AT END OF DAY
This poem is based on the form of Japanese "Linked
Verse". It is normally composed of renga- a short poem of
two stanzas - the first or hokku later led to the more
well-known haiku form. The first stanza has three lines of
5-7-5 sound units (or in English acoustic syllables) and the second
of two lines has 7 and 7. Here the form is used as a lyrical device -
it is not a proper linked poem as that would have to have been
written by two poets taking turns. Nevertheless, the form helps to
focus imagery and can still incorporate a sort of
statement-and-response feeling- both in the relationship between
individual renka and within each renka between the first and second
stanza.
Photography M. Scrivener
AT END
OF DAY
Nearly five. Sinking
towards the
north-west skyline, still
white sun is
blinding.
Grass seed-heads
gleam in low beams:
cone of rays through
bluing haze.
With fierce
splendour sun's
descent now
silhouettes far
trees on edge of
earth.
Far cliffs fade in
blue-green air.
Closer hilltop trees
catch gold.
Half-sunken sun
brings
summer dawn
somewhere. But here:
a white, winter
gold.
A magpie glides on
dusk sky.
Brief breeze stirs
the nearby trees.
Sun sinks. Last
sliver
shivers into dusk
shade- world
turns to winter
night.
Above, half moon
grows brighter.
Shadows claim the
last ridge tops.
Last of light is
worn
to finest lilac
shine. Time
travels
toward the dawn.
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