A simple, yet complex image. Brilliant.

I’m trying to land in that space where western poetry, the haiku form, and my own psychology as a reader/writer meet.

Meanwhile, I belch forth . . .

The association going on during this sandwich isn’t too preachy or overwhelming, which I like.

There’s more to the contrasting images that pleases. Both images involve eating, of course, and there’s even a progression, a role reversal, and a contrast. The progression is the movement from eating to digesting. As far as the role reversal goes, the eating bird becomes an eaten bird. The contrast is on the foraging bird vs. the feasting Christmas revelers. (Well, I guess I’m back to talking about poverty vs. excess again.)

What this all leads to is hard to describe, which I guess is what haikus aim for. I found something cyclical and sick, and yet something natural, in it. I’m in no position to help anyone with a haiku, really, but I liked where this poem took me. Maybe I felt a moral twinge from having too much Christmas lasagna in my stomach when I read the poem. (Maybe the moral twinge was just indigestion . . .)

I’d love to hear what you liked about the poem. I am still learning haiku and appreciate any suggestions for continued practice/improvement.

Dave – Thanks much for the trackback!

Wonderful.

(I’m here from a link at Via Negativa, whose trackback has registered, I see.)