Chen-ou Liu's Translation Project: First English-Chinese Haiku and Tanka Blog

Saturday, August 3, 2024

Chalk Poppies Haiku

Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, LXXXIV: "Palestinian poppies"

slanted moonlight
on a half-collapsed school wall
chalk poppies bloom



FYI: "The Palestinian poppy (Anemone coronaria) is a non-official but more recognizable national symbol of Palestine. It's red, with black center and green leaves, evoking the primary colors of the Palestinian flag. And it symbolizes the relationship between Palestinians and their land, the bloodshed they have endured, as well as their resistance against Israeli occupation."


AddedAgainst the Drowning Noise of Other Words, LXXXV: "smoldering rubble"

Gaza at twilight 
smoldering rubble, beyond 
smoldering rubble  ...


Added: Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, LXXXVI: "Aladdin"

calm between fireballs
the Gazan children huddle
around "Aladdin"


FYI: "Aladdin" is a Middle-Eastern folk tale. It is one of the best-known tales associated with One Thousand and One Nights. The story about Aladdin and his magic lamp and carpet has been popularized in the West by Disney adaptations.


AddedAgainst the Drowning Noise of Other Words, LXXXVII: "bombed-out schools"

screams cut off ...
another day, another school
bombed out


FYI BBC News, August 4: Casualties after third Israeli strike on school in a week

And Wikipedia: Attacks on schools during the Israeli invasion of Gaza: in July 2024, UNRWA stated nearly 120, or 70 percent, of their schools had been hit by Israeli attacks.


Added:

edge of border town
the barbed wire fence topped
with MAGA hats

Note: MAGA stands for "Make America Great Again"


AddedGame Show, 2024, LXI
for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz

campaign trail
they go low and lower
we go ew


AddedGame Show, 2024, LXII

[crowd] size matters!
the old man's mouth opens, closes
to the chants of USA!