kingfisher
a rattle as the river
turns south
Published by
Jean LeBlanc
Jean LeBlanc is a poet, artist, and teacher in Newton, New Jersey. She teaches writing and literature at Sussex County Community College. Her collections of short-form poetry include The Opposite of Bird (Cyberwit, 2015) and The Haiku Aesthetic: Short Form Poetry as a Study in Craft (Cyberwit, 2013).
In her blog, www.jeanleblancpoetry.blogspot.com, she contemplates the role of art and poetry in our weird, mixed-up world.
View all posts by Jean LeBlanc
I don't which kind of kingfisher, but I've been lucky to have witnessed most kinds.
So I adore this haiku:
kingfisher
a rattle as the river
turns south
—JEAN LEBLANC
The River Kingfisher which I'm most familiar with, is silent and rapid, and just like a speeding bullet of azure blurring into river and sky blue at the same time somehow.
I love the rattle of the river, that's brilliant as you have it, but also these variations. Taking artistic license:
kingfisher: a rattle as the river
kingfisher: a rattle as the river turns
But even more stunning as:
a rattle as the river
turns south
There is something mystical and magical about these halcyon creatures embodying Summer.
Awesome haiku.
That "rattle" is what lifts this from the ordinary…
marion