the night awning of a blink
The process of selecting this haiku was deeply reflective for me, being an opportunity to revisit my work, consider my current “personal best,” and explore the emotions and insights behind making that selection.
"The night awning" evokes the snap shot moment of the “blink”, when nocturnal beings such as owls, cats, bats, and frogs wink their eyes, creating an awning of darkness. It is also the flicker of a firefly’s bioluminescence as it signals for a mate, or the moment when drifting clouds veil the moon. In this haiku, my intention was to distill the essence of subtle night movements, those momentary, natural gestures that link the subtleties of light, motion and natural events.
My haiku journey began with traditional forms, but over time, with growing confidence and invaluable feedback, I adventured into monoku and more experimental writing forms. Years ago, while training with the Blind Acupuncture Society of Japan, I was introduced to Japanese aesthetics and the spirit of haiku, an experience that continues to inform my creative vision. As a musician composing ethnographic and avant-garde works, I strive to weave sensory depth into my current writing. In the night awning, I was particularly drawn to the quiet pulse of the blink, its invisible rhythm, and how it might be conveyed with simplicity and imagination.