The second week of Advent represents peace. In the Christian tradition, we light the Bethlehem candle throughout this week. This post considers the interplay between peace and Bethlehem. However, “peace” doesn’t always mean tranquility. Sometimes, if someone “holds their peace,” it means they’re silent when they would rather speak. Or, perhaps, when we wish they would.
Perhaps for God’s people, waiting for God to speak was like that. Waiting for the promised Messiah during the 400-year silence between Malachi and Matthew would have been a kind of peace: no prophets to harass the people when they wandered from God. And no word of blessing, either.
If you’re interested in learning more about the forms in this set, a short description of each can be found below the image. You may find benefit from letting the poems sink in first before looking into their forms.
– MR
I. Haiku dark waters— dove hovers silent II. Imayo water gathered in the void—first in creation the world burgeoned in power—life’s teeming cradle the Word pierced expectant depths—essence erupted the temple took its first breath—unified witness III. Choka curling between hills the river quenches its thirst from the light of life incandescent and quiet embodying rest on its banks a hum of words between the king and His priests. IV. Gogyohka fog flows in the valley gathering for sunward exodus V. Choka a torrent cascades from the dried-up rivercourse of the old man’s throat assurance of abundance when drought ends at last each step raises dust from earth seeded in expectation. VI. Imayo this land could starve a locust—silent and forsworn no bigger than a man’s hand—cloud in the distance black and coming from the sea—so small and so far our forefathers saw it there—their bones wait for rain VII. Haiku dry season— on the breeze petrichor
Also in the Advent Series
In order of appearance
Haiku
Three lines: long / short / long per modern haiku trends with no syllable rules. Nature as the overriding theme: a short poem describing a single moment in time. Includes a seasonal reference (e.g. “dark waters” suggesting the permanent winter before there was light) and a kireji or “cutting word” (I’ve chosen to use an em-dash, because there are no cutting words in English as there are in Japanese).
Imayo
A 4-line poem meant to be sung, with 12 syllables per line and a pause after the first 7 syllables of each line, shown here by an em-dash. No rules for subject matter. I use these to tell a story.
Choka
Translates as “long poem” (as opposed to tanka which means “short poem”). Alternating lines of 5 and 7 syllables, ending with a couplet of 7-syllable lines. The first 2 lines set the theme and the rest of the lines expand on it and enrich its meaning. Usually written as sets of couplets. I’ve bent that rule here.
Gogyohka
Translates as "five-line poem." It’s simple: just 5 lines, with 1 phrase per line. The length of a “phrase” is completely subjective. I tend toward very short phrases for these because I find that brevity opens up the form’s potential. No subject matter rules, seasonal references, or kireji required.
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Again, so lovely. I've been sharing your Advent posts with my husband; it's a pleasure to connect over them during these really busy days.
Fun explorations of form as always, Mark. I also appreciated your exploration of our use of the word "peace" and what it might mean for us in this season. Peace by some definitions is what the season is about, whereas for others it can seem very difficult to come by. (All the more reason to maintain the reminder.)