Alone, Silently, And Writing A Kimo Or Two

“Alone, silently—
the bamboo shoot
becomes a bamboo” ~ SANTŌKA

on a bamboo shoot
under the low purple light
a crow sits alone
© selma

The above haiku is a leftover from the other day that didn’t make it out on time.
I kid you not, for my haiku, I was ready to snap a shot of a crow perched on a
bamboo shoot when the rude crow just upped and left. Then he laughed at me
from up above. Those birds could be so rude sometimes…


And now, this week: Written for Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge No. 36, 5/28/24,
Part II, Fine Weather.

🪻 This week, let’s do something different. Using the kigo words from last week’s post HERE, or from the summer (Northern Hemisphere) or winter (Southern Hemis-phere) categories from the 500 Kigo Words, write one or a series of kimo poems. 🪻

The Kimo?

The kimo is a tristich, a poem of three lines with 10/7/6 syllables.
Kimo is an Israeli version of the haiku. Unrhymed. No title.

“Also, the kimo is focused on a single frozen image (kind of like a snapshot).
So it’s uncommon to have any movement happening in kimo poems.”
(David: Skeptic’s Kaddish)


For my first Kimo practice:

Shinkansen 500 series

Shinkansen tickets rest in my wallet
few items of clothing packed
hoping for good weather

*

wearing their neon green flashing trousers
soaring higher than the grass
fireflies bring me hope

© selma
Kigo: items of clothing, travel, flashing trousers, fireflies, hope.

THANKS FOR READING.

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 33 Comments

  1. D.L. Finn, Author

    Love it, Selma. I miss many of those bird shots, too 🙂 xi

      1. willowdot21

        Well Selma you’ve put done yourself with all your beautiful poetry and it all speaks to me! Especially that camera shy crow and the train 💜💜💜

  2. Destiny

    beautiful, Selma.
    to your waiting…so very rude😬

  3. Gwen M. Plano

    Wonderful, Selma. 🌞 Have a fantastic trip. My last ride on the Shinkansen was in the late 1970s. It was an extraordinary ride.

    1. Selma Martin

      That’s a long time since. Wow. Imagine what the ride’s like now. So smooth.
      Responding to you from inside the Shinkansen. It’s dark outside now. Bless you. I appreciate you reading my words.

  4. Gwen M. Plano

    Beautifully written, Selma. My last ride on the Shinkansen was in the late 1970s. It was an incredibly exciting ride. Have a wonderful trip. 🌞

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks for the double response Gwen. ☀️ May it be sunny. 😎

    1. Selma Martin

      Yve. Thanks for reading and commenting. I appreciate you always. XoXo

  5. memadtwo

    That sounds just like a crow!
    I find fireflies hopeful too. (K)

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks dear K. And you know avian friends’ character 👏🏽 bless you.

    1. Selma Martin

      Delighted you enjoyed dear Robbie. Hope you’re rested from your trip abroad. (I saw photos on IG. Beautiful, all! 👏🏽

        1. Selma Martin

          Go where it’s more restful always. Blessings, Robbie.

  6. Michele Lee

    A gorgeous image you’ve created in the first and subtle anticipation in the others. Delightful to read.

    1. Selma Martin

      Precious lady. Thanks. I appreciate your kind words.

      1. Michele Lee

        You’re very welcome sweet Selma. I appreciate you! 😊

  7. Jules

    Our fireflies are late this year… or I just haven’t seen them yet. One year they were out the last week of May… but it is only June 3 … I really enjoy seeing my back yard trees full of their flashes.

    I hope you enjoyed your train travel. We’ll be traveling by rail later this month. We will be visiting an elder aunt – on her birthday 🙂

    1. Selma Martin

      How lovely. Right in your yard. Wow.

      All the best on your train travels too. We had an amazingly good time. Saw our two young men and their special others on here same trip. Just wonderful.
      Bless you Jules. 🤗

      1. Jules

        I have not seen them yet… I hope it is not too hot for them. I keep meaning to look when it is dark. But after settling in for the night – I forget. Usually they are out when the Mulberries are ripe – and some of the berries might be ready to pick – even though they are small.

        Glad you did get to see your two young men. Ours live close enough – but with busy lives we don’t see them as often as we would like. Did get to see our grands last weekend – the elder grand completed 8th grade!

  8. Smitha V

    Loved the image of the crow on the bamboo in the haiku and the ‘neon green flashing trousers’ flying over the grass in the kimo, Selma. Enjoy your trip. Hope you have good weather.

  9. lesleyscoble

    Beautiful, beautiful haiku and kimo, Selma 🥰💞
    The train looks so exciting!

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