he holds her hand
a tad longer than needed
bangle seller

13 Responses

  1. Kala Ramesh Says:

    Absolutely a lovely ku, Anitha.
    I was smiling for a long time after reading it.

  2. Mike Schoenburg Says:

    Fond of the word ‘tad!’

    the tadpole
    swims away
    a frog ?

  3. Anitha Varma Says:

    Thanks, Kala.. :)

    Thanks for the comment, Mike Schoenberg.

  4. seaviewwarrenpoint Says:

    I guess this could be seen as flattery or a little creepy, Anitha. Sufficiently open for readers to make up their own minds. Well done. :)

    marion

  5. Pravat Says:

    Beautiful composition, Anitha. I like the lightness (karumi) of the haiku. I wish to post a stanza from my collection, 'Songs of Love: A Celebration" (Writers Workshop Publication):

    You always fear
    Perhaps
    Someone may hear.
    Bangles you arm
    To make nearly
    No sound.
    Eyes you wish to slide,
    Else it may ask
    For a share
    Of your love
    Undivided.

  6. Alan Summers Says:

    .
    he holds her hand
    a tad longer than needed
    bangle seller

    —ANITHA VARMA
    .
    .
    Having spent time in India, and recently visiting a souk in Marrakech where just one individual was creepy, I can see this in many ways.

    Is it an older man checking for good fortune, or if she is married, or abusing opportunities for touching another person?

    It could have been just tactile methods to obtain and secure a sale, or reassurance not necessity understood by the narrator/observer or client/customer. Is the poet the person being retailed?

    An intriguing haiku and using musicality that also heightens the tension of the haiku.

    It could as easily been:

    he holds her hand
    longer than needed
    bangle seller

    But it doesn't ramp up the resonance as much as adding 'a tad':

    he holds her hand
    a tad longer than needed
    bangle seller

    Great poem!!!

    Alan

  7. sanjuktaa Says:

    It could be seen as a little creepy, yes, but because of the way it sounds when you read it aloud, for me it comes with a hint of sensuousness.

    he holds her hand
    a tad longer than needed
    bangle seller

    Beautifully done, Anitha!

  8. Anitha Varma Says:

    Thank you very much, Marion. Yes, this can be read in different ways :)

  9. Anitha Varma Says:

    Thank you, Pravat ji

  10. Anitha Varma Says:

    Thank you very much, Alan Summers… you have snalysed it so well..:)

  11. Anitha Varma Says:

    Thank you, Sanjuktaa.. glad you like it :)

  12. Debbie Feller Says:

    This is wonderful! As you can tell by the responses . . .it really resonates! It reminds me of when I used to deliver the mail and "Mr. Z" would grab my hand when I handed him the mail. He was elderly and I didn't want to be rude . . .just started creeping up as quiet and quick as possible to the mail box before he came out! Haha! Thanks for the joy of your haiku!

  13. Anitha Varma Says:

    Thank you very much for your comment, Debbie Feller.. lots of Mr.Zs around :)

Leave a Reply