Book of the Week – blue balloon by Grant Caldwell
Grant Caldwell’s blue balloon blends Zen principles with urban imagery to create poems that feel both timeless and distinctly modern. At the heart of blue balloon is Caldwell’s ability to magnify ordinary scenes and transform them into windows of universal truth.
Caldwell’s haiku and senryu blend reverence for tradition with a distinct personal voice, creating layers of meaning. The following poems highlight his techniques and thematic concerns:
reading in bed—
two of me in the window
lit by the lamp
The poet’s reflection in the window is both literal and metaphorical, inviting readers to contemplate the layers of selfhood. Caldwell’s deft use of humor and introspection exemplifies his ability to engage with profound themes in an accessible way.
at my father’s funeral—
my stepmother’s sons
carry the coffin
The stark brevity of this haiku heightens its emotional impact. Each word is weighted with significance, capturing grief, familial complexities, and ritual in a moment of quiet tension.
spring hailstorm—
I got one, says a boy
holding a melting stone
This poem juxtaposes childhood wonder with nature’s impermanence. The melting hailstone becomes a poignant symbol of fleeting joy. Through this small moment, Caldwell reminds readers of the fleeting beauty that lies at the heart of haiku.
Caldwell invites readers to pause and rediscover the beauty of ordinary moments. His haiku and senryu, while rooted in the practices of Bashō, Buson, and Issa, speak with a distinctly contemporary voice, reflecting the rhythms of modern life
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You can read the entire book in the THF Digital Library. Please share your favorite poem from the book with us.
Do you have a full or chapbook length book published in 2020 or earlier that you would like featured as a Book of the Week? Contact us for details. Haiku featured in the Book of the Week Archive are selected by the THF Digital Librarian Dan Campbell and are used with permission.
Comments (6)
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i sure am sold on reading Grant’s book of poems soon!
you’ve done a great service here, Dan!
Thanks again, Dan. Two that caught my affection:
two students
shielding the sun
with squash rackets
the coal mine
is
the canary
Many thanks, Keith.
Your post is most gratifying.
It’s always a delight when people highlight particular poems, especially those which others have not noted, as is the case here. They are all of course dear to me.
Best regards,
Grant
There are some really fabulous haiku/senryu in this collection. Well worth a read from start to finish!
Many thanks John for your feedback, I am sure Grant will appreciate it also!
Thanks, John,
your generous comments are most welcome. Very glad you enjoyed the book.
Best wishes,
Grant