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

Sunday, August 30, 2026

Red Balloon Haiku

Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, CCCVII: "Gazan girl's red balloon"

to Banksy

fireballs bursting into the dark a Gazan girl's red balloon



FYI: The phrase, "to Banksy," serves as a joshi (prefatory note), alluding to Banksy's iconic Girl with Balloon, an image associated with childhood, innocence, hope, and loss. For a detailed analysis of this haiku and the use of "enjambed double-take," see To the Lighthouse: The Art of the One-Liner, Mastering the "Enjambed Double-Take"