Leaps
September wind —
as Spring begins, so many
deaths to remember
*********
red berries —
I was walking
my children
********
strong wind
a banging door –
the anniversary of his death
*********
cleaning out
the cupboards —
I miss you
*********
green tree snake
slithers through my plants
keeping low
*********
Equinox ritual
cancelled by lockdown —
full moon rises
Lesson 5 in David Lanoue's Write Like Issa is about going deeper, by means of 'the surprising "leaps" from image to image' which American poet Robert Bly sees as 'a core quality of powerful poetry.' Lanoue adds that 'Bly's concept of leaping derives from the subjective experience of juxtaposition' and that such juxtaposition is 'without doubt a key tool in Issa's poetic toolbox.' He suggests that such leaps are required of the reader's imagination too.
(One of these, the second, was a memory rather than a present experience – but one that happened across me in the present, triggered by a particular image I saw.)
Spring as a season can be a symbol of life and death depending on how you look at it. I also enjoyed the third and fourth piece. So much loss and longing ❤️
ReplyDeleteI like this personal micropoetry...sad sensitive and beautiful
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it.
DeleteIt's true the saying, poetry meets us where we are. I find your series of haikus today affecting, especially the first piece.
ReplyDeleteI hope they also nourish you, Khaya.
DeleteEnjoyed your very effective juxtapositioning. Thanks for dropping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday
Much💖love
Thanks to you, Gillena.
DeleteThank you for the highly enjoyable master class on juxtaposition. You handled it so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm very complimented.
Deletesad, but lovely micropoetry.
ReplyDeletethe 3rd one begs the question : did he come back?
You mean like a ghost? No ... but in spirit (which is not the same thing) yes, often.
DeleteI always admire your haikus, Rosemary. You say so much with such few words!
ReplyDeleteloved all of these haiku rosemary, you and i both share a very strong admiration for the poetry of issa, and the man himself. for me, he is the quintessential beatpoet, and his beatitude reigns supreme, that's how i see it anyway. i am currently working on my second tribute poem to him, i will share my first tribute to him next sunday in this forum. again, loved these poems rosemary
ReplyDeleteI love your description of him as a beat poet, and of course you're so right. Great insight! I very much look forward to reading what you have to say next Sunday.
DeleteIt's a poetic treat to pause after each one and reflect, imagine, see.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to know I inspired that reaction!
DeleteThese are wonderful, Rosemary. I like how easy I can see the images your word paint, the emotions--especially the banging door in the third haiku. You've made very curious about Issa.
ReplyDeleteIssa's lovely! Lanoue says, in the book I've been studying, that while Basho and Buson inspire reverence, Issa inspires love. You get an idea why when you know that Issa was the pseudonym he chose for himself and it means 'cup of tea'. He was what Aussies would call a 'dag' – a hard word to explain. I once heard it translated as 'uncool' and that comes close, but 'endearingly uncool' might be even closer; we Aussies love our dags! And they aren't daggy on purpose, it's just how they are.
DeleteIssa was a slob, in some ways a fool – and one who could laugh at himself, didn't pretend to be anything but what he was, and had huge compassion for children, animals, even insects, and the unfortunate. He celebrated the common people.
I do love the sublime Basho too – but indeed with more reverence, whereas Issa feels like a mate (what you would probably call a buddy).
This is interesting, Rosemary. I'm reading these four different ways and find a wonderment each time.
ReplyDeleteNow I am intrigued to speculate on your various readings! But it has been said that when we share our poems with others, they are no longer entirely ours – the interpretation belongs to the reader.
DeleteYour last one makes me wonder "Do our rituals mean anything then if the full moon still rises?"
ReplyDeleteWell, (a) it is the wheel of the EARTH year they turn, (b) solitary observances work too, (c) I took the rise of the full moon as a positive sign, since that is also a magical time.
DeleteEach of these is a wonder ... I sense sadness, loss, change and know how deeply you journeyed to gift them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response, Helen.
DeleteI think we can never not miss someone we love...
ReplyDeleteThank you for these little snippets of grief, Rosemary. They are tender and true.
Thank you for appreciating them!
Delete