Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Poetic Musings: Twin Towers Haiku by Jack Galmitz

two light beams shining
where there were once twin towers –
my son, my daughter


Grand Prize
15th International “Kusamakura” Haiku Competition

 Jack Galmitz


The award–winning haiku is the first poem in the opening section, titled "memorial stones," of Jack Galmitz’s chapbook, yards & lots. This heartfelt haiku is beautifully crafted in the traditional style – three lines, 5-7-5 syllables, with a cut after the second line emphasized by a dash.

The first two lines delineate the most significant memory-scape in the first decade of the 21st century, where the present encounters the past and both reflect upon each other. In L3, the thematic focus is shifted from the socio-cultural/public to the personal-relational/private. It indicates that redeeming hope of the future begins with the generational basis of remembrance of things past. And the psycho-sociopolitical significance of number two stirs the reader to further ponder past trauma, present reflection, and future hope.

1 comment:

  1. The Judge's comment can be accessed at http://kusamakura-haiku.jp/backnumber/2010/english.html

    ReplyDelete