re:Virals

re:Virals 307

Welcome to re:Virals, The Haiku Foundation’s weekly poem commentary feature on some of the finest haiku ever written in English. This week’s poem was

 
     where snow meets sea the weight of our imprints 
          — GRIX, Trash Panda, Summer 2021 issue

Lakshmi Iyer considers the imbalance:

“where snow meets sea”

Yes, snow has that property to melt and meet the sea. But the poet has a different style of approach to this!

Let’s find out . . .

There are two factors for the snow to melt: the temperature and the intensity of the sun. These days, the world is faced with the very severe threat of global warming. And the reasons lie in imbalance caused by the immense unorganized activities of human beings. It is just a matter to understand and avoid.

Snow, and more importantly snowmelt, is vital for replenishing local rivers, lakes, and subterranian watertables. But, at the same time, there should be balance in the earth’s natural resources. This is where the poet has their own doubts and adds a few words: “the weight of our imprints.”

Is “the weight of our imprints” pointing a finger at us? Are we responsible? Yes, the “imprints” are our actions. Global warming is caused by toxic gases and fumes; in addition, entrapment of such gases due to the greenhouse effect does not allow the atmosphere to exchange gases and increases the temperature on earth.

“Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.”

where snow meets sea/ the weight of our imprints

More snow means more energy reflects back into the atmosphere, resulting in cooling, while less snow cover means more energy is absorbed at the earth’s surface, resulting in warming. This is not good. How to tap the solutions to avoid global warming is a main issue of this century.

The water cycle on our earth is a beautiful study. How far are we effectively helping nature to help itself in the process? Such a big question.

…..the weight of our imprints!

A well-crafted monoku.

virus2
As this week’s winner, Lakshmi gets to choose next week’s poem, which you’ll find below. We invite you to write a commentary to it. It may be as long or short, academic or spontaneous, serious or silly, public or personal as you like. We will select out-takes from the best of these. And the very best will be reproduced in its entirety and take its place as part of the THF Archives. Best of all, the winning commentator gets to choose the next poem for commentary.

Anyone can participate. A new poem will appear each Friday morning. Simply put your commentary in the Contact box by the following Tuesday midnight (Eastern US Time Zone). Please use the subject header “re:Virals” so we know what we’re looking at. We look forward to seeing some of your favorite poems — and finding out why!

The Haiku Foundation reminds you that participation in our offerings assumes respectful and appropriate behavior from all parties. Please see our Code of Conduct policy.

re:Virals 308:

 
     falling leaves —
     several trees
     in the woodpile
          — John Stevenson, The Heron's Nest, Vol. 1, No. 1 (1999)

This Post Has 3 Comments

  3. re:Virals 307:
    he
    where snow meets sea the weight of our imprints
    — GRIX, Trash Panda, Summer 2021 issue

    Wring from Chennai, as a contrast from summer season, shifting
    to view and comment upon a monoku highlighting impact of snow
    by sea. It is all about ecology, nature’s rule, at the same time, factors
    like climate snow and ice impacting on sea, changing our reaction,
    not a small issue to dwell upon.

    Sea itself vast expanse of water, cool and obviously during winter, or
    due to changes in ecological pattern, snowflakes form, changing our view;
    during such times, the splash of waves are not simply waves, but solid blocks
    of ice merging with waves by force touch upon shore, what is poetic perception?

    A line of demarcation , “ where snow meets sea”, thick snow flakes
    a sheet of cover on sea water in its totality, in full throb, reaching;
    incredible impact is such, when all ocean lovers, upon gathering, feel
    the hardened snow flakes upon their feet; no white surf, no foamy waves,
    no cool breeze, delightfully passing by, but only their solidified foot prints,
    here, imprints. Hence poet feels “ the weight of our imprints”

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