We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage / And swear that Beauty lives though lilies die, / We Poets of the proud old lineage / Who sing to find your hearts, we know not why ... (James Elroy Flecker)

7.7.19

Summer Love #6: Sun Rays (haiku)















This Weekend Meditation at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai is also part of the July 'Summer Love series, and the theme is


Sun Rays

a warm summer day
a meditation outdoors –
held in rays of light

We were asked for 'traditional rules' including 5-7-5 syllables. I prefer short-long-short, so I would rather this version:

warm summer day
meditation outdoors –
rays of light


(The photo is mine too.)

21 comments:

  1. I'm glad you've offered us your preferred version too Rosemary, because it clearly shows how something so subtle, as editing, as syllable shift, as sound (as read aloud or in the mind) can very much alter meaning, affect ambiance, evoke a different feeling, response, and reaction -

    these are both interesting and for me, they each offer something a bit different, which is lovely as a treat -

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  2. How BEAUTIFUL, both photo and haiku. The ocean is so beautiful in summer sun - and winter storm, and fall glory....well, all the time. Smiles.

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  3. I like the photo two and both haiku. I prefer the second version too. Says all that needs to be said and beautifully!

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  4. What a beautiful sky. I can't choose between favourites. I think they both shine

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  5. I love your version, Rosemary!❤️ It certainly reads better and evokes tranquility and calm. Gorgeously rendered.

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  6. Such a difference a subtle shift makes. LOL, I've gotten frustrated too when a chosen form doesn't say quite what I wanted to say. Thank you for sharing both.

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  7. I prefer the traditional 5/7/5 version having written so many in the past. However it is good to experiment to see how it reads and feels.

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  8. Lovely Rosemary... I myself readily believe that the key word here is: 'held' and readily accept why you initially used it - but equally readily accept the the second version is the cleaner, crisper and more traditional version that pays full homage to the form...

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  9. Lovely photo - I could definitely mediate there in rays of light. I prefer the second one as well.

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  10. Just sitting here, breathing and looking at the photo. Perfect poem to accompany it!

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  11. A soothing meditation in golden blue glow - yes, your preferred version is the sweet spot for sure! Offers flow.

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  12. I, too, prefer the second version. It fits the feelings the poem evokes--a sense of warmth and fleetingness, the similarity between those sort of days, the quiet unmolested by articles.

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  13. Both are good, the first one rolled off my tongue better❤️

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  14. Lovely photo. Lovely haiku. A splendid write.

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  15. I really prefer the second one too... sometimes the 575 just makes you insert unnecessary syllables... I would love to have such a peaceful place to be

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    Replies
    1. It is indeed one of my favourite places to go, and just sit and contemplate.

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  16. this is just radiant! thanks for the glow!

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  17. I very much liked the first haiku as I read it … but yes, the delicacy of the second piece (with articles eliminated and the third line shorted) has about it, more of a transcendent quality, I think. Both of them are really lovely, though, and I enjoyed the opportunity to look at the effect of editing and see that it can, in fact, be quite impactful … even on such a short poem as a haiku.

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  18. Fine work indeed. Look up translations of Basho's most famous (frogpond) haiku. There are hundreds.Thanks for sharing.

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