Whirling with Richard Wright
The first line of each haiku or senryu is taken from Haiku: This Other World by Richard Wright.
This week’s whirling words are: wayward, falling, frenzy, attack, sublime, strange, settle, rough, channel, ball, robust, life
An empty seashore—
not even wayward children
picking up stray shells.
~~ ~~ ~~
Droning autumn rain,
falling since seven a.m.—
will it never cease?
~~ ~~ ~~
Faint sounds of a flute—
a frenzy of emotions
rising within me.
~~ ~~ ~~
A white butterfly
positioning for attack—
sunflower shudders.
~~ ~~ ~~
Is it possible
for sublime conversations
to spawn violence?
~~ ~~ ~~
In an April fog
three strange women are walking—
one begins to chant.
~~ ~~ ~~
The first day of spring,
wind roaring down from the north—
where will it settle?
~~ ~~ ~~
Just enough of moon
to smooth off the rough edges
of one splintered bone.
~~ ~~ ~~
Which is more distant?
The channel through the mountains
or the ocean strand?
~~ ~~ ~~
The scarecrow shudders
as a ball of mud hurtles
toward his straw-filled cheeks.
~~ ~~ ~~
Pen me a letter,
robust, rich, and bristling with
Anglo-Saxon words.
~~ ~~ ~~
Walking home alone,
the life I lived unraveled
strand by strand by strand.
© 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 67
More The Poetry Pantry #108
Posted on July 29, 2012, in haiku, Richard Wright, senryu, The Poetry Pantry, The Sunday Whirl. Bookmark the permalink. 19 Comments.
The last one is especially powerful. It keeps going, and going, and going.
Wow – I love that last haiku. How powerful the image! Very nice.
Perhaps the last one is my favorite! But love them all.
Fantastic! Really like the first 4 and the final. Nicely done!
You really are magical and mystical… I especially loved the question “Is it possible
for sublime conversations /to spawn violence?”
The moon haiku is my favorite! Really lovely.
you evoked such feeling haiku 1 [desolation], 3 [melancholy] and 8[ wonder] placed in me.
Well done! My favorite:
Just enough of moon
to smooth off the rough edges
of one splintered bone.
Really like all of them. Picture a person, no more than a shadow in the moonlight, walking. Each step a memory, together: a trailing cloud of past experience. Not a bad companion on a certain kind of evening,
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/after/
Your haikus on Sunday Shadow Shot 2 has reminded me how much I enjoy reading and writing them!
Thanks so much for your visit and your comment!
I do love your idea of picking the first lines from other sources.
Pen me a letter,
robust, rich, and bristling with
Anglo-Saxon words.
Great fun.
Walking home alone,
the life I lived unraveled
strand by strand by stand.
The repetition three times gives this power.
An empty seashore—
not even wayward children
picking up stray shells.
I adore this one for its image and the way you establish it.
startling, gripping series of images.remarkably enjoyable. especially liked:
Is it possible
for sublime conversations
to spawn violence?
My favorite this time?
Is it possible
for sublime conversations
to spawn violence?
Food for thought!
the first one struck me particularly here – how empty, a beach without children
I love these. I have never thought of Haiku. Each one is very good and fun to read.
A very beautiful read. =D
‘Just enough of moon
to smooth off the rough edges
of one splintered bone.’
While there are several that I like this one is striking. I can almost see a Native Shaman in the desert looking over a bleach skull by the little light of moon getting ready to chant a prayer.
Thanks for your visit to my wordle and the help you have gifted to make it read better.
I love these:
“A white butterfly
positioning for attack—
sunflower shudders.”
“Is it possible
for sublime conversations
to spawn violence?” … I’m certain it is. One often feels passion just before feeling hatred.
“In an April fog
three strange women are walking—
one begins to chant.” … This is a great beginning to a tale that can now unfold in my imagination. I think this is exactly what haiku should do. It is like a magic wand waving; the reader is the cauldron.
“Just enough of moon
to smooth off the rough edges
of one splintered bone.” … Visually enticing, yet deep and thought provoking. Again, just what haiku should be.
“Pen me a letter,
robust, rich, and bristling with
Anglo-Saxon words.” … Oh, yes please! I’m so sad letters have been forgotten. I blame stamps and stupidity.
“Walking home alone,
the life I lived unraveled
strand by strand by strand.” … Heartbreaking. As if you are pulling your hair out. Perhaps when you are bald, you can begin a new life.
I love (excellent) haiku and have thoroughly enjoyed yours. Thank you so much.