Wednesday, November 21, 2012

stormy weather

stormy weather
a homeless man clutches
his bottle of wine
--Bouwe Brouwer, The Netherlands

When i read Bouwe's haiku, i sighed; not out of despair, but of ennui, since life is not always kind; and very often, all that is left is the solace of impermanence; just like the homeless man, whom Bouwe sees, who is invisible to many; maybe even the Fates one might philosophically argue.

“Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.”
― Robert Frost

Despair resonates in Bouwe's haiku, like a grey shadowy hand in an impressionist canvas. His use of the kigo given is dramatic and bold. There is no bright maybe in between. At the mercy of the the elements this is exactly what each one of us do. We grasp, we cling, we clutch whatever proves to be for us, salvation.
In a shadowy canvas Bouwe's throws so much light on humanity's frailness. There in quite a tale well told.
He omits the kireji offering a Line Two that pivots and allows for dimension in his haiku

Well Done Bouwe
gillena cox
Caribbean Kigo Kukai - founder/co ordinator



The kigo for this kukai was stormy weather

2 comments:

  1. Very nice post. If we would look around us and realize the ways in which we are truly blessed, we could never pass up the opportunity to help some one who are truly in need themselves.
    I have been chided by friends for helping the homeless and told, "they'll just buy a bottle of wine with that money you just gave." to which I always reply, "it that helps keep them warm...so be it."
    I write and maintain a blog which I have entitled “Accordingtothebook” and I’d like to invite you to follow it. I’m your newest follower.

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  2. thank you for visiting and taking the time to share your thoughts

    much love...

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