Dimension of
Images, Senses, Feelings
Thirty-five
Poets from these twelve countries wrote
one-hundred-sixty-six poems for the "Hearts Haiku
Thread: Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada,
Croatia, Finland, India, Philippines, Poland,
Romania, Trinidad and Tobago, United States.
I appreciate
this opportunity to make these haiku/senryu picks. I
often read and see works on this site about which I
would like to respond. In making my picks I looked for
those haiku that created for me a second or third
dimension of images, senses, feelings; due to the choice
and arrangement of words: haiku/senryu that do more than
just sit there.
I like this
gem by Sandra.
wily
caterpillar—
in the heart of lettuce
safely hidden
# 12. Sandra Martyres, IN
This
presents a circle within a circle: the curled
caterpillar and the head of lettuce. Then there is the
triangle of words which add textured meaning. Her
combination of wily, safely and heart tell me that much
more is involved here than just safety.
There is trickery in this next poem. I know Brian likes
to do things differently. How can there be unsaid words
drifting or frozen? Yet, this all makes sense with the
last line. It effectively expresses a certain feeling
which is the result of something implied but not
explicitly expressed. Poetry can do what appears to be
impossible. You just need to know how like Brian.
words
left unsaid
drift upon the east wind—
freeze within my heart
# 07. Brian Strand, UK
This poem by
Willie creates a mood which is very inviting. I want to
be involved in the musings. I want to hear the music. I
want to know which song it is. I would like to be there
listening. What is your heart song?
heart
song—
the musings of a player
on his saxophone
# 08. Willie R. Bongcaron, PH
While
reading this poem also by Willie...
missing the heart's
object of desire...
blind date
# 28. Willie R. Bongcaron, PH
...I
couldn’t help picturing a cupid with bow and arrow. Of
course, being blind how could it have hit the target? I
can identify strongly with the disappointment of this
blind date.
This next poem by Cristina-Monica is very unusual. I
would never have imagined finding a paper heart pinned
on the last page of anything. It creates suspense: last
page of what? The answer is surprising and very logical;
but then, why the paper heart?. A story read but there
is another story untold. A lot of feelings are involved
here. It would be interesting to know the unwritten
story.
a
paper heart
pinned on the last page—
"Romeo and Juliet"
# 29. Cristina-Monica Moldoveanu, RO
In another
one of Willie R. Bongcaron’s poems...
jealous heart
the stares of a lover
to his mate
# 30. Willie R. Bongcaron, PH
...the word stares is so strong, since it is something
that persists, that I could not help but picture real
daggers which the mate sees streaming directly at her
heart. The word heart does not have to be mentioned a
second time.
In this next poem by Chen-ou, a peaceful and inviting
scene is set up. Nothing unusual is expected except hazy
might be a hint of something out of the ordinary. The
ending was a surprise and actually increased the power
of the scent from the chocolate heart. This happening
under her foot was nothing accidental but provoked.
Since this involves a heart, there is a story.
hazy
winter moon
the scent from the chocolate heart
under her foot
# 46. Chen-ou Liu, CA
I like this
one of Sandra’s. The first line sets the scene. The key
word here is sniggers. It raises a question, why?. So
suspense is built up and we don’t know the answer until
the last word.
the
knave sniggers—
the Queen of Hearts
talks of love
# 54. Sandra Martyres, IN
Read this
next one by Alegria and see if you agree.
strawberries
cut in half—
such hollow hearts
# 65. Alegria Imperial, CA
A delightful
picture of strawberries and perhaps a surrounding
pleasing aroma. A straight forward picture of halved
strawberries. The key word is hollow and destroys the
whole picture. This is unexpected and changes the
reader’s feelings completely but exemplifies a fact of
reality. Sometimes friends don’t prove to be true.
This next poem by Marija is a bit puzzling to me. The
mood of the scene is immediately created. I can picture
the cradle swaying. I assume the baby is in it being the
reason it is swaying. I can picture the mother sitting
by, but why the loneliness? I’m thinking that maybe the
mother’s heart is in the cradle and not the baby and
thus the reason for her being lonely. This would then be
an excellent expression of her real yearning and wish.
More can be said. I would be happy to hear your
explanation.
loneliness in the night—
in the cradle swaying
mother's heart
# 70. Marija Pogorilic, CR
This next
poem by Munia is very simple and beautiful because of
its simplicity. It evokes a feeling and experience that
anyone would gladly like to have. Once again the words
chosen and arranged are the key. My heart like a spring
dream continues to swell after each time I read it.
my
heart
swells in love—
spring dream
# 81. Munia Khan, BG
This haiku
by Keith was a pick because it creates two
juxtapositioned pictures which by identifying the tears
with the rain outside increases the immensity of
shattered. This was a tsunami.
a
stream of tears
falling with the raindrops...
a shattered heart
# 86. Keith A. Simmonds, TT
This is
actually my last choice. Because I don’t want to let you
end this reading on a sad note, I am including it here
so that you will be able to leave on a happier note.
Again a beautiful picture is presented. The ending is
not what we would expect to find and I like the word
tucked which seems to express carefulness, concern, and
sympathy.
spring garden—
tucked in among the ferns
bleeding heart
# 97. Cara Holman, US
Finally, in
this poem by Karin there is no key word. Every word
plays a part and all together they create this beautiful
event. This heart is frothy - something exiting is
happening. Fluffed adds something more even nicer. These
involve the sense of vision, but now new sensations are
introduced with the cappuccino. We can see it, taste it,
smell it and we don’t do it all at once but sip by sip.
It’s a lasting stimulation and sensation. It is all so
magical and happening the first time.
a
frothy heart
fluffed in cappuccino magic—
their first date
# 96. Karin Anderson, AU
I hope you
have enjoyed this heart exercise and now can compose
your own special haiku/senryu.
Bernard Gieske, US
