THREE POEMS OF HENGAMEH AHMADI (An essay by Dimitar Anakiev)

THREE POEMS OF HENGAMEH AHMADI
An essay by Dimitar Anakiev

1.
بي آينه
موهايم را چتري مي زنم
شب يلدا

without a mirror
I shingle my hair
winter solstice

It is an excellent classical style haiku poem but at the same time personal too (as any well written poem must be). One of the most important knowledge of haiku poet is how to use "kigo" (season word) which is considered to be a "word with an intention". Poet must use this intention to express own-self so to employ an intention of nature to speak about human life. That is the main art of haiku. Here we have "winter solstice" used as "kigo". What is the "intention" of winter solstice? It is known for shortest days. So the days are short and - what a nice "coincidence" - the poetess makes her haircut short. This coincidence of short hair and short days are very telling, very poetic and nice. She did haircut without a mirror what also speak for itself. I leave now the audience here to imagine and seek own meanings.

2.
پس از من
نام كوچكم از آنِ تو
ستاره ي كم فروغ

this dark night
I will finally reach somewhere
along box-trees

”star" (watching stars or sky with stars) is a summer topic (kigo). Usually it is related to joy and pleasure of bright summer nights. But here we have "dimming star" in first line expressing sadness. The contrast of bright atmosphere of summer night and poetess sadness is very strong.
The second and third line are written as a puzzle which is perhaps result of local cultural influence. I believe this haiku thematize the transience of human life. Poetess find a way for the object of her sadness to outlive her. It is her sadness that is eternal - living through her poetry.
In an attempt to translate this poem into my native Serbo-Croatian I composed such expression (re-translated back into English):

"Dimming star" -
I found a name for you
which will outlive me

3.
اين شب تاريك
به جايي مي رسم آخر
امتداد شمشادها

this dark night
I will finally reach somewhere
along box-trees

Very touching, dark and deep poem. The "kigo" is "box-trees" which is used "all year". Box-trees are seen as a sombre plant and sprigs of box were given to mourners at funerals to throw onto the coffin. It is clear where poetess' imagination reaches - it reaches to the final destination where all human finish their life. Still young poetess describes her life with this poem like a tunnel of box-trees in the night as a life without life. "Finally" reaching the world of death is presented like a relief.


Taken from Haiku MasterClass, 21-22/12/2014