Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Butterfly Dream: Bath House Gossip Haiku by Lucy Whitehead

English Original

swirls of steam
from the hot springs
bath house gossip

Honorable Mention, 8th Setouchi Matsuyama Photo-Haiku Contest, 2019

Lucy Whitehead

 
Chinese Translation (Traditional)

漩渦狀蒸汽
來自溫泉浴室
的八卦消息

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

漩涡状蒸汽
来自温泉浴室
的八卦消息
 
 
Bio Sketch

Lucy Whitehead's haiku have been published in AcornAutumn Moon Haikubones, Frogpond, hedgerowModern HaikuOtataPresencePrune JuiceThe Heron's Nest, and tinywords among other journals and in various anthologies including a hole in the light: The Red Moon Anthology of English-Language Haiku 2018. Twitter @blueirispoetry.

2 comments:

  1. Lucy's haiku effectively builds, line by line, to an unexpected yet thematically and emotionally relatable ending that reveals the theme of "relationship bonding" (over others' business, gossip, :-))

    And on a second reading, evocative image of L1 successfully carries symbolic significance, adding psychological depth to this "bath house gossip" haiku.

    American Psychological Association April 2006 Cover Story, "Bonding over others' business;" About 65 percent of people's discussions involve gossip—often to entertain or help strengthen group ties... accessed at https://www.apa.org/monitor/apr06/bonding

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    Replies
    1. My comic haiku below could be read as a sequel to Lucy's:

      back from vacation
      my office cubicle already filled
      with gossip

      Failed Haiku, 4:44, August 2019

      bus stop at dusk
      we catch up
      on office gossip

      Frogpond, 40:1, Winter 2017

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