Renhai Studio Archives

A Collection of Renhai by members of The Renhai Studio

Sounding

A Renhai by Trish Shields (ts) & Vaughn Seward (vs)

A small crab
races across mudflats —
autumn squall. /ts

Honeymoon cruise ship stroll — /vs
a kiss on his red cheek. /ts

Its barnacled snout
breaks the calm surface —
gushing blowhole. /vs

Archive Id: 86
Trish Shields: Canada
Vaughn Seward: Canada
Written:: October 22-29, 2008

Theme: Sea Life
Season: Autumn
Kigo: Autumn squall
Verse Form: 2-3-2, 3-3, 2-3-2 (Rhythm)
Process: Forward

Links 1/2a:
-Racing / Cruising & strolling.
-Motion across mudflats / Motion across the sea and across the deck.

Links 2b/3:
-Part of the face (Cheek / Snout). Barnacles, typically on whales, also have mouths.

-Calm / Red; Opposites (Calm: sedate; Red: flushed with excitement).

-Blowhole / Kiss; the shape is round, one inhales through the mouth and a whale through its blowhole. Kisses can also be blown to a loved one, "gushing" with excitement at the greeting.

Links 3/1: Blowing

Notes: The "sea life" in verse two is, of course, humans on board a cruise ship. The kiss in verse two hearkens to the whale rising to the surface corresponding to the man out of the depths of loneliness. In this case, the depths being plunged into are emotions. The crab could be a metaphor for being alone, vulnerable, caught by life unawares.

*Trish lives on Vancouver Island, in British Colombia, Canada.