Half a Whirl Is Better than None

Jun 3

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The first line of each haiku or senryu below is taken from Shu Ting‘s poem “The Singing Flower,” translated from the Chinese by Carolyn Kizer.
 
This week’s whirling words are: split, bruise, crumple, draw, burst, pierce, crash, chisel, crouch, glow, edge, beat
 
 


Linger in the cage,
crouch snarling in the corner
till your keeper comes.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
An indecent dream
creeps to the edge of my sleep,
startling me awake.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
Poems may travel
with a sudden burst of speed
or a dreadful sigh.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
Crows that pester us,
how dare you bruise our garden
with your deadly beaks!
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
Raise your lamp, my love,
let its glow light my way home—
river of longing.
 
~~ ~~ ~~
 
Into harmony
draw me with your sweet singing—
thorns grow on my tongue.

 
© 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 58
 
More The Poetry Pantry #101

Posted on June 3, 2012, in haiku, senryu, The Poetry Pantry, The Sunday Whirl. Bookmark the permalink. 15 Comments.

  1. seingraham | June 3, 2012 at 7:16 pm

    I love your sweet haiku … and you’re right, half is better than none … “crouch snarling in the corner” indeed.

    http://leapinelephants.blogspot.ca/2012/06/deep-tissue-bruising.html

    Reply
  2. Walt Wojtanik | June 3, 2012 at 8:05 pm

    MMT, a brilliant concept, well written. Nice work.

    Reply
  3. tmhHoover | June 3, 2012 at 8:51 pm

    It seems nearly all of you haiku’s this week have a bit of a surprise twist in them. I like that. my fave….
    “Into harmony
    draw me with your sweet singing—
    thorns grow on my tongue.”

    And you know half is more than none….

    Reply
  4. markwindham | June 3, 2012 at 8:53 pm

    love the first three, a laugh for the first, nod for the second and yes, a sigh for the third.

    Reply
  6. KB | June 3, 2012 at 9:29 pm

    My first one is my favourite.

    Reply
  7. KB | June 3, 2012 at 9:29 pm

    I should say, your first one.

    Reply
  8. Winona Morris | June 3, 2012 at 10:57 pm

    I love all of these, but my favorite I think is the first one.

    I am a first time whirler: http://nonersays.blogspot.com/2012/06/365-creativity-project-day-1.html

    Reply
  11. Diane Belleville | June 4, 2012 at 8:42 am

    Wow, unique and wonderful, every stanza/verse.

    Reply
  12. Laurie Kolp | June 4, 2012 at 9:07 am

    Lovely, as always… I especially like the 3rd one this week.

    Reply
  13. julespaige | June 4, 2012 at 12:26 pm

    I agree with Laurie – I especially like #3. Thank you as always for your visit and kind comments to my wordle.

    Reply
  14. Mr. Walker | June 4, 2012 at 3:58 pm

    I’ll take your half-dozen any day. Enjoyed each and every one.

    Richard

    Reply
  15. brenda w | June 4, 2012 at 4:34 pm

    I love thorns grow on my tongue….. Excellent work. You make my day whether it’s Sunday or Monday. 😉

    Reply

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