moonlit daffodils
Plants exude more smell at night. . .
moonlit daffodils
paused in their perfume
miles away
Possibly this enhancement is to do with their nocturnal biochemical CO2 emissions and the observation that ambient temperatures are cool and the atmosphere thicker than the warmer daylight hours (tending, thus, to slower air movement, at least when the breezes are not so busy). Intuitively, a cloud of scent hovers over ivory blossoms - the latter's appearance resulting from monochromatic effects in the absence of direct sunlight.
Moreover, the flowers are on hold in their daily business - perhaps an equivalent of animal sleep. Hence, "paused in their perfume'. Both 'paused' and 'miles away' suggest various readings.
In this haiku's experience, these several modes of apprehension drift in and out of awareness, sometimes blending in novel recipes of distraction. Evoking Jung's, Memories, Dreams and Reflections (perchance with a dash of forward planning, in addition).
1
Air is on hold, its movement in the night.
2
Flowers are on hold in the night, enveloped by their perfumed exhaust emissions.
3
Perfumed exhaust emissions are on hold in the cool, still night air.
4
The haiku wanderer is on hold and 'miles away' (psychically), transported by the delightful, as it were, Siren (rather than Narcissus) aroma of the off-white (ivory) blossoms.
5
The haiku wanderer is literally 'miles away', having wandered far from the location of their nose's prior enchantment.
And yet... the memory lingers on.
6
The haiku wanderer is literally 'miles away', having wandered into other perceptual dioramas and visions, whilst the
daffs remain, where once the traveller was who paused in passing (mayhap unexpectedly).
7
The haiku wanderer is literally 'miles away', from wherever they usually abode (and where the reader reads), pondering
the daffodil's allure.
NOTE
These shifts of focal length, the primary subjects (daffodils, their perfume, the writer and the reader...) temporal-spatial and real-imagined relative relationships are probably not exhausted; but one grows fatigued from wandering and wondering. As a 'living document' this will be developed, maybe even lead to some interesting spin-offs . . . .
This musing is a living document and as such will develop - so, be sure to return regularly to this page, if you like. Not just to note any changes, but also to review the material in the light of your own understanding.
"I don't take with me an intention to write haiku. They come to me. When they do, I write descriptions of the perceptions that
gave birth to them. My personal, ineffable reactions to these perceptions I think of as momentary enlightenments."
"Haikus do not usually refer to a participant: in other words — no self. This usually extends to mean no adjectives are included,
as adjectives imply there is a person judging (a beautiful tree implies an opinion, there-fore someone who holds the opinion)."
jp 03-04-12 / edited 25-02-13
