harbour sunset
a flash of silver
in their nets
Marion Clarke
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
海港日落
他們的魚網
閃爍銀光
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
海港日落
他们的鱼网
闪烁银光
Bio Sketch
A member of the Irish Haiku Society, Marion Clarke is a writer and artist from Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland. She was winner of the Financial Times ‘Poet in the City’ haiku/senryu competition 2015 and runner up in the IHS International Haiku Competition the same year. In 2013 Marion’s haiku was shortlisted for a Touchstone Award for Individual Poems and in summer 2012 she received a Sakura award in the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival contest. A selection of her haiku featured in the first national collection of haiku from Ireland, Bamboo Dreams, edited by Anatoly Kudryavitsky. Marion’s poetry and artwork can be found at http://seaviewwarrenpoint.wordpress.com/
Generically speaking, Marion's visually stunning poem is an ekphrastic haiku inspired by Norman J. McCaig's "Fishermen at Sundown." And structurally speaking, her haiku is a good example of effectively utilizing Harold Gould Henderson's "principle of internal comparison." (the colors of sunset vs flash of silver). This comparison not only suggests a mood, but also gives a clear-cut picture which serves as a starting point for trains of thought and emotion.
ReplyDeleteOn the second reading, the image of a flash of "sliver" in their "nets" carries emotional and metaphoric significance.
Thank you for featuring my haiku, Chen-ou.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was the colour that I found drew me into this painting and, although the viewer cannot see any nets, I like to think that these fishermen have been blessed with a good catch that will fetch a decent price at market - hence the 'flash of silver' in their nets.
Such a good haiku, and well explicated, Chen-ou.
ReplyDeleteI always learn more when reading NES posts.
Marion, thanks for your explanation of the subtle reference to the silver in their pockets upon selling the catch at market. I missed that, in my read.
Jan Benson.
Thank you for commenting, Jan. It's probably because I see fishing boats on the lough or in the harbour practically every day that the value of a catch comes to mind immediately. :)
ReplyDelete