19 Comments

Psychopompously,

Is it Charon or Karen?

For whom the belle tolls.

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author

Ok I laughed hard at this. Very clever wordplay!

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That is clever. Very very clever!

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Mar 31Liked by Honeygloom

Flashing eyes peer out,

Assessing every soul;

Pay the ferryman.

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author

Well done!! I love it when I see your poems in here!

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Would you forgive me

If I rode on Charon’s boat

For the peaceful float

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author

You’re a brave one! I hope you’ll write us a proper epic if you get back!

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Let us know how that goes for you! giggling

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Imagine five avant-garde contemporary haiku poets with unconventional styles, crafting verses about Charon:

____

Ezra Kale -

Utilizes fragmented syntax and unexpected line breaks in his "Disrupted Flow" haikus to mirror the disjunction between life and death

∙Charon’s gaze, sharp —

Coins clink, breaks

Silence; Styx flows.

∙Oar dips, pauses —

Midst murmurs,

Souls plead and sway.

•River’s edge, still—

Souls queue, silence

Splintered by whispers.

_____

Aria Dove -

In her "Whispering Veil" style, she layers words to create a haunting echo effect, reflecting the whispers of the dead that Charon might hear.

Echoed goodbyes, hushed, Murmurs beneath, above — Silence, echoes, hushed!

Whispers, farewells, shiver,

Stirring Stygian waves —

Soft, whispers: shiver.

Farewell breath, soft,

Carried over water’s skin—

Breath, farewell, whispers.

____

Lysander Flynn -

His "Quantum Reflections" haikus incorporate scientific jargon and philosophical musings, creating a fusion of the old world with new thoughts.

‘’’’’Particles in drift,

Charon steers through quantum foam,

Souls as waves collide.

‘’’’’Entropy’s edge near,

Charon's course through dark matter,

Spirits' paths entwine.

‘’’’’In Styx’s pull, dark,

The ferryman quantifies—

Entangled fates wait.

_____

Viola Springs -

Known for her "Sensory Weave" haikus, Viola interlaces sensory experiences, crafting poems that evoke a strong physical sensation for the reader.

¥Damp oars’ rhythmic splash,

Scent of loss in misty air,

Touch of twilight’s chill.

¥Coins' cold, metal bite,

River's taste, bitter journey, Charon's silent glide.

¥Oars cleave cold fog, splash,

Shrouded wails on skin, a weight—

Hades’ realm takes hold.

_____

Orion Thatch -

With his "Cybernetic Verses," Orion blends technology and mythology, imagining how ancient figures like Charon would interact with the modern digital world.

=Charon scans QR,

Souls' data in blockchain stored, Styx's spectral code.

=LED lantern dim,

Charon swipes for soul’s fare paid, Digital river.

=Charon’s app pings, swipe,

The soul’s fare digitalized—

Styx’s stream flows on.

____

These poets of my imagination hopefully bring fresh perspectives to the age-old structure of haiku, each through their unique interpretive lens on Charon's timeless role.

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author

So… when are you going to start teaching poetry on your Stack? Because I think you should❤️ Wow!

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I have never considered being a teacher. Not enough self discipline.

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author

Haha! Yeah I can definitely relate!

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This piece is very gothic and true. I love it

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author

Thank you 😊

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Love this prompt and piece!

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author

Thank you 😊

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I don’t know if Charon does return trips, but I guess that boat has to get back to the other side to pick up more passengers somehow.

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Row, row ever on

Other side is now in view

Foot awaits first step

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Damn, always that first step.

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