winter whispers (haiku – photoku)

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winter whispers –
sparkles of moonlight
sliced by phone lines
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For Weekly Photoku Challenge

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Linked to Carpe Diem Haiku Writing Techniques #1: Juxtaposition. 

Also linked to the Weekly Photoku Challenge, where you capture a haiku story in photography.   Hope you like it. The neighbors were looking at me funny – wondering why I was lying in the front yard taking photographs – and wondering if they should be concerned …  ;)  Normally with photoku I list all my photos at the end, but since this is a long post I will sprinkle them here & there … & here … & there ….

I *think* this is juxtaposition – moonlight and phone lines seem to contrast with one another.  But “whispers” and “phone lines” go hand in hand.  Hmmm….

Our host and teacher Chèvrefeuille tells us that:

“Any time unlike things bump up against each other, you can describe it as a juxtaposition. Imagine a funeral mourner telling jokes graveside, and you get the idea — the juxtaposition in this case is between grief and humor. Juxtaposition of two contrasting items is often done deliberately in writing, music, or art — in order to highlight their differences.”

Robert Spiess, editor of ‘Modern Haiku’, said the following:

[…] “Juxtaposition of entities in haiku cannot be simply the throwing together of just anything; the poet must have the intuition that certain things, albeit of “opposite” characteristics, nonetheless have a resonance with each other that will evoke a revelation when they are juxtaposed in accordance with the time-tested canons and aesthetics of haiku.” […]

Carmen Sterba says:

“In the hands of a highly skillful haiku poet, one-image haiku can be exquisitely successful. Nevertheless, experimenting with different types of juxtaposition may add the depth that creates a memorable haiku; one that does not fail to reverberate again and again.”

But you need to remember Basho’s advice:

“A hokku that moves smoothly from the opening five syllables to the end is a superb verse.”

Here is a great example of juxtaposition from John Barlow …

the piano hammers
barely moving …
night snow

… and one by G. Claire Gallagher …

after love 
the sweet burst
of cherry tomato

… another from Jane Reichhold …

long hard rain
hanging in the willows
tender new leaves

… as well as an awesome example from Chèvrefeuille …

wind of winter
touches the last flowers -
Ah! that perfume …

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