stars on stars ever growing my boyhood

— Rowan Beckett (USA)
Prune Juice, issue 40, 2023

Commentary from Nicholas Klacsanzky:

Having the haiku as one line adds more interpretations to it. It can be read in these ways: “stars on stars/ever growing my boyhood”; “stars on stars ever growing/my boyhood”; “stars on stars/ever growing/my boyhood.” There is no wrong or right way to read it. I enjoy this aspect.

“stars on stars” might be a seasonal reference to winter. In this season, it is easiest to see the constellations and brightness of stars. This reference contrasts poignantly with “ever growing my boyhood.” Winter is not normally associated with growth, but this haiku demonstrates that even in the coldest times, spring can happen.

Looking at the sound, the first thing I noticed was the multiple r’s. In my opinion, this sound gives the haiku more oomph and sharpness, while the o’s elongate the reading and suggest growth.

With only seven words, the poet creates many reverberations and resonances. The right balance was made: it’s hard to imagine the haiku improving from its already powerful self by adding or taking away a word.

dawn canal 
the oarsmen draw 
a new horizon

— Anne Morrigan (Canada)
Poetry Pea Journal, 1:23, 2023

Commentary from Jacob D. Salzer:

I appreciate the metaphorical value of this haiku, the clear imagery, and its meaning. This haiku shows the importance of teamwork which can create more possibilities than anything one person can do alone. The new horizon formed by their oars could be seen as a hopeful future when we work together as a community or as a team. The men in this haiku are connected with the water, which also inspires community. In addition, the dawn marks a new beginning and a hopeful future. In short, this is an inspiring haiku that shows the importance of teamwork and our connections with the Earth and each other.

cherry blossoms bloom
a distant memory of
my former winter

— Alexander Groth (Germany)
5-7-5 Haiku Journal, May 9, 2024

This traditional haiku on cherry blossoms made me smile because of its format. The first line emphasizes the blooming period—maybe early spring or the end of winter. The time of blooming matters as it inspired the poet to reminisce about a memory of the former winter. This haiku is one of the best examples of showing a strong bond between nature, especially two seasons (spring and winter), and personal experiences i.e. a memory. 

In this poem, the connection between the blossoms and memory is deep yet remote. The distant memory shows something fading due to forgetting or returning to the conscious mind. The second line ends at ‘of’—a cutting word that gives a double meaning to the theme if we read it like this: ‘a distant memory of(f)’. In both cases, the cherry blossoms either made the memory fade away or refreshed it.

The closing line hints about the season or period which is ‘former winter’—a season when quietness often makes people spend their time either being nostalgic.  It also depends on the kind of memory, which is not revealed in this haiku and is still a mystery. In any case, it is cherry blossoms that trigger what seems like a pleasant memory. The lack of punctuation makes this haiku more profound and open to many interpretations. 

ESA/Hubble & NASA