October 19, 2011
The moon teaches Time
to change, become more or less
– pause – then start again.
The moon, a cosmic image of earthly cycles of death and rebirth, can teach us too if we are attentive. The moon sharpens its roundness into a scythe, shears itself down to nothingness, reaping what it sows, and then, just as matter-of-factly, forms itself again.
This haiku speaks to its three counterparts in the ring composition:
Month-ring: This haiku speaks across the month to the haiku for October 4 (“Moonlight Blue”) which describes the experience of the moon unexpectedly waking me up to the beauty that I miss when I am inattentive. The moon teaches me to become more, to become less, to reflect on my fullness, to pause and reflect on my nothingness, to start again.
Classic parabolic or pedimental year-ring: This haiku speaks across the parabola of the year to its parallel haiku on March 13 (“Saving Time”) which talks about human attempts to improve time by changing the clock, but that is not the way. Taking a clock by the hands to lead it here or there is only befriending the clock’s control, and one begins to wonder who is leading who. Improving time is a hands-off task. If you let it go, it will go away.
Year-ring: This haiku speaks across the year-ring to the haiku on April 19 (“Now”) which claims that this present moment, rain or shine, is the only suitable mentor. The past has left its lecture notes behind but we may only read them now; and the future waits silent in the wings.
