not a window
but a mirror
full cold moon
Second Prize, 2016 San Francisco International Contest
Neal Whitman
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
不是一個窗戶
而是一面鏡子
一輪冷月
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
不是一个窗户
而是一面镜子
一轮冷月
Bio Sketch
Neal Whitman lives in Pacific Grove, California, with his wife Elaine. He is the haiku editor for Pulse: Voices from the Heart of Medicine and is Vice President of the United Haiku and Tanka Society.
The emotionally poignant and symbolically rich juxtaposition of "window," "mirror" and "cold moon" makes this haiku effective. But I do wonder if the haiku might work better with "the cold moon" as L3.
ReplyDeleteIt's because cold moon, also called long nights moon, is the name of the December full moon.
Share with NeverEnding Story readers two "window, mirror, and moon" remarks by Rumi:
ReplyDeleteWhen water is still like a mirror it can behold the Moon.
At night, I open the window and ask the moon to come and press its face against mine. Breathe into me. Close the language-door and open the love-window. The moon won't use the door, only the window.