Thank you Grace. They are fantastic to see. So interesting.
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Dwight, this was a fantastic read my friend — AND YOUR PHOTOS, WOW! You took me right there. I am jealous sir. Great write!
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Thank you so much my friend! It was a trip of our lifetime. It is even more beautiful in real time. I am so glad you enjoyed it!
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I’ve almost been enchanted by windmills. They do seem to be special places, especially to live in one. Thank you for the lovely haibun Dwight ☺️💕
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You are welcome, Christine. I am glad you liked it.
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Thoroughly enjoyable and interesting Dwight!
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Thank you so much, Carol. I am glad you enjoyed it.
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Wonderful place and way of life. Nice poem, Dwight.
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Yes it is. So interesting to see. Thank you, Miriam.
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You’re welcome, Dwight.
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Beautiful haibun. A lovely dose of awe.
Thanks for dropping by to read mine.
Much💚love
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Thank you, Gillena.
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It does look peaceful, but industrious and very well-kept. Just out of curiosity, where do you hang clothes out to dry? I thought everybody hung them in the garden if they had one.
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An interesting question. I live in a development of six hundred houses!! Our HOA bylaws say we are not alowed to hang clothes out on a line to dry! We sometimes stretch a line in the garage and hang my heavy wet jeans. When I was young we strung a line across the back yard and my mom hung her clothes on it with a big long clothes prop in the middle. Monday was wash day. Ringer washer and washtub rinse.
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I can’t imagine clothes lines being banned here, though in Paris you’re not allowed to hang clothes out of the window to dry. Tourists think it looks squalid.
It seems so footling, worrying about being able to see washing, like pretending nobody ever uses the toilet. Seems to me it would be more appropriate to have bylaws about how much green lawn/desert you’re allowed in relation to planted areas, how often you can shave it, to regulate the use of pesticides, to leave some areas wild etc etc.
Our notions about what is nice, proper, tidy are outdated and unsustainable now. But, nobody likes their cage rattling, do they?
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You are right we do have our priorities screwed up it seems. Than you for you interesting response. I found your use of the word footling most interesting! :>)
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I don’t know any other meaning. Maybe it’s one of those words that undergoes a slight transformation as it crosses the Atlantic 🙂
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The meaning is clear, I had not ever heard it used before! It works very well!
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It’s a silly-sounding word, as it should be 🙂
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That is so lovely. Thanks for sharing this, Dwight!
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Thank you very much Jay!
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It’s undeniable when watching simple living how impoverished those with too much ‘plenty’ really are!
Heartwarming.
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Yes, I agree! Thank you so much for your comment.
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😊❤
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A magical scene and a magical poem, Dwight! Simplicity in life rules!
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Yes, there is nothing like the simple life! Thank you Eugi.
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Most welcome, Dwight.
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What a lovely view this is.
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It is wonderful! Thank you.
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You’re most welcome!
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I’ve never seen a windmill, Dwight. What beautiful captures, and a perfect haiku, to describe such a beautiful lifestyle! Wow!
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Thank you so much! They are an awesome site to see. Very huge and majestic. An amazing fete of engineering!
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My pleasure! How amazing!
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💘🙏
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Thank you!
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Welcome 😄
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