triveni spotlight: 3rd January 2026
- Anju Kishore
- Jan 3
- 1 min read
triveni spotlight A FEATURE EVERY ALTERNATE DAY hosts: Anju Kishore and Mohua Maulik GUEST EDITOR: Mohua Maulik
1st January 2026
triveni spotlight January 2026
the tiny arms
of a tyrannosaurus rex
how you like to
point out
my insecurities
—Susan Burch
haikuKATHA issue 37
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The Lightness of Being
Humor in haikai is what first drew me to this extraordinary genre of poetry. Humor that is subtle or overt, one that makes me giggle or one that stings and yet brings a smile.
Quoting from the essay, Humor in Haiku by Susumu Takiguchi, “...the true spirit of haiku as the word “haiku” is composed of two parts, “hai” and “ku”, and it is the meaning of the former which is often forgotten or never learnt in the first place, creating one of the most serious flaws in Western writing of haiku. The “hai” is part of another word “hai-kai” of Chinese origin, whose Japanese equivalent is “kokkei”. Now, the word “kokkei” can be variously translated into English: comicality, drollery, waggery, jocularity, joke, jest, pleasantry, humour, witticism, pun, farce, funny things etc.”
As we begin a new year, I invite you to join me in exploring haiku that bring a lightness to our step, a smile in our hearts, and perhaps tickles us enough to make us snort or even guffaw.
Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy 2026.
Mohua Maulik
We wish our poet-friends here a creatively fulfilling 2026. May the year bring you all joy and to the world, lasting peace. Thank you for your curation, Mohua. We are sure the poems will add to the celebrations.
Team Triveni Spotlight
_()_
Wow!
Omy Susan can write in this fashion.
re:
the tiny arms
of a tyrannosaurus rex
how you like to
point out
my insecurities
—Susan Burch
haikuKATHA issue 37
A great example of juxtaposition and of enjambment rather than just line breaks.
We've mostly seen the incongruousness of tiny arms of a very big dinosaur either in a picture book or a movie! That juxtaposition of a big 'male' animal whether dinosaur or now a person's male parent, partner, sibling, or friend etc... with tiny flailing arms attempting to belittle another person is brilliant!
Enjambment over line break:
PAUSE
PAUSE
The last three lines of the kyoka verse:
how you like to point out my insecurities
Line…
A funny-sad poem that makes me wonder if the T-rex is the speaker reduced to flailing fore limbs or the overwhelming figure with the tiny, yet condescending finger. Either way, a powerful tanka with a dash of humour typical of Susan.
Great choice, Mohua