What I really love in your poem, Kala, is that here is a haiku expressing a hindu spiritual experience!
Contrary to Blyth and many influential (English-speaking) commentators, haiku is not a zen instrument, or even a spiritual art, but a poetic form which, because it focuses on human encounters with the lived world, has enormous flexibility and potency. It can be made to respond to whatever moves the poet – including mirth, sorrow, boredom, ecstasy, insult or contemplation. Or many of these complex feelings all at once.
Kala, thanks a "tone" for submitting this. It is a resounding work!
mmm, Kala, I know what you are saying but I don't think it is any disservice to art to say while art can be spiritual, and much of the best and most enduring art definitely is spiritual, making art is not the same as spirituality and definitely much art is not spiritual in creative intent. But perhaps you have a different understanding of spiritual to me. I would limit the word to referring to an experience which transcends the patterns of everyday life or relates to a manner of living which is removed from or beyond the normal needs and imperatives of fleshy creatures like us. Portrait painting, dancing, jazz and architecture are all examples that come to mind which are usually not undertaken with spiritual intent. As i see it, art is about exploring and capturing the complete range of human experiences including the basic, the mundane, and even the ugly. Haiku poets can definitely do many of those non-spiritual explorations, and capture/create portraits of all aspects of human nature and experience. We as haiku readers of course can choose to apply a spiritual filter in reading and recreating the experience conveyed in the work. But we need to remember that spiritual focus might not be the artist's intent and we should not insist that the only valid experience of an art work is a spiritual one.
This is is one of the most beautiful haiku I have ever read. Thank you so much for sharing. I could actually hear the bell.
Yes, I, too, agree that any art form is spiritual, and a conduit to Him.
I wish to present a poem that attempts to depict my feelings on reading/chanting the Gita.
Gita
next stanza
distorted by tears
May I also add that I am a big fan of your poems. One day, I hope to come to Pune and learn something from you. Do you have a website giving your email address?
February 18th, 2014 at 10:37 am
tinywords, thanks a ton for accepting this.
_kala
February 18th, 2014 at 1:20 pm
It is the 'bell' that captures me in this haiku — as its tone goes on and on to continue the chanting.
Lovely.
February 18th, 2014 at 3:18 pm
I , too, appreciate that bell and also the interplay of the vowel sounds. They almost create their own chant. Your haiku make the world smaller.
February 19th, 2014 at 8:35 am
Lovely comment, Sheila.
Thanks
_kala
February 18th, 2014 at 3:33 pm
overlapping our voices one with the mantra
February 19th, 2014 at 8:33 am
Thanks Peter.
Lovely one-line ku :)
_kala
February 18th, 2014 at 8:00 pm
What I really love in your poem, Kala, is that here is a haiku expressing a hindu spiritual experience!
Contrary to Blyth and many influential (English-speaking) commentators, haiku is not a zen instrument, or even a spiritual art, but a poetic form which, because it focuses on human encounters with the lived world, has enormous flexibility and potency. It can be made to respond to whatever moves the poet – including mirth, sorrow, boredom, ecstasy, insult or contemplation. Or many of these complex feelings all at once.
Kala, thanks a "tone" for submitting this. It is a resounding work!
Strider
February 19th, 2014 at 8:32 am
Thanks Strider.
it was great reading your response.
Felt good too.
_kala
February 20th, 2014 at 10:53 pm
Strider, all said and done, I do firmly believe that creativity in any art form to a great extent is spiritual.
Isn't it so?
_kala
February 21st, 2014 at 5:00 am
mmm, Kala, I know what you are saying but I don't think it is any disservice to art to say while art can be spiritual, and much of the best and most enduring art definitely is spiritual, making art is not the same as spirituality and definitely much art is not spiritual in creative intent. But perhaps you have a different understanding of spiritual to me. I would limit the word to referring to an experience which transcends the patterns of everyday life or relates to a manner of living which is removed from or beyond the normal needs and imperatives of fleshy creatures like us. Portrait painting, dancing, jazz and architecture are all examples that come to mind which are usually not undertaken with spiritual intent. As i see it, art is about exploring and capturing the complete range of human experiences including the basic, the mundane, and even the ugly. Haiku poets can definitely do many of those non-spiritual explorations, and capture/create portraits of all aspects of human nature and experience. We as haiku readers of course can choose to apply a spiritual filter in reading and recreating the experience conveyed in the work. But we need to remember that spiritual focus might not be the artist's intent and we should not insist that the only valid experience of an art work is a spiritual one.
A poem I composed today:
drying off
first inkling
of autumn
Love to hear more of your thoughts, though.
Strider
February 18th, 2014 at 9:35 pm
Absolutely awesome, Kala! I do hear the bell…
February 19th, 2014 at 8:35 am
Thanks a ton, Sanjuktaa
I wanted my readers to *hear* the bell :))
February 18th, 2014 at 10:58 pm
Awesome Kala!
The words ring a 'bell' in the inner mind.
February 19th, 2014 at 8:34 am
Hi, Shamim.
Thank you so much :)
_kala
February 19th, 2014 at 8:41 am
Thanks a ton, Marie.
Very true.
_kala
February 20th, 2014 at 11:20 am
This reminded me of my trip to Asia last year – really beautiful…
February 22nd, 2014 at 9:33 am
inside
her giant pocket
a tiny chime
February 24th, 2014 at 12:19 am
askant board extends…
standing by
a bed of flowers
February 28th, 2014 at 8:30 pm
I admire your piece of work, thank you for all the great posts.
February 28th, 2014 at 8:34 pm
It would be extremely useful and helpful for me and my colleagues, thank you
March 4th, 2014 at 12:31 am
Dear Kala,
This is is one of the most beautiful haiku I have ever read. Thank you so much for sharing. I could actually hear the bell.
Yes, I, too, agree that any art form is spiritual, and a conduit to Him.
I wish to present a poem that attempts to depict my feelings on reading/chanting the Gita.
Gita
next stanza
distorted by tears
May I also add that I am a big fan of your poems. One day, I hope to come to Pune and learn something from you. Do you have a website giving your email address?
Warm regards
March 14th, 2014 at 9:05 am
Hi, Pranav,
Thank you!
Please do give me your email id. I'll contact you. :)
_kala
March 14th, 2014 at 3:37 pm
Dear Kala,
Thank you very much for your reply.
My email address is phkodial [at rate of) gmail [dot) com
Looking forward to your reply. :)
Warm regards,
Pranav
December 11th, 2019 at 3:44 am
all alone the night sky