deeper each time the summer well
(originally appeared in Under The Basho, 2014 Issue)
Published by
Carl Seguiban
Carl's native tongue is Chavacano, spoken by less than half a million people and dwindling. A trained architect, haiku appeals to his modernist leanings. "Less is more," "form follows function"- these dicta for modernism also guide his haiku. His poems have been published in Modern Haiku, Frogpond, Bottle Rockets, A Hundred Gourds, Moongarlic, Presence, Under the Basho, paper wasp, FreeXpression, The Heron's Nest, cattails, Prune Juice among others. He hopes to publish a haiku book in Chavacano before he or the language disappears. View all posts by Carl Seguiban
Wow! That is so powerful. The true beauty of only six words.
'well' is such a good word to end on: the literal well in the haiku, but the emotional verb 'to well' and the adjective 'well' of fine/healthy too. Lovely.
the well deeper because it is drying up
as we grow older our age deepens with different losses
the depth of summer as in each one grows in importance
the dwindling nature of things vs. a deep appreciation for them at the same time
just thinking out loud on this–to say that I enjoy it's many re-readings.
A nice one-line haiku with huge sublime meaning.
Ah such richness of interpretive possibility. Carl Seguiban is an architect, so we should perhaps expect interesting manipulations of space and perceptions.
Firstly I love how this poem invokes depth, while written horizontally!
I also agree with Lynne that the pivot is the final word, "well" – like a fulcrum or truss, it carries more than its weight.
And like Peter Newton, I find so many layers of meaning which take me deeper.
And one extra layer not previously mentioned but which struck me was an environmental interpretation – global warming causing the summer to be longer or hotter, requiring the well to be deeper.
Really absorbing poetry. Thanks for sharing it Carl! I hope to see more of your works on Tinywords.
Strider
Wonderful poem, thank you
Excellent!
A really strong ku for all the reasons above. I love it, Carl.
marion
Really enjoy reading your work Carl.
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deeper each time the summer well
(originally appeared in Under The Basho, 2014 Issue)
—CARL SEGUIBAN.
Summer can be all so fleeting, and water levels will diminish, but also as we grow older, we see many seasons.
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The other end of the seasonal cycle:
twilight on snow shadows deepen the grip of stars
[monostich]
Alan Summers
Frogpond 37:2, the spring/summer issue (2014)
Anthology Credit: big data The Red Moon Anthology of English-Language Haiku 2014
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