I love this so much! A simple thing – to name a flower – to acknowledge its existence by name rather than just passing by. Maybe in answer to a child's question, or a friend's, or just whispered to the self because you know or because you had to look it up on your phone. The joy of knowing by name, of elevating to importance. Love everything about it.
A lovely haiku Philip! So much in that last line, 'to speak a flower's name'. 'One more stop" seems filled with delight and awe in discovering yet another flower you know by name.
May 29th, 2019 at 11:35 am
.
wilderness
one more stop to speak
a flower’s name
—PHILIP WHITLEY
The first word/line almost makes for a haiku like 'tundra' by Cor van den Heuvel!
I think your haiku is fantastic. I can see why you didn't use the definite article [the] as it would detract into something else.
I love how you have used the line break, even if it's the right place anyway, but there is something special about:
"one more stop to speak"
perhaps it's the alliteration and how the line interacts separately with the opening line and then the closing line.
wilderness
one more stop to speak
*
one more stop to speak
the flower’s name
Thank you, it's a poem that has lifted me, by a lot.
warm regards,
Alan
May 29th, 2019 at 11:57 am
ROSEBUD!
my own backyard
I forget
to love it 🏡
May 29th, 2019 at 12:04 pm
I love this so much! A simple thing – to name a flower – to acknowledge its existence by name rather than just passing by. Maybe in answer to a child's question, or a friend's, or just whispered to the self because you know or because you had to look it up on your phone. The joy of knowing by name, of elevating to importance. Love everything about it.
May 29th, 2019 at 12:05 pm
canopy of rowen leaves
small islands of green
fill the evening sky
May 29th, 2019 at 12:32 pm
A lovely haiku Philip! So much in that last line, 'to speak a flower's name'. 'One more stop" seems filled with delight and awe in discovering yet another flower you know by name.
May 29th, 2019 at 1:48 pm
wilderness
one more stop to look up
a flower’s name
.
To be used in the event of forgetfulness.
May 29th, 2019 at 4:44 pm
wilderness
the for get me nots
are not forgotten
May 29th, 2019 at 4:58 pm
Immensely joyful. Love it.
May 29th, 2019 at 5:36 pm
" to speak a flower's name"–to elevate it by naming it. A beautiful haiku. It makes all the difference in the world to be called by name.
May 29th, 2019 at 5:37 pm
Thank you all for such kind remarks. It's a joy to communicate! I'm looking forward to tomorrow's poem.