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.
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.
ReplyDeleteThis 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