15 thoughts on “Haiku – Watershed”

  1. Pondering… The title makes perfect sense; I struggled a bit with the first line to start with, but it is the connection to the quote that causes me to read yet again… I admire that in a poem. No easy answers.

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    1. Yes, a bit attenuated, I figured it might take a few passes, and indeed tension vs the quote. Probably helps to have a bit of New Testament knowledge, but I tried not to make that a requirement. Hopefully the visceral carries the sense of the metaphors.

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      1. I have more than ‘a bit’ of NT knowledge. That is why I understand so much of it, but I am trying to decide if the river is the rain on Golgatha and is that symbloic of the tears of God over the moment of turning away – if so, then I’m still struggling with why the river CAN’T heal. Am I trying too hard to connect it to the quote? I can move past that part and see the poetry alone, and then it works exceptionally well.

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        2. Sorry – poor creatures that we are, we are in need of mercy, of the rain. I want the reader to feel close to that. We may get some rain to help our parched lioscand souls, but I’m not going to promise salvation.

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          1. BTW, thank you for working this through with me. When I read today’s quote, I sort of rejected it and spent the day feeling very close to this image of Calvary, the sky darkening, and “I thirst”. We need healing, mercy, we thirst. Now I know there is no mention of it raining in the Bible. But I needed there to be a shred of compassion, even just a few drops of water. And could those drops be the small but necessary start, the headwaters of redemption? And yet. And yet. What I hope for and what the world can offer might differ.

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            1. Good thing the world is not the soource; it lets us down. Rain and mercy are often hand-holders, even scripturally, so you were spot on! I like a poem that makes me struggle for it.
              Here’s the last 3.
              On some clear nights in the country the stars can exhaust us (5/28) Day 26
              It is life’s work to recognize the mystery of the obvious (5/29) Day 27
              Why does the mind compose this music well before the words occur? (5/30) Day 28

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            1. No! No! That was a great read. And exactly the right question. That the quote holds out that I don’t throw down for certainty was the speed bump I wanted reader to hit!

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  3. “…knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.” A mighty haiku, my man. Truly in this case, the headwaters (the river) can’t heal everything. More to the point, didn’t mean to. But perhaps I’m past the poetry on this one. It is massively evocative; especially for one who has spent time following Christian belief. (It would be a controversial read for someone from another creed.) As for the lack of rain mentioned in Scriptures… who is to say that a poet can’t go beyond the words to describe what is intended (the raining down of grace on those who would be saved)? You are a deep thinker, and it bleeds over into your ink. That makes reading you a joy and a challenge (which is also a joy). BTW, consider looking into some of the “mystical” early Christian poets/writers: St. John of the Cross, Theresa Avilla, Theresa of Lisieux, and others. They butchered Scripture to bring the truth to others.

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