Intriguing. I am uncertain whether he has an answer for everything because he is a know-it-all or because someone is charging him with some misdeed and he is making excuses.
Welcome Julie Bloss Kelsey, and congratulations on your first poem on Tinywords!
I really enjoyed your opening image, which is quite unexpected. I come from an area where it never snows, so had to look up the expression, and find that it is a rather technical meteorological event – giving us a scientific seasonal reference. And it creates an ambiguous mood in regards the relationship implied in the rest of the verse, that really lifts this haiku out of the ordinary. On one reading the unnamed "he" thinks he has an answer for everything, but as is frequently argued in public discourse about the limits of scientific knowledge, "science" cannot answer moral, spiritual or personal conflicts. On that reading the author seems to be making a clever ironic play on what he doesn't know, what he cannot answer. And in the end, lake effect snow is cold after all.
I read it that way at first. Then I thought about the wise "he"s I have known who have always had answers when I need them. Back when I lived where there was always lake effect snow. Beautiful.
Thank you all for the warm welcome. :) This poem was inspired by the time I lived near Salt Lake City. When I was growing up, there was a personable and entertaining weatherman who dressed up in a white suit for the evening forecast every time that he predicted snow. Quite often, "the lake-effect" was cited as a reason that more snow fell here or there or his forecast didn't quite live up to predictions. In my mind, that little phrase is a catch-all for why things don't always turn out as planned. So Dirk, you are right on both counts. This little poem is a personal favorite of mine and I'm glad it has finally found a home here.
This haiku makes me think of a friend who is a "walking encyclopedia". He knows all the right answers. I respect him too much to try to contradict him but I don't always agree with him.
April 30th, 2014 at 11:29 am
Intriguing. I am uncertain whether he has an answer for everything because he is a know-it-all or because someone is charging him with some misdeed and he is making excuses.
April 30th, 2014 at 2:40 pm
Welcome Julie Bloss Kelsey, and congratulations on your first poem on Tinywords!
I really enjoyed your opening image, which is quite unexpected. I come from an area where it never snows, so had to look up the expression, and find that it is a rather technical meteorological event – giving us a scientific seasonal reference. And it creates an ambiguous mood in regards the relationship implied in the rest of the verse, that really lifts this haiku out of the ordinary. On one reading the unnamed "he" thinks he has an answer for everything, but as is frequently argued in public discourse about the limits of scientific knowledge, "science" cannot answer moral, spiritual or personal conflicts. On that reading the author seems to be making a clever ironic play on what he doesn't know, what he cannot answer. And in the end, lake effect snow is cold after all.
Really great work, thanks for sharing it Julie
Strider
April 30th, 2014 at 2:57 pm
I read it that way at first. Then I thought about the wise "he"s I have known who have always had answers when I need them. Back when I lived where there was always lake effect snow. Beautiful.
May 2nd, 2014 at 1:32 pm
I found this quite humorous. Very enjoyable :)
marion
May 6th, 2014 at 1:20 pm
Thank you all for the warm welcome. :) This poem was inspired by the time I lived near Salt Lake City. When I was growing up, there was a personable and entertaining weatherman who dressed up in a white suit for the evening forecast every time that he predicted snow. Quite often, "the lake-effect" was cited as a reason that more snow fell here or there or his forecast didn't quite live up to predictions. In my mind, that little phrase is a catch-all for why things don't always turn out as planned. So Dirk, you are right on both counts. This little poem is a personal favorite of mine and I'm glad it has finally found a home here.
May 10th, 2014 at 3:26 pm
This haiku makes me think of a friend who is a "walking encyclopedia". He knows all the right answers. I respect him too much to try to contradict him but I don't always agree with him.