agave flower
in a gardener’s notebook
last entry

– Wiesław Karliński (Poland)
Akisame 43:1, 2016

Understanding this haiku takes a bit of know-how about the agave. This extraordinary plant only blooms once, and when it does, it is a sign that it will soon die. It is even nicknamed “century plant,” as it can take 100 years for it to bloom.

So, the gardener, before his or her passing, wrote about an agave in bloom. It is a sign of not only interconnection but also that humans are not so distant from plants. Both the agave and the gardener perhaps both lived for up to 100 years and also had one true shining moment in their lives that could be said to be the pinnacle of beauty or realization.

We can assume that the gardener died around the same time as the agave. However, maybe the gardener was so affected by the passing of the plant that he or she ceased from writing. It could be a testament to how much the gardener felt for the plants he or she cared for.

In a technical sense, the poem is minimalist and lets the imagery and the implied notions do the work. I am always impressed when I see haiku written in such few words that carry enormous weight.

In terms of sound, the “r”s that run through the poem give it a serious tone. The sparse language points to the stark nature of the content.

This haiku is layered: it is intriguing at first read, aesthetically pleasing at second read, and greatly nuanced at third read.

– Nicholas Klacsanzky (USA)

If you enjoyed this haiku and commentary, please leave us a comment.

– “Agave Azure” by Cathy Carey