Friday, August 28, 2015

Butterfly Dream: Dust Motes Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

dust motes
we don't really
die alone

Modern Haiku, 45.1, Winter/Spring 2014

Robert Epstein


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

微塵
我們並非
孤獨地死去

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

微尘
我们并非
孤独地死去


Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu.

1 comment:

  1. There is a thematically and emotionally dialectical relationship successfully established between the symbolically-rich opening image, which evokes the biblical phrase, "Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return," Genesis 3:19, and its thought-provoking juxtaposed statement.

    This haiku effectively sparks the reader's emotions and reflection on human life and death, and it reminds me of the following passage:

    I always have this vision of my true being. A speck of dust floating in a sunlight. Sometimes sparkling and sometimes dim. Sailing up, and drifting down. Floating randomly, carelessly, gently. And when it is time, I slide into darkness.

    “Dust motes hung in a slant of sunlight”

    -- Anne Tyler

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