Real haiku is the soul of poetry. Anything that is not actually present in one's heart is not haiku.
~Santōka Taneda
Haiku by Polish poet/artist Maria Tomczak today. I'm grateful to Maria for giving me permission to share these with you.
~~~~~~
storm in the mountains –
a clap
from every side
~~~~~~
cricket chirping
the silence between us
finally broken
~~~~~~
moonless sky
a crow separates
from the night
~~~~~~
riptide
the lingering silence
after diagnosis
~~~~~~
chemo center door
she strokes the sunlight
in her wig
~~~~~~
winter field
the crows devour
the last light
~~~~~~
hand-knitted scarf
the length
of her sleepless night
~~~~~~
unstable
wind treading
the summer grass
~~~~~~
These haiku originally appeared in The Mainichi, Frogpond, and Akitsu Quarterly. They also placed in the Little Haiku Contest, European Quarterly Kukai, and Shiki Monthly Kukai.
~~~~~~
The mistakes anthology for middle schoolers is collecting poetry submissions through November 1st.
The Poem Farm has the Poetry Friday round-up. Thanks, Amy!
These are all great, but
ReplyDeletehand-knitted scarf
the length
of her sleepless night
is truly excellent!
Oh wow, I love that fresh look at crickets. :) And instead of the overused grass as sea, "treading." They're all wonderful. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI too am loving the crickets - or mayhaps it's the use of 'finally' that gives it so much weight. And yes, that scarf!
ReplyDeleteOh, my goodness....these are incredible. Thank you to your friend for giving permission to share. I was reading these as separate moments until riptide. Then, a/the story emerged. So many loved ones are on the other side, the silent side of cancer. These really just grabbed my heart. Thank you, Tabatha for the bitter sweet beauty of these haiku, today.
ReplyDeleteThese haiku are breathtaking! Thank you--and thank Maria--for sharing the with us. They illustrate the quote at the beginning of you post perfectly.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and heart-breaking. I like that definition of haiku.
ReplyDeleteMasterful haiku. Wow, just wow. The handknitted scarf, crows devouring the last light, and the riptide stood out for me. Thanks for introducing me to another new poet!
ReplyDeleteThese are so varied in mood and utterly haunting, Tabatha - thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThese are so moving! They intimate a story. This one hit me extra hard:
ReplyDeletehand-knitted scarf
the length
of her sleepless night
Wonderful--both the haiku and the opening quote (Anything that is not present in one's heart is not haiku--love that.) The cricket chirping and the hand-knitted scarf ones resonated most with me.
ReplyDeleteWow - especially poignant for me as I'm typing this from Orlando, having come down to be with my mother as she navigates cancer treatments. The crow poems and that knitted scarf particularly catch me. Thanks to Maria and to you for sharing. (And that opening quote...- I wish you could have been with us in April in Georgia to hear Stanford M. Forrester's talk on Santōka Taneda; you would have so appreciated!)
ReplyDeleteThese two:
ReplyDeletewinter field
the crows devour
the last light
hand-knitted scarf
the length
of her sleepless night
So lovely.
"hand-knitted scarf
ReplyDeletethe length
of her sleepless night"
This haiku feels like it grew naturally from the ground–like rich soil, it's deep and profound. Thanks for sharing this rich collection of Maria Tomczak's haikus, Tabatha!
Between you, Maria and Robyn this week I'm all inspired to try some haiku again. These are lovely and poignant: the crow separating from night and devouring the last light; the sunlight in her wig, the length of her sleepless night. Hope you're getting good sleep, Tabatha.
ReplyDeleteThese are exquisite. Thank you for sharing all of them. And this perfect quote - going right into my notebook. Gratitude. Peace. x
ReplyDeletemoonless sky
ReplyDeletea crow separates
from the night
I adore this one!