Poetry, notes, and marginalia by William Michaelian
Saturday, October 16, 2010
After Basho
After Basho
October 14, 2010
[click to enlarge]
A visual haiku, perhaps suggestive of an early winter in which surprised poplars have shivered themselves bare. Such is life on the narrow road to the deep north.
Hi, Jan. Thank you. The drawing took me by surprise — fourteen quick strokes in a matter of seconds, and I was done, almost before I realized it. At the same time, to me, it looks and feels a lot like writing. But I looked at it a long time before the words beneath arrived. Well, several minutes, really, but it felt like an eternity.
Conrad! You know, in a way, it’s like finding a lone footprint and wondering where its companion might have gone....
BASHO is always a bait to me, dear William; and that painted Haiku is a pure surprise-sensation; speaking silence as pure Nature is in fresh snow... (My recent Email-Problems should be cleared...)
7 comments:
This drawing does have the simplicity and beauty of Japanese art. I see bare trees and mountains. Your words also paint this picture William...
Visual haiku!
I love it: I think you've broken new genre ground, William
Hi, Jan. Thank you. The drawing took me by surprise — fourteen quick strokes in a matter of seconds, and I was done, almost before I realized it. At the same time, to me, it looks and feels a lot like writing. But I looked at it a long time before the words beneath arrived. Well, several minutes, really, but it felt like an eternity.
Conrad! You know, in a way, it’s like finding a lone footprint and wondering where its companion might have gone....
BASHO is always a bait to me, dear William; and that painted Haiku is a pure surprise-sensation; speaking silence as pure Nature is in fresh snow... (My recent Email-Problems should be cleared...)
Rudhi, maybe the snow has settled on your email problems; I hope so; I did receive your message. About the drawing: I too see the snow....
Wonderfully expressive.
Jean, hello again, and thanks.
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