triveni spotlight: 21st July 2023
- Kala Ramesh
- Jul 21, 2023
- 2 min read
triveni spotlight A FEATURE EVERY ALTERNATE DAY! hosts: Kala Ramesh and Vidya Shankar GUEST EDITOR: Nandita Jain Mahajan, July 2023
the light snow
the ice without any trace
on the lake
Kawahigashi Hekigoto
the train takes them
leaving the silence
of falling snow
Jo Pacsoo Presence 44 (2011)
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to present my selection. Though the task of selecting haiku for Triveni Spotlight was very difficult, I found it very rewarding. I spent several hours going through poems available in the public domain and those from books in my personal collection. I read and re-read, shortlisted again and again paring down the list till I could do no more. It was a sheer joy to read such fantastic works - my heart is full ... so happy.
I tried to keep the poems different from what other guest editors had selected earlier. However, there is bound to be some repetition. I found myself leaning towards old Japanese masters like Basho, Issa, Shiki, and Ryokan but equally drawn to women poets like Chiyo-ni and Rengetsu. The simplicity, charm, and timeless quality is what pull me to their haiku. What a picture they paint! And, the space between what is said and what is unsaid. So many different interpretations which helped me connect to these poems.
Amongst the contemporary poets, I found myself opting for those that tugged at my heart. The poems span longing, sadness, hopelessness, hope, love, and gentleness. These are those that I could read over and over again, especially at dusk, when my mind is quiet and at peace. And then, something interesting happened. I realised that I could pair the masters with the contemporary - similar thoughts and subjects but different treatment. I hope you enjoy this selection. Nandita Jain Mahajan
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What a unique and refreshing way of handling this month's triveni spotlight selections! Watch out for this space, every alternate day, dear readers, you are in for a real treat! Thank you, Nandita. We are waiting to see the month unfold. _()_
The more I read poems, comments, reviews in this site the more involved I become. Such depth, passion and intense study of subjects! So much is said in such a small space. Incredible! Thanks to all.
Fantastic selection.
Both poems use kinesthetic sensory (movement) to create an effect that is so deep and moving. Wonderful selection.
Beautiful!!
Yes, the use of 'the' is surprising.
I liked the way 'silence is captured without leaving any trace'. Both the poems seem to be from the same neighbourhood - i meant the sequence is so beautiful!
Both are beautiful! I wonder about the repeated “the’s” in the first ku…there is a certain musicality to the repetition.