English Original
exchanging glances
bonfire sparks
rise into the night
Fourth Australian Haiku Anthology, 2023
Simon Hanson
Chinese Translation (Traditional)
交換眼神
篝火的火花
升入夜空
Chinese Translation (Simplified)
交换眼神
篝火的火花
升入夜空
Bio Sketch
Simon Hanson lives in forested Tasmania in the company of animals and birds and the sounds of a trickling creek. Formerly Secretary to the Australian Haiku Society he is currently co-editor of Echidna Tracks. He has an e-book collection; Desert Stones (Snapshot Press) freely available here for you.
L 1 establishes an intimate human connection, while Ls 2 & 3 expand outward toward the bonfire and the night sky. This upward physical movement beautifully mirrors the rising emotional tension or spark shared between the individuals.
ReplyDeleteBy using the present participle "exchanging" rather than the past tense "exchanged," the haiku captures a continuous, living moment that aligns perfectly with the ongoing ascent of the sparks.
Ultimately, the haiku succeeds by showing rather than telling; it completely avoids explicitly naming the emotion—whether romance, attraction, or passion—and allows the vivid central image to carry the weight of the feeling.