Comments on: Colin Oliver – Here I see no-one http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2012/07/27/colin-oliver-here-i-see-no-one/ Sacred Poetry from Around the World Sat, 18 May 2013 21:50:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Zoe Durga Harber http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2012/07/27/colin-oliver-here-i-see-no-one/#comment-75027 Zoe Durga Harber Sun, 29 Jul 2012 16:37:54 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2129#comment-75027 Hello. I was struck with the juxtapositions at the beginning end. The poem seems to allude to the truth that there is only apparent reality in empty phenomena. The author sees "no-one" yet the reader feels uneasy unless there is a "something" to cast a shadow. The joke however is that in this phenomenal world, a shadow is one of the only "things" that is accepted as nothing, as simply an appearance of something. The "no-one" seen is the inherent beauty of all created and non-created. The author is able to see the beauty on the leaves in it's duality of appearance and non-appearance (shadow) The initial "here" could refer to the experience if everyday awareness. When we are in our routine identity of "I" we see the world differently than when we are transcended. Here, in our everyday, we see no-one but another time we may see the Divine in the petal. "This" petal and "this" shadow imply an acquaintance with the continuous changeability of experience and viewpoint. Each time we see a rose and it's shadow is a new wondrous event with unique insights and never-before-seen beauty. Finally, for me the final line brought forth a sad and longing feeling. The beauty of the rose is ephemeral. The shadow is an inevitable accompaniment to all ecstatic experience. Thanks and thank you for your wonderful poetry. Durga Hello. I was struck with the juxtapositions at the beginning end. The poem seems to allude to the truth that there is only apparent reality in empty phenomena. The author sees “no-one” yet the reader feels uneasy unless there is a “something” to cast a shadow. The joke however is that in this phenomenal world, a shadow is one of the only “things” that is accepted as nothing, as simply an appearance of something. The “no-one” seen is the inherent beauty of all created and non-created. The author is able to see the beauty on the leaves in it’s duality of appearance and non-appearance (shadow) The initial “here” could refer to the experience if everyday awareness. When we are in our routine identity of “I” we see the world differently than when we are transcended. Here, in our everyday, we see no-one but another time we may see the Divine in the petal. “This” petal and “this” shadow imply an acquaintance with the continuous changeability of experience and viewpoint. Each time we see a rose and it’s shadow is a new wondrous event with unique insights and never-before-seen beauty. Finally, for me the final line brought forth a sad and longing feeling. The beauty of the rose is ephemeral. The shadow is an inevitable accompaniment to all ecstatic experience. Thanks and thank you for your wonderful poetry. Durga

]]> By: Gregory Travis http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2012/07/27/colin-oliver-here-i-see-no-one/#comment-74920 Gregory Travis Sun, 29 Jul 2012 04:23:33 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2129#comment-74920 Thanks Ivan. This haiku reminds me that when I become too self-conscious, I miss all the wonders that are right in front of me. Gregory Thanks Ivan.

This haiku reminds me that when I become too self-conscious, I miss all the wonders that are right in front of me.

Gregory

]]> By: Sylvia http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2012/07/27/colin-oliver-here-i-see-no-one/#comment-74649 Sylvia Fri, 27 Jul 2012 22:03:16 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2129#comment-74649 I really enjoyed your extra comments about the language and structure of the poem. They took me deeper in as well as being inherently interesting to me. Thanks and love, Sylvia I really enjoyed your extra comments about the language and structure of the poem. They took me deeper in as well as being inherently interesting to me. Thanks and love, Sylvia

]]> By: Laura http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2012/07/27/colin-oliver-here-i-see-no-one/#comment-74625 Laura Fri, 27 Jul 2012 19:14:11 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2129#comment-74625 Interesting---I looked at the photograph that accompanied the haiku and saw the shadow in the shape of the rose, so immediately thought that the thing that's casting the shadow is the sun/ Son; the unseen, that can show us both our "rose" and "shadow" sides. Interesting—I looked at the photograph that accompanied the haiku and saw the shadow in the shape of the rose, so immediately thought that the thing that’s casting the shadow is the sun/ Son; the unseen, that can show us both our “rose” and “shadow” sides.

]]> By: rena navon http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2012/07/27/colin-oliver-here-i-see-no-one/#comment-74622 rena navon Fri, 27 Jul 2012 18:47:12 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2129#comment-74622 There is some paradox throwing my understanding: a shadow is too difficult to grasp. An illusion you say? I see it rather as a provocation to seek further, at the risk of complexity or even loss. There is some paradox throwing my understanding: a shadow is too difficult to grasp.
An illusion you say? I see it rather as a provocation to seek further, at the risk of complexity or even loss.

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