Susan Constable mainly writes haiku and tanka, receiving her inspiration from life on the west coast of Canada. Her work is widely published in both print and online journals, as well as in numerous anthologies. She has judged several contests as well as co-edited a couple of haiku and tanka anthologies She was the tanka editor for the online journal A Hundred Gourds from March 2012 to June 2016.
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Such a striking poem. We can all feel the chill of the ice, from our toes up to our heart. I love the choice of the word "blade" which turns something as inocuous and domestic as grass into a weapon. And it is "edged" with frost. This reminds me of the blade Laertes "edges" with poison in his plot to kill Hamlet. Slow release venom. I recall Hamlet and Laertes both perished from the same edged weapon in Shakespeare's play, but not before each made and received a genuine apology from the other.
So much is unspoken in this poem that there is a sense of incompleteness. What is the connection between the grass and "his" apology? Is the start of winter, or the last frost of the season? The uncertainty of context is I believe left there deliberately to let us share the ambivalence of the poet. She as yet has not decided whether the frost will thaw.
This poem has prompted my own response:
Retreating footprints
Mark the frosted lawn
With an ellipsis
As far as me being a member here, I wasn’t aware that I was a member for any days, actually. When the article was published I received a notification, so that I could participate inside the discussion of the post, That would explain me stumbuling upon this post. But we’re definitely all members in the world of suggestions.
Hi! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from an established blog. Is it hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any points or suggestions? Many thanks
What a vivid haiku! I shivered.
Hope the shivers didn't last long. <smile> Thanks, Sheila.
Susan
spring thaw
he brings me a branch
cherry blossoms
:-) thank you, Susan!
A great response, Danne. Thanks!
Sharp!
Lovely to 'see' you here, Jenny. Thanks so much.
Susan
Exquisitely icy!
Thank you, Alison!
Susan
Oh wow, Susan – this one packs a punch! :)
marion
Thanks, Marion, for dropping by. Appreciated!
Such a striking poem. We can all feel the chill of the ice, from our toes up to our heart. I love the choice of the word "blade" which turns something as inocuous and domestic as grass into a weapon. And it is "edged" with frost. This reminds me of the blade Laertes "edges" with poison in his plot to kill Hamlet. Slow release venom. I recall Hamlet and Laertes both perished from the same edged weapon in Shakespeare's play, but not before each made and received a genuine apology from the other.
So much is unspoken in this poem that there is a sense of incompleteness. What is the connection between the grass and "his" apology? Is the start of winter, or the last frost of the season? The uncertainty of context is I believe left there deliberately to let us share the ambivalence of the poet. She as yet has not decided whether the frost will thaw.
This poem has prompted my own response:
Retreating footprints
Mark the frosted lawn
With an ellipsis
Thank you for taking so much time, haiku apprentice, with your response. I'm delighted this is working so well for you.
Very nice Susan.
Terrific haiku, Susan – Again you prove to us why we look up to you (don't know how tall you are, but you get the drift).
Warren
As far as me being a member here, I wasn’t aware that I was a member for any days, actually. When the article was published I received a notification, so that I could participate inside the discussion of the post, That would explain me stumbuling upon this post. But we’re definitely all members in the world of suggestions.
Hi! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from an established blog. Is it hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any points or suggestions? Many thanks