I am still alive
but why silvery grass that
withers at the touch of the snow
Basho
My place is not here
but my ankles have been bound
to circular paths
My unsleeping eyes
watch constellations turn
east to west by night
By day the wild swans
call to me their lost sister
in captivity
I’m tied to the stake
with fardels beneath my feet
words can’t set me free
Day 15 ~ 'Wherever I travel, wherever I happen to find myself, I am not from there.' Basho
Toni is our host in The Imaginary Garden today, inviting poets to contemplate A Touch of Snow. She asked for poems written in the haibun form, but I prefer not to mix prose and poetry, thus have used only the haiku form in the construction of my stanzas. Basho's Oku no Hosomichi was the direct source of inspiration for my poem.
"My unsleeping eyes watch constellations turn east to west by night," .. such an incredibly deep and poignant image, Kerry! ❤️ I'll be sure to check out more of Basho's work!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your faithful readership, Sanaa.. here and on IG. I appreciate your comments.
DeleteSO beautiful! The captive feet, the calling of the wild swans........just so beautiful, Kerry.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Sherry.
DeleteBeautiful!! I think your captive feet were caught in my poem as well.
ReplyDelete(I think I got it! With your help, on my site.)
Thank you Kerry.
DeleteI'm glad I could help out.
Deletethe last line catches it all ~
ReplyDelete