Saturday, January 18, 2020

Poetic Musings: Tai Chi Master Haiku by Chen-ou Liu

light of dawn
a tai chi master
pushes the silence

Grand Prize, First Morioka International Haiku Contest, 2019

Chen-ou Liu

Judges' Commentary: This poem was a top choice for all three judges. The poet has captured the very essence of the tai chi master’s movements; the push and pull of the body’s energy is at the core of this art. Because the haiku is set at dawn, a reader perceives that the light is (also) just beginning to push its way into day. Here we can see the master’s gentle and precise movements, bringing light to his or her students and making even the silence palpable. This is a finely seen and deftly presented moment.

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