Chris Morrison was born on the north shore of Lake Superior and currently lives within moments of the Atlantic in Nova Scotia, Canada.
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14 thoughts on “The Estuary”
This one would seem to have an interesting backstory.
Some years ago I was sitting on the deck, relaxing and enjoying a beer when suddenly about 12 feet above me an osprey swooped down with an eagle right on its tail – chasing it for the flounder the osprey dropped more or less at my feet. I’ve often awkwardly and unsuccessfully tried to write the incident, but it’s never worked. This week I tried working it into an abomination of a piece – which also didn’t work… but there were some worthwhile elements. I think each of the four haiku could stand alone… and together a strange little story unfolds.
It works very well, I think. I enjoy the confluence of the images, and the shortest one, about the scar, is haunting, and asks questions for which it refuses to provide answers.
Crow thanks for your comment. I was replying that I felt the short stanza was responsible for making the piece work… when somehow your comment gave me the necessary courage to remove the last stanza (the eagle and osprey)… which I only used to take some of the mystery out of the first. Anyway… thanks!
This one would seem to have an interesting backstory.
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Some years ago I was sitting on the deck, relaxing and enjoying a beer when suddenly about 12 feet above me an osprey swooped down with an eagle right on its tail – chasing it for the flounder the osprey dropped more or less at my feet. I’ve often awkwardly and unsuccessfully tried to write the incident, but it’s never worked. This week I tried working it into an abomination of a piece – which also didn’t work… but there were some worthwhile elements. I think each of the four haiku could stand alone… and together a strange little story unfolds.
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Charles, I removed the fourth stanza / haiku a while after replying to your comment.
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It works very well, I think. I enjoy the confluence of the images, and the shortest one, about the scar, is haunting, and asks questions for which it refuses to provide answers.
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Crow thanks for your comment. I was replying that I felt the short stanza was responsible for making the piece work… when somehow your comment gave me the necessary courage to remove the last stanza (the eagle and osprey)… which I only used to take some of the mystery out of the first. Anyway… thanks!
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The osprey haiku is a good one, but this piece is better without it. It maintains a deepening silence and keeps its focus well.
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Thanks Simon. I appreciate this. I’m glad the poetry won out.
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Well, we are just slaves to the words that plague our silences!..
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This is cinematic Chris…stark, dramatically visual. dun dun dun…. it could even have sub titles! I like it a lot.
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Thanks Jana…hopefully I could convince you to do soundtrack!
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LOL ….absolutely! Love it!
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I love this ! The visuals, the viscous structure, the poise it carries while succesfully conveying the essence ..well done 🙂
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Thanks very much for your kind words and for stopping by.
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Each Haiku is striking and haunting; and, as you said in a comment, the whole creates a story, a story that fired my imagination.
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