ghosting in
vapour by vapour in the blue
that paleness is the moon
where last year dangles
on one horn of tonight’s moon
its paleness tilts
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This poem was written in response to Carpe Diem #637, Departing Year, another great prompt hosted by Chèvrefeuille at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai. All of the poems in the link-up can be read here.
“Ghosting in” — what a remarkable way to describe it! And to think of the year dangling from one horn of the moon is fantastic. Weird isn’t it? That “official” tilt from one second to the next, moving from one year to the next … a great sense of anticipation.
This was exactly how I saw the moon start coming into focus at 2 in the afternoon yesterday – looked lovely and ghostly 🙂
I had to add the 2nd haiku as I managed to miss out any reference to the departing year in no.1 :O So, I’m glad the image worked.
Ah — been there — the muses send you in one direction and then you say, “wait … wasn’t I supposed to be writing about something ELSE?” 😉
BUT — they’re both remarkable haiku. 😀
Yep haiku prompts can be especially awkward in that sense. With a story, it’s easy to add a couple of lines and say ‘there’s the prompt!’ But with 17 syllables? Not really 😛
Having that problem with a photo I’d like to write a poem about. (It’ll be in the dungeon, but it’s not “bad” in any sense.) It’s a *story* photo — so it’ll have to be a free verse poem — very rare for me. But there was too much going on to squeeze it into a haiku or even a tanka — and I’m not sure that choka would work for it either.
In the dungeon but not bad? Has the girlgoyle turned..respectable?!
Oh, NEVER!!!!
Poem is finally finished — it was just perhaps too personal for BIOLI.
Oh I see. Well, that’s a relief – respectable gargoyles..? Where would it end – respectable politicians?!
So, the poem is in the dungeon now? I need to pay a visit, anyway 😉
Yes, you’re overdue, my friend. We will have your favorite tipple ready at the door 😉
And yes. It is ready and live in the dungeon.
The pale blue and the blue shades make a mesmerizing spectral convergence of tones. Great poem, Sue.
Best wishes, Aquileana 😀
It definitely was mesmerising to see the moon appear like that, looking like a wisp of cloud to begin and then becoming huge…
I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂