C. Todd Claus (todd.claus at us.army.mil) is a former Pararescueman who now writes about the military care health care system. His work has appeared in Stylus Poetry Journal and in the Mainichi Daily News. He is currently working on a collection of conversations with members of the American military special operations community. He lives with his family in rural Maryland.
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upon first reading, my psyche whispered, “how nice”.
then, somewhere from deep within a voice sounded, “hold the phone, bob”.
i was about to say, “huh”, however, i quickly understood the reservation being thrusted upon me.
how was this pinwheel being held by todd, in order for him to glimpse the lady’s image.
reflection, need i say, exemplifies, having casted or directed back, even being somewhat in thought, or representative of thought. maybe todd meant the latters.
this was a golden opportunity to create a worthwhile haiku, yet it desperately desires a better usage of words.
case in point:
through the pinwheel
seeing my love’s reflection
in the mirror
thus, we erase the idea of the pinwheel doing what we, or at least “i” was led to believe, reflecting, but merely being a gateway to the observance of the lady…
then a second thought arrived, “was the lady holding the pinwheel”, and if this being the case, how could she see her reflection “through” the pinwheel…
Hi Todd
This one from my darling wife Sandy
a spring walk
two tulips entwined
my heart beats
ah yes, the weekend fastly approaches.
well, down to the current business at hand.
upon first reading, my psyche whispered, “how nice”.
then, somewhere from deep within a voice sounded, “hold the phone, bob”.
i was about to say, “huh”, however, i quickly understood the reservation being thrusted upon me.
how was this pinwheel being held by todd, in order for him to glimpse the lady’s image.
reflection, need i say, exemplifies, having casted or directed back, even being somewhat in thought, or representative of thought. maybe todd meant the latters.
this was a golden opportunity to create a worthwhile haiku, yet it desperately desires a better usage of words.
case in point:
through the pinwheel
seeing my love’s reflection
in the mirror
to be continued
continuing…
thus, we erase the idea of the pinwheel doing what we, or at least “i” was led to believe, reflecting, but merely being a gateway to the observance of the lady…
then a second thought arrived, “was the lady holding the pinwheel”, and if this being the case, how could she see her reflection “through” the pinwheel…
only todd knows the exact meaning of this moment.
My daughter is a military policeman in
Baghdad. This poem reminds me of her.
Thank you for the short glimpse of her
in my mind. Perfect.
prism
staring
at awed eyes
mother’s jewelry —
stretching, on tiny toes
she opens the compact
–
Dual personality –
a spoke of wheel cut in two
the woman’s image
mother’s jewel
on tiny toes, stretching
she opens the compact
–
fireworks, in the warm winter night air,
myriad of fireflies