only so far
onto the beach
tracks of a wheelchair

 

Published by

Michael Dylan Welch

Michael Dylan Welch is poet laureate of Redmond, Washington, and curator for two poetry reading series in Redmond. His latest poetry book is True Colour. He is a longtime officer of the Haiku Society of America, and proprietor of National Haiku Writing Month (www.nahaiwrimo.com). His personal website is www.graceguts.com, devoted mostly to poetry.

11 thoughts on “”

  1. Knocks me out! I have read nothing but the Japanese masters since I became interested in Haiku…Now, ..just starting "tiny words" …cannot believe the quality and imagination of some of these contemporary poems!

  2. Michael this poem touches the heart and I am proud of you. Unlike Japanese masters the English language does not always lend itself to perfect 5/7/5 syllables-nor do they all refer to a time of season. Michael Lee Johnson, the Itasca, IL poet.

  3. I like the contrast between limitless ocean and the limitations of being human. And the whole intent behind the poem, the unspoken desire to strive beyond all setbacks. Our bodies may only travel "so far" but our eyes, our minds and imaginations. . .

  4. Nicely done, Michael. It's interesting to place this haiku alongside that famous Japanese one about a baby pram facing the waves.

    – Lorin

  5. This one reminds me of the days I spent trying to push a stroller into the sand for my toddlers. I wonder if I can write a poem about that …

    stroller on sand
    the futility
    of trying to
    contain a toddler
    at the beach

  6. Michael, there is more than one translation of the haiku I had in mind; this is the one I've found in 'Far Beyond the Field':

    ubaguruma natsu no doto ni yoko muki ni

    the baby carriage
    and the wild waves
    side by side in summer

    – Hashimoto Takako (1899 – 1963)

    1. I've read "Far Beyond the Field," but do not remember this poem. Not sure I'd call it famous, but I'm glad to be reminded of it.

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