HAIKU DIALOGUE – Haiku Prism – Pink
Haiku Prism – A World in Color
During this dark time we could all use something to brighten up our weeks. I believe that each one of us carries an inner light that can be a source of solace for others. So let’s take that light and channel it through the magic and wonder of haiku to express our world in all its glorious colors. Let’s let haiku be our prism.
Each week I will be providing a new color for you to meditate on and write about. You do not need to name it in your haiku, simply let it be an aspect. You can take this in any direction you like from various flora & fauna, fruits & vegetables, clothing items, celestial bodies, household objects, etc…to various associated moods. Even think in related colors such as pink for red or gold for yellow. I am also happy to accept sub-genres including scifaiku and mythku.
next week’s theme: Purple
Please send up to two unpublished haiku by clicking here: Contact Form, and put Haiku Dialogue in the Subject box. The deadline is midnight Eastern Standard Time, Saturday, May 2, 2020.
Selected haiku will be listed in the order they are received with a few chosen for commentary each week.
Please note that by submitting, you agree that your work may appear in the column – neither acknowledgment nor acceptance emails will be sent. All communication about the poems that are posted in the column can be added as blog comments.
Below is my commentary for Pink:
First and foremost, I hope this finds all of you safe and well. I know that we are a bit stir-crazy here in my house and are longing for a semblance of normalcy to return. With the instability of our current times, I believe that the creative act is of vital importance, as we seek to make sense of what is senseless, and find hope where hope seems to have run dry. Your haiku and senryu reflect the resiliency of the human spirit, to continue to create in the face of great difficulty. Thank you all for your submissions and your continued support of this column.
I have chosen the following to comment on as they showcase the wide variety of this week’s exploration of the color pink:
ocean waves
in the sea thrift
the same windM. R. Defibaugh
I enjoy the interconnectedness expressed here, the idea that what happens on one part of our Earth affects another. From the force of the wind that drives the ocean waves, to the gentle breeze among our gardens, all belong together and work together. It is an idea that can be extrapolated to a human level: what happens to one of us, affects all of us. Haiku make us consider these connections, and draw us to a place of reflection. We are certainly drawn to do that here.
pink moon
looking for that perfect
shade of lipstickPamela A. Babusci
I see the pink moon here as a symbol of transition, a possible change of season in Pamela’s life. Something has happened and her go-to colors no longer work. I get a sense that she is reinventing herself, and trying to find that next right step in her transformation, where even the way she accents her beauty is in question. It is an act of rebirth and renewal just like our Earth’s spring.
baby teeth
the spot of blood
in her breast milkJonathan Roman
This snapshot is a pinpoint focus on the reality of motherhood. As one gives herself over to her children, it is not always, or necessarily often, that that sacrifice is met with gentleness. The mother’s reaction is not given here, but one can imagine the pain, both physical and emotional, in that moment. With the simple image of breastfeeding a teething child, Jonathan has captured a world of truth and emotion. Also, the hint at the color pink, without directly stating it, shows a deft handling of this week’s theme.
pink jasper
the soothing slide
of prayer beadsClifford Rames, Freehold, NJ
Pink jasper is known for its stress-relieving qualities, as well as its promotion of inner peace and empathy. A fitting mineral for prayer beads. I appreciate that no specific faith is mentioned. The heart of this senryu rests not on the style of religion but the action of supplication. The reader here has space to create the scene. Why is this person anxious? What are they praying about? Who are they praying for? Where are they? At home? In a building of religious significance? These are all questions the reader gets to fill in for themself.
first blush
he knows I have
rose-colored glassesKath Abela Wilson, Pasadena, California
There is a surface innocence to this senryu that can be peeled back to reveal a bit of self-mockery. From a generous compliment or gesture she has responded with an innocent blush. But, he knows that she is an optimist who at times might see things as being more innocent than they are. Is he going to exploit that? Are her rose-colored glasses fading and she suspects this deception? Kath Abela seems to be making light of herself with this display of acknowledgment in her limitations that could potentially lead to disappointment or heartache.
The following are the rest of my selections for this week. Happy reading!
falling blossoms
I lose feelings
for an old crushJackie Chou, Pico Rivera, CA, USA
pink lipgloss…
the colour
of my youthRosa Maria Di Salvatore
pink moon
my niece swears she sees
the rabbitKristen Lindquist
slight breeze-
in procession
cherry petalsvincenzo adamo
shades of emotion
hers
and mineStephen A. Peters
a peach petal –
that intense perfume
of your cheeksDennys Cambarau, Italy
candlelit blush
the whisper of her kimono
hitting the floorJoshua Gage
bouquet of flowers
he gets her blush
in returnRajeshwari Srinivasan
just a veil of lipstick to feel adult
solo un velo di rossetto per sentirsi adulta
Angela Giordano
laid-off
I give my pink slip
to the windBryan Rickert
prairie smoke
the sunset inhales
a wisp of pinkIsabel Caves, New Zealand
awaiting news
grandma knits booties
blue and pinkNeena Singh
valentines day
my heart on
my sleeveMichael Henry Lee
pandemic night–
tender light
of the pink moonTeiichi Suzuki , Japan
nobody knows
in the washer full of whites
one pink sockFranjo Ordanic
global pandemic-
soft pink sakura motif
on my cloth face maskTANPOPO Anis
pink world
through my daughter’s
glassesSlobodan Pupovac, Zagreb, Croatia
eight crayons
the light touch
that made red pinkPat Davis, NH
out of the mist
pink lotuses appear
emperor’s gardenRehn Kovacic
sheltered in place
a leaping boy spins
in his sister’s tutuSusan Glassmeyer
I lay
her favourite flowers
10th anniversaryMargaret Mahony
after Diwali —
my candle becomes
a pink cloudMuskaan Ahuja, Chandigarh, India
Rose buds
Let me bloom again
this yearBenedetta Cardone
quarantine…
finally
in the pinkJibril Dauda Muhammad, Bwari Abuja, Nigeria
the pink
of where
he pinchedSusan Rogers, Los Angeles, CA
a call to pray
across the misty river
azalea blossomsAgus Maulana Sunjaya, Tangerang, Indonesia
sexual awareness
I refuse to dress my barbie
in pinkVandana Parashar
isolation
my wishes
still pinkPere Risteski
not a drop left
in the puddle
pink gumbootsLouise Hopewell
rosy bud …
the kiss of a child
on my cheekbocciolo rosa…
il bacio di un bambino
sulla mia guanciaDaniela Misso
pink scar
unfolding
her baby blanketLaurie Greer
cow’s lick
responding to his smile
not meant for meRashmi VeSa
I remind myself
not to judge –
cotton candy skyJessica Wheeler
virtual pink slip–
constantly crashing
on the unemployment websiteKimberly Esser, Los Angeles, CA
old pink lipsticks–
so many years
no longer youngLorraine Schein Queens, NY
pink dianthus
two parasols bend
to the scentCarol Raisfeld
cherry petals
the drift of grandma’s gown
around herShane Pruett, Oregon, USA
pastel dawn…
the baby robin’s
sightless gapeMichele L. Harvey
dawn peeks
over the fence
my neighbor’s roosterDeborah P Kolodji, Temple City, CA
sizzling summer day
the juicy flesh
of a ripe watermelonOlivier Schopfer, Switzerland
each petal
sinks into its own shadow…
a child’s wishesIvan Gaćina, Zadar, Croatia
a pink corsage
on her wrist –
the new tattooValentina Ranaldi-Adams, Fairlawn, Ohio, USA
cool dawn
the covid nurse
removes her maskRobert Kingston
ultrasound…
she knits a blanket
of dusty roseNancy Brady, Huron, Ohio
in .pink of her life
..ever …humming ..bird …She was
Radhamani sarma
soft drizzle…
his love note turning pink
in my pocketarvinder kaur, Chandigarh, India
isolation . . .
over the barbed wire fence
a blooming pink roseManoj Sharma, Kathmandu, Nepal
what could’ve been…
she quaffs all the stars
in her pink champagneMarisa Fazio
one after another
the pink clouds refine
my thoughtsHifsa Ashraf, Pakistan
priority tag
last to enter the carousel
my pink ribboned caseMadhuri Pillai
hidden crush
my blush
gives me awayPris Campbell
fashion shift
my Sanrio-loving niece
dons a PPEBona M. Santos, Los Angeles, CA
Valentine’s Day
the whole department gets
pink slipsRandy Brooks
morning sky
the strawberries
on her palmsAnthony Rabang
cherry blossom
going with the flow
of our new normalXenia Tran
pink bath
stepping in
to childhoodMargaret Walker
variegated wind
the cherry trees —
once pinkLemuel Waite, Georgetown, Kentucky
waiting for her
to change
pink moonRich Schilling, Webster Groves, MO
cherry bloom
she’s taking her tea
pinky upMona Iordan
pink full moon
on the stay at home playlist
la vie en rosecezar-florin ciobica
sun’s first rays…
the artist adds water
to his crimsonAl Gallia, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
cotton candy skies
the whole day
ahead of meClaire Vogel Camargo
blush pink
what we think
we’ve forgottenPeter Jastermsky
alternate history
and don’t you step
on my pink suede shoesGreer Woodward, Waimea, HI
reading
under sakura branches
pink rainKat Lehmann
looking for a kigo…
pink clouds lost
on the horizonElisa Allo
Guest Editor Tia Haynes resides in Lakewood, Ohio, near her beloved Lake Erie. She was featured in New Resonance 11: Emerging Voices in English-Language Haiku and has appeared in journals and anthologies worldwide. Much of her inspiration comes from the landscape and people of the American Midwest as well as life with her two small children. Her chapbook, leftover ribbon, (Velvet Dusk Publishing) is available on Amazon. Follow her on Twitter: @adalia_haiku
Lori Zajkowski is the Post Manager for Haiku Dialogue. A novice haiku poet, she lives in New York City.
Managing Editor Katherine Munro lives in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, and publishes under the name kjmunro. She is Membership Secretary for Haiku Canada, and her debut poetry collection is contractions (Red Moon Press, 2019).
This Post Has 27 Comments
Comments are closed.
Tia, thanks for featuring my haiku among so many great verses, and congratulations on being an honorable mention in April’s kukai!
***
I particularly enjoyed this subtly brilliant effort:
*
eight crayons / the light touch / that made red pink
Pat Davis, NH
*
The light touch, in the context of some of the other verses, made me first think of a delicate touch making someone blush. I eventually wondered why eight before realizing a box of so few crayons probably wouldn’t include pink. It’s, of course, the light pressing of the red crayon on the white page that made it pink. Here, you don’t register the “eight” until you get to the “pink.” Metaphorically, it could be about making good use of the little you have, which is fitting in this age of layoffs and shortages. Nice work, Pat!
Thanks so much, M.R., for your comment! I especially like that you noticed about “making-do” with what you have.
Tia, thank you for including my “pink bath” in this weeks excellent collection! I enjoyed reading each of them.
I am so glad I joined Haiku Canada. This has resulted in emails from associated groups as well, including contests and other opportunities to share, and the enjoyment of reading other’s haiku such as the feast above, that is helping me get through this stressful time.
I’m glad you have found Haiku Dialogue and are enjoying it! Many of us here feel the same way. I know reading and writing haiku has been an anchor for me through this time as well.
Yes, Tia, for me too. Glad to share these days, thoughts, and words with you. Thank you for the light you shine leading the haiku dialogue.
reading
under sakura branches
pink rain
.
Kat Lehmann
.
I have experienced this when the petals fall like rain on a breezy day.
looking for a kigo…
pink clouds lost
on the horizon
.
Elisa Allo
.
This one nicely expresses that sometimes when writing haiku, the words do not come easily.
A lovely collection for this rainy afternoon. Thank you, everyone! I flagged two that I especially like:
.
after Diwali —
my candle becomes
a pink cloud
.
Muskaan Ahuja, Chandigarh, India
.
.
one after another
the pink clouds refine
my thoughts
.
Hifsa Ashraf, Pakistan
Thanks to all the participants for sharing your poems and thanks Tia for your guidance on this week’s session. I tried to contribute but pink totally baffled me!
Thank you Tia for including my haiku among this fine collection.
Three I especially liked. Joshua Gage’s
candlelit blush
the whisper of her kimono
hitting the floor
This set a scene for me. Two simple images, the light of a candle and the sound of a piece of clothing created an evocative mystery. Who were these people? What was their relationship? What would happen next?
Arvinder Kaur’s
soft drizzle . . .
his love note turning pink
in my pocket
I loved the ambiguity. Why was the love letter turning pink? So many possibilities mixed with the wonder of new love.
And Valentina Ranaldi-Adams’
a pink corsage
on her wrist –
the new tattoo
In spite of changes in style and fashion, some traditions remain the same.
I also enjoyed the pink moons that graced our poems this week.
And thanks, Tia, for including my work!
Thanks for commenting on mine.
What a great collection, Tia. I have to admit that I had to look up M.R. Defibaugh’s words in the haiku to find the pink connection. Maybe everyone is familiar with that term, but I learned something and it makes sense of the commentary, too.
.
Like Lori Minor, I prefer black to pink, but loved all the ways pink showed up. From pink lipstick to pink slips and everything in between. There was innocence and sexuality and more. Well done all.
.
Thanks Tia for including one of mine in this stalwart group of poets. Congrats to my fellow Ohioans, too.
Thank-you Tia for publishing mine and for all your efforts.
old pink lipsticks–
so many years
no longer young
.
Lorraine Schein Queens, NY
.
I like the playfulness of Lorraine’s poem. How different images and textures change over the years.
Hi Robert–
Glad you liked my poem!
I liked yours, especially the evocative suggestion of the pink marks left on the nurse’s face by the mask.
And thanks Tia for including my submission!
Hi Tia
Thank you for including mine.
Not sure when posting whether the predictive text did an unnecessary alteration.
My verse should have read:
.
cool dawn
the covid nurse
removes her mask
.
Hope everyone is keeping safe.
Kind regards
Robert
It must have. I will have that corrected. Thank you for letting us know!
Thank you Tia
What a GORGEOUS selection! As a goth kid, I must say that I’ve never been a fan of pink, but this collection brings so much hope in a world that appears to be stuck in gray. Below are a few that just really took my breath away:
.
.
.
pink moon
looking for that perfect
shade of lipstick
.
Pamela A. Babusci
.
.
.
.
valentines day
my heart on
my sleeve
.
Michael Henry Lee
.
.
.
.
sexual awareness
I refuse to dress my barbie
in pink
.
Vandana Parashar
.
.
.
.
I lay
her favourite flowers
10th anniversary
.
Margaret Mahony
.
.
.
.
hidden crush
my blush
gives me away
.
Pris Campbell
.
.
.
.
I remind myself
not to judge –
cotton candy sky
.
Jessica Wheeler
.
.
.
.
sheltered in place
a leaping boy spins
in his sister’s tutu
.
Susan Glassmeyer
.
.
.
.
pink scar
unfolding
her baby blanket
.
Laurie Greer
.
.
.
.
cow’s lick
responding to his smile
not meant for me
.
Rashmi VeSa
.
.
.
.
Valentine’s Day
the whole department gets
pink slips
.
Randy Brooks
.
.
.
.
cherry blossom
going with the flow
of our new normal
.
Xenia Tran
.
.
.
.
cotton candy skies
the whole day
ahead of me
.
Claire Vogel Camargo
.
.
.
.
waiting for her
to change
pink moon
.
Rich Schilling, Webster Groves, MO
Thanks for the mention,Lori!
Pink has many shades of meaning, as this column shows; great to see it treated as a strong, independent color not beholden to traditional assumptions.
Thank you kindly for the mention Lori xx
Dear Lori,
thank you so much for so kindly commenting on my poem!! Means so MUCH from you, whose work I so admire!
thrilled,
Claire
reading
under sakura branches
pink rain
Kat Lehmann
************
love this delicate image and environment kat has painted!
Thanks, Wendy!
So many beautiful haiku here, I especially love
.
soft drizzle…
his love note turning pink
in my pocket
.
arvinder kaur, Chandigarh, India
.
.
Thank you so much for featuring my contribution too xxx