Laurie Greer is a bookseller in Washington, DC. She wrote long-form poetry for many years, coming to haiku only in June 2018. Her work has appeared in Frogpond, The Heron?s Nest, Modern Haiku, Under the Basho, and Wales Haiku.
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I read this, or can read this, as deeply poignant, and also hopefully as something not sad, as if the hustle and bustle of both sidewalk and the family energy have, for a moment, taken charge of a random stranger! :-)
I'd like to stay with the happier notion, but that word 'briefly' speaks volume otherwise.
I can only hope it was a happy amusing incident, and not about a past loss of personal family.
Wonderfully crafted and captured haikai verse, beautifully worded.
Alan–
thank you for your kind words and sensitive reading(s). I guess the actual experience had something bittersweet about it. But anything that can deliver a haiku on the spot, as this brief moment did, redeems the negatives and fills me with joy and satisfaction.
So happy it can speak to others, too.
I love this poem. You have captured a situation that occurs to me often. I take my daily walks in the shopping mall, and it's not unusual for me to find myself temporarily part of a group. You captured it perfectly.
society starts when
a slight connection
is made,
like
a voice
passing through
a wall
heard by
an unknown ear …
it
demands for
obedience of rules…
abide by the side walk rule
and abide in the side walk
protecting
limits …
This poem feels so cozy!
.
crowded sidewalk
briefly
part of a family
—LAURIE GREER
I read this, or can read this, as deeply poignant, and also hopefully as something not sad, as if the hustle and bustle of both sidewalk and the family energy have, for a moment, taken charge of a random stranger! :-)
I'd like to stay with the happier notion, but that word 'briefly' speaks volume otherwise.
I can only hope it was a happy amusing incident, and not about a past loss of personal family.
Wonderfully crafted and captured haikai verse, beautifully worded.
warm regards,
Alan
Alan–
thank you for your kind words and sensitive reading(s). I guess the actual experience had something bittersweet about it. But anything that can deliver a haiku on the spot, as this brief moment did, redeems the negatives and fills me with joy and satisfaction.
So happy it can speak to others, too.
Thanks Laurie. It's a brilliant haiku, and there is often something bittersweet in certain moments.
warmest regards,
Alan
I love this poem. You have captured a situation that occurs to me often. I take my daily walks in the shopping mall, and it's not unusual for me to find myself temporarily part of a group. You captured it perfectly.
Great…
society starts when
a slight connection
is made,
like
a voice
passing through
a wall
heard by
an unknown ear …
it
demands for
obedience of rules…
abide by the side walk rule
and abide in the side walk
protecting
limits …
It's easy to relate to this. Lovely haiku! Thanks for sharing, Laurie Greer.
We're all members of the human family!
Thank you, all who commented. So glad the poem resonated!