Wednesday, December 7, 2011

bamboo

morning cleaning -
the bamboo shadows
sweep the stairs
----Jacek Margolak; POLAND


The resonance in this haiku is subtle and savoury. One can see the shadows, the wind moving the leaves and feel the companionship with nature that Jacek experiences on this particular morning.
Cleaning on a morning, adds a freshness of perspective, it brings a newness, like the new day; to life and being. Almost like sweeping away what you desire from yesterday, making a clear path for the provisions of today, He sweeps and observes a reptition not of himself, but of all of creation in the process of morning's newness; as mimicked in the strong silent resilient bamboo, whose leaves yield to the breeze of newness. Just so, he procures a ritual of apprehending, continuance, and an almost thanksgiving gesture, that he might receive more. He makes space for the day's occurance.
Jaceks bamboo remains in the shadows, as the day ahead is; unknown, a short distant future, an yet unfolded existence; which exposes a mere glimpse, a maybe, of plans already in the mind, not yet realised, not yet brought to light.
A haiku chuck full of appeal to the senses, devoid of clutter, presented in twelve syllables.

Well done Jacek

--gillena cox
Founder/coordinator; Caribbean Kigo Kukai



The kigo was bamboo

Friday, December 2, 2011

mud

The tempest…
white fallen plum petals
in the mud
--Magdalena Dale, Romania

This haiku has a fierce opening. It grabs the attention of readers and forces us to witness a happening of strong ferocious winds. In our mind's eyes, we see oh so much; even if we have never experienced such a force of nature, present day exposure of such occurences, have been media fed to us. Therefore our minds can rove through the collection of real or virtual experiences, enough so that we can wander and be lost.
However there is a stark reality of white fallen blossoms in Line Two; which quickly reels us back into Magdalena's haiku, with the precision and detail of flowers - white, and small and from a particular bough.
And we are now placed in a real situation of pity for these tiny fragile petals squashed in the squelch of thick viscous mud; hapless, soiled, captured. We lean to, in our poets soul, that place that we have sometimes found ourselves in; when we have been overwhelmed, trapped, and muddled; but, we are not plum blossoms.
Magdalena acheives her rending, in twelve syllables; a dramatic fragment to introduce and infuse us into an empathy drawing instance. The contrasts in colours and textures are sharp. Her tone is no nonsense and curt. Her story is credible and well crafted


Well done Magdalena


gillena cox
Founder/coordinator; Caribbean Kigo Kukai



The kigo was mud