What on earth is Hai*pho? A fleeting, luminescent marriage: poem and image. Pho-to + Hai-ku.
“So much depends on the light, and the way you squint.” (Margaret Atwood’s astute observation.)
Welcome, friends, to my growing, mid-pandemic gallery. Here’s my first arranged engagement.
MARCH
Snowstorm on the way.
Hope takes a morning ramble
among buttercups.
Matchmaking with lens and keyboard prompts my imagination during our current lockdown. It propels me outside, clad in battery-heated sweatshirt (thank you, Dreamer!) and polka-dot mud boots.
And one blustery day . . . snow boots.
FIRST ROBIN
Cheerio, chirr-up . . .
Icy lacework of twigs and snow—
how the world rallies.
During these surreal times, it’s stimulating to focus on the diminutive Japanese art form. Haiku is nature-based, 3-lines, 17-syllables, arranged thus: 5, then 7, then 5.
It’s terse. Evanescent. Hopefully, memory inducing. And thought provoking.
LIKE US
A pond, locked in ice,
dreams of open water. Oh,
how we need the sun!
Hai*pho aims to grasp the come-hither hem of beauty and truth. Mercurial moods and possible meanings simmer beneath everyday surfaces that surround us.
Break the word down and voila! — a cultural marriage. Hai is Japanese, for “hello” and “yes.” Pho is Vietnamese for “soup.”
Hello . . . soup. O YES!
The pond shot above does have a soupy look. Perhaps hai*pho IS an entree. A little something to nourish hope . . .
EQUINOX
He summons the night
to dance with the dawn: shadows
elbowing sunlight.
How merciful that our hopes and prayers for healing across the wide world coincide with the equinox, emblematic of balance, and Spring, and Lent . . . everything quietly pointing toward Easter.
NEST EGGS
Shells. The fearful crack.
The soft, extended wing. Then . . .
beaks. Songs. All-new songs!
What creative endeavors are keeping you lively during the pandemic? I hope you’ll share in the comments. Who knows what you might spark in the mind and life of another?
“I will show them my wonders.”
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Natural . . . infinite . . . yes: photo meditation
Beautiful poetess! I have been sharing the computer w/ my darling daughter who is preparing remote art lessons for her little charges (4 & 5 y/o’s). She needs to get on again, so forgive my brevity. But these leave me speechless anyway–breathless. awash in the beauty from your pen and your lens.
xo
Lynn
Lynn, my lovely friend, thank you for scrolling through the photos and poems today. What vital, encouraging, creative work your daughter is doing with little ones during these hard-to-explain times. The apple never falls far from the tree . . .
You are so generous in your compliment to this apple tree; but honestly, it’s I who learn from Sheridan. I am trained to be a music teacher, but when I discovered I would actually have to teach children, I switched fast in my career! 🙂 How I admire her love and skill. And she is doing phenomenal work, even remotely. They just adore her. You should see their art work too. Stunning. (and hers, of course)!
Your pleasure in Sheridan and her work radiates off my screen today, glowing and palpable. Learning from a daughter, oh yes—I feel that way about my girls, too. Consistently blown away. Here’s to the ongoing life of the orchard!
Everything is closed
I think I’ll go for a walk
Outside is open
Yours are better.
What a great mercy we can still walk outside. And this morning . . . snow. It’s lovely to think of you walking outdoors. A long-distance companionship. Are you taking pictures?
Love these meditations in word and image..your sweatshirt sounds lovely…I’ve been playing with art supplies and collage and FB live… thx for sharing this respite here in midst of surreal times
Kel, I am absolutely delighted to hear from you today. Thank you for dropping by! The sweatshirt is awesome, a birthday gift from my husband. I have a very sketchy personal thermostat.
I’m going to try to find your collage group on FB . . .
Savoring your creativity with each photo, each hai-pho, Laurie. Couldn’t begin to choose a favorite! You’ve inspired me to see what I can find among spring foliage, to inspire 17 soul-stretching syllables. The fun of discovery beckons! P.S. Thank you very much for becoming a follower over at From the Inside Out. I am deeply honored!
Nancy, I’ll be watching for your photos . . . on FB, or perhaps on your blog.
I used to get a link to your posts in my inbox. Then a long silence. Now I realize I somehow dropped off your list. I’m glad to be back and look forward to reading more of your posts.
Oh Laurie, thank you
Thank You Father God. You knew
my heart needed this!
Dear Jenell, you are so welcome. May your heart and your family and loved ones find new ways to rest as well as thrive every day. Amen
Perfect! This is your art form.
What an intriguing notion! I better find my camera then. I’ve been taking it on my jogs, but two days ago I misplaced it. And the battery charger. But I know where Dreamer and the dog are.
Beautiful poetry. Thank you for sharing.
Lou, it’s lovely to see your name here. I am imagining your warm smile and voice as I read your words. Blessings on your day!
Nothing brings peace to a turbulent world like creation suddenly alive with the breath of beauty. It stops us in our tracks. The juxtaposition of object and infinite worth turns our gaze slightly…and as we tip our heads in wonder there it is–the reflection of our Maker. As do your poems. Thank you.
I bring things together during this pandemic: sculptures of rock, wood and wire; colors enmesh into a painting; words thread themselves into visions called poems; leftovers in the refrigerator become soup; puzzles, I love puzzles. That is what this pandemic is: A puzzle we are all fitting together.
O to sustain a life that embraces these subtle tipping points. And then bringing things together. Facilitating conversations between various materials and entities as well as the people and pets in our lives.
You and your home are humming with creativity. Glorious!
Well, creatively I have been writing a tad more poetry. But I am so delighted to read yours, Laurie. I think the challenge/beauty of your haiku hai/pho offerings is that the form demands a focus, literally. The confines of the formula demand careful attention to what exactly you can say…. deciding what’s truly important to say and o. I’m sure there’s a metaphor for these corona-v times in there.
Anyway–you’ve inspired me.
I should probably give haikus (or hai-pho’s) a go.
Jody, yes, haiku is a rigorous form. A miniature puzzle. The search for interlocking words that complement the photo delights (and challenges) me. And passes the time. Hope you jump in!
Loved this post, Laurie! Exquisite! I’m savoring ….
I have been getting photos of nature waking up on my walks, too. Simple pleasures, not disturbed, no matter a pandemic.
Linda Jo, thank you. It’s sure good to get outside for breathers. I try to walk as well as jog every day. Such a peaceable way to clear the mind and stir the senses.
The photos in your blog post today further awakened my spirit. So thank YOU.
Such a beautiful and uplifting union. Laurie you are gift.
As you are, to me. L’etta, thank you from the bottom of my heart.