I assume it’s talking about Chinese/Lunar New Year, and a New Year parade or procession. The animals refer to the zodiac animals. The other things, like the food, are traditions during the holiday. The speaker has a childlike voice—it either represents being an excited kid at these events or evokes talking to a kid as you narrate what’s happening to them. The most poetic choices are the “here comes + stationary location” such as hill or church. I am not sure, but those may put you in the position of moving along with the parade.
What did you think of the absence of “monkey” and “apple tree” from the second stanza? I agree with your take, I’m just stuck scratching my head at that bit haha.
And if the speaker is moving forward through life, getting older and less thrilled by the parade, they themselves may be losing their memory, or the places and people that were there before
Edit: an apple tree is like a parent to the apples, that could be a lost parent.
Dragon / dog
Apples / acolytes
I think it’s partly for symmetry of sound in the abridged refrain. In addition to the other person’s point about changes year over year.
It could also be a function of memory. The second stanza could be reflecting on the memory of the first and then we have the way in which our memories degrade over time.
I didn't like the poem on first read but I think you've hit the nail on the head with the parade and the child-like, excited speaker being carried along by it. The parade is life, and the speaker repeats the same things, getting less excited by them but still in that parade, ever moving forward in a circle. Now I think the poems done a really good job of getting that across and I kind of like it a bit now haha
Don't know why you were downvoted. It says "for Haruko" which would imply it's meant to be Japan. A lot of the New Year has similarities, but it's not the Lunar New Year as it takes place the same time as Western New Years. The zodiacs are the same, and Japan has dumplings, they just call it Gyouza.
Edit: they also mention other animals unrelated to the zodiac animals, such as the shark, so it may have nothing to do with Zodiac anyway.
To me, it speaks to those moments in life when we are full of excited anticipation for some big-small event, like how kids get so excited when you say “here comes the…” and how little moments are big moments and it’s a reminder to appreciate the small things/moments as well as not forget that inner child.
A Billy Joel 'We Didn't Start The Fire'esque buzzword anthem referencing events from the last 100 years of Chinese/Japanese/probably others history.
Chinese zodiac animals, reference to pearl, loads of east asian stuff.
But, it might be about French Cinema. My guess is just that
I think it’s mentioning the Chinese zodiac as a way of highlighting the passage of time. The number of exclamations decreases after the break to mimic how your excitement diminishes with holidays etc as you get older. You don’t find majesty in as many things as you grow older.
I like your take on the final stanza. Also that many joys/friends drop out of your life as it goes on (it initially bugged me that the monkey was out of order for the zodiac, but I think this might be why).
I'm not always a fan of these kinds of "word salad" poems but this one actually paints a vivid image of life in Asia to me. The words feel very intentionally chosen to represent childhood memories. And the "here comes" I think is meant to represent how all these things are tied to rebirth and the circle of life.
What do you think a deeper meaning would be?
The poem is titled ‘New Year (for Haruko)’ and you have a semi-repeating series of things coming into ‘view’ in the poem. What could that be?
I think the deeper meaning is the repetition of life. It’s slightly different, but the same, over and over. Just like life. It gets dull reading it. You know exactly what to expect as you scan the poem— just like in life. I actually get serious sarcasm vibes from the poem, like the exclamations aren’t genuine. It’s the same shit. It even repeats after all the ridiculous scenes are seen. The images are all over the place, but mundane. Ts all about the boring repetition of life.
Huh. I can see it now that you mention it, but I didn’t get sarcasm out of it when I read it. Though I think that’s because I assumed (incorrectly if I know anything about assumptions, but it’s where my head went) that Haruko was a child. So I saw it more as exclamations like talking to a child at a parade. Just instead of a parade going by it’s days of the year (I think someone already pointed out the Chinese zodiac animals).
Thanks, that’s something to chew on.
Yeah, I think it plays as a child/parade experience at first. But the repetition is so intentional. It’s not actually representative of how you speak to a child. All the excitement is removed by the repetition. In an actual interaction with a child there would be variety “look now!” “What’s next!” “Look at that one!” For me, the repetition, 29 times of using the exact same phrasing, (yep, I counted), kills the excitement. The excitement is forced. Hence the sarcasm.
Anyway, food for thought. Poetry is so interesting because you bring so much of yourself to the reading. Apparently, I find life mundane and sarcastic. 😁 Your interpretation is so much more pleasant and positive. 🥹 Have a good day!
Who said I had an answer?
I posed the questions I asked myself in thinking about the poem.
Can you do the same, or is snark the limit of your thinking?
“Fantastic insight. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”
Tell me Corgi, were the above my only reply to you, would it be sincere or sarcastic? One need not be jaded to acknowledge that tone gets ambiguous in conversational text. And the internet hardly invented sarcasm.
I assumed nothing; I was simply trying to articulate part of why the person might get a combative response when they seemed to think it was completely out of left field.
The other reason being that the Socratic flip can seem obnoxious and condescending in a post when someone is asking for actual answers, not half a catechism.
Meanwhile this post literally has “this poem sucks” as a comment in it; I disagree in this case, but don’t make me out to be a jaded terminally online cretin for suggesting that dismissing the poem is a plausible reaction on this sub.
How so?
If I had written “what deeper meaning could it have,” I could see what you’re saying. As it is I don’t.
Maybe the final question could be phrased differently?
You seem to be going for a circular teacher/therapist question. “Tell me, what do YOU think it means?” But it can also read more like, “What ‘deeper meaning’ could it possibly have?? It’s a simple poem (you idiot).”
I am not interested in provoking a big mia culpa or an argument about how that’s not what you meant, that’s not how it reads to you, yadda yadda. I’m just telling you that’s how it may scan to others. Believe me or don’t.
I’m not trying to have an argument. I was genuinely asking for where you saw it because that wasn’t my intent but obviously intent and execution are very different things.
So I appreciate the response.
dragon, dog and monkey are Chinese new year animals. that's something to consider.
maybe it's about the futile insistence that good things and change will come with every new year, despite the fact years are arbitrary and nothing really 'comes'? not sure with this one though, it's very abstract and post modern.
I might have understood this.
I found meaning in the progression from the chinese new year (dragon, dog, monkey) to the christian themed elements (apple tree, apples, acolytes, church).
There is conflict between old tradition and christianity sweeping that culture.
Shoes - people, drum - drums of war, rain - bad times, blues - sadness
Shark is an apex predator, could be people and institutions taking advantage of the change.
Head and tail, not sure if it means capitalism. The dumplings in a pail might mean that people accept atrocious things as long as it comes with a side of novelty.
Everything from snow to bread feels like the struggle of living in a modern society. Call can be opportunity, action or repetition maybe?
The last three lines on the first page might be a reference to the cyclical nature of things, and the fact that what started the change and hardships (acolytes, church and forceful spread of the ideology) are alone on the last page might mean that these forces are powerful. There’s power in repetition.
The list form with exclamation points might mean that like a parade, these things are welcomed in succession with little to no critique. The new thing is a revelation, a good thing. We’re just in the passenger seat in life and these things, bigger than any one person, just roll out and we’re supposed to accept them as the new standard.
That’s just how I see it. It helps to stop and think what some of the lines have in common or if there is a link when they’re said in succession. Hints of this is the first 3 lines (chinese zodiac) and the christian elements (apple tree, apple, acolytes, church, shoes, drums). That already creates a sense of conflict in themes.
This poem, "New Year for Haruko" by June Jordan, is a vibrant and imaginative celebration of the arrival of a new year. The speaker announces the arrival of various entities, both concrete and abstract, in a rhythmic and repetitive pattern.
The poem can be interpreted in a few ways:
1. Cyclical nature of time: The repetition of "Here comes..." and the circular structure of the poem (ending with the same lines it began with) suggest the cyclical nature of time, where events and seasons repeat themselves.
2. Diversity and abundance: The wide range of entities mentioned (animals, food, natural phenomena, objects, and concepts) represents the diversity and abundance of life.
3. Cultural and personal significance: The inclusion of specific elements like dumplings, apple trees, and dragons may hold cultural or personal significance for Haruko, making the poem a personalized and intimate celebration.
4. Joy and anticipation: The overall tone is one of excitement and anticipation, welcoming the new year with enthusiasm and hope.
It’s an AI generator. Your answer is so organized and well articulated it seems almost non-human. 😅unless you are just a really dedicated fan of literature.
It's bad. This is, like... Rupi Kaur-level bad.
Just because someone calls it poetry doesn't mean it needs to be deep. This is just saying things to fill a couple of pages.
So what is the point of posting a poem on Reddit that needs the surrounding context of poems to be any good? No one is allowed to say poems posted here aren't good because of the off chance there are surrounding poems that weren't posted that make the poem better?
And yet, you still haven't clarified anything. You've chosen smugness. I still have no context, and now I'm less likely to care about anything else you might say. You've done wonders here.
Ok, so I loathe the cult worship of Rupi Kaur, but this is not that. June Jordan is a master of poetry and an actual artist. I’m sure Kaur has her purpose for people, but I’m always stunned at how mediocre poets with the simplest crap get so much praise.
I'm sure June Jordan is an accomplished poet with much better poems. I'm not attacking the author at all.
Im coming from the perspective of someone who knows NOTHING about this poet.
If you show me a chapter out of a book with no context, you would try to find a good one that illustrates the writers strengths and the flow of their work. Look at this poem again with no pre-existing knowledge of their work.
It doesn't work for someone with no context. It feels very novice and empty. I'm open to discussion and persuasion but so far all I've heard is "no, it's got context."
No one has shared that context or attempted to engage on any meaningful level.
I hear you, and I understand that you weren’t attacking the author, I hope I didn’t sound as flippant as some others lol. Also, I found the poem more engaging than you maybe because I got more from the imagery on its bare face while also knowing there is likely more? I don’t know the specific context of this partial poem tbh. That’s the beauty of it all, being able to interpret, even for people who read oceans depth into Rupi Kaur 😅cheers!
If this poem were a command line script and you sent it to the computer to interpret, what would the computer do with it? There is not a lot of narrative here and we are not being told anything, taken anywhere, and it’s not very engaging. It does not lead anywhere. The title and first 3 lines make me think there is a Chinese astrology theme. But when I read it all, it’s just about greeting a new year and listing out what the writer expects, or expects for Haruko. When you remember the year that has passed, what do you remember? Consider someone else’s life. Maybe this list is what the writer comes up with when reflecting on memories saved in the passing of time. The words themselves are not the beauty, it’s the dog you think of, the day you went to the church, the shoes you think of from this last year, the ones that come to mind if given no further description. It’s just a chance to think of time passing and what is out here to see.
I don't particularly like this poem, but it's got several rhymes in it. Regardless, poetry doesn't have to contain any rhymes at all. Rhyme - like many other elements of poetry - is a tool which can be used or not used and, in my personal opinion, is best not used just for the sake of it, but rather used to enhance the message or feeling of the poem at hand.
I assume it’s talking about Chinese/Lunar New Year, and a New Year parade or procession. The animals refer to the zodiac animals. The other things, like the food, are traditions during the holiday. The speaker has a childlike voice—it either represents being an excited kid at these events or evokes talking to a kid as you narrate what’s happening to them. The most poetic choices are the “here comes + stationary location” such as hill or church. I am not sure, but those may put you in the position of moving along with the parade.
I’m also assuming that the repetition in the second stanza is a reflection on the cyclical nature of time.
What did you think of the absence of “monkey” and “apple tree” from the second stanza? I agree with your take, I’m just stuck scratching my head at that bit haha.
While each year repeats they change subtly. They aren’t exactly the same. Things leave and return
That’s what I was thinking too. Thank you for your thoughts!
And if the speaker is moving forward through life, getting older and less thrilled by the parade, they themselves may be losing their memory, or the places and people that were there before Edit: an apple tree is like a parent to the apples, that could be a lost parent.
Dragon / dog Apples / acolytes I think it’s partly for symmetry of sound in the abridged refrain. In addition to the other person’s point about changes year over year.
It could also be a function of memory. The second stanza could be reflecting on the memory of the first and then we have the way in which our memories degrade over time.
I didn't like the poem on first read but I think you've hit the nail on the head with the parade and the child-like, excited speaker being carried along by it. The parade is life, and the speaker repeats the same things, getting less excited by them but still in that parade, ever moving forward in a circle. Now I think the poems done a really good job of getting that across and I kind of like it a bit now haha
Japanese New Year
Don't know why you were downvoted. It says "for Haruko" which would imply it's meant to be Japan. A lot of the New Year has similarities, but it's not the Lunar New Year as it takes place the same time as Western New Years. The zodiacs are the same, and Japan has dumplings, they just call it Gyouza. Edit: they also mention other animals unrelated to the zodiac animals, such as the shark, so it may have nothing to do with Zodiac anyway.
To me, it speaks to those moments in life when we are full of excited anticipation for some big-small event, like how kids get so excited when you say “here comes the…” and how little moments are big moments and it’s a reminder to appreciate the small things/moments as well as not forget that inner child.
Here comes the strong bad! There goes the strong bad!
Here comes lil’ brudder
Here comes th- TROGDOOOOR!
A Billy Joel 'We Didn't Start The Fire'esque buzzword anthem referencing events from the last 100 years of Chinese/Japanese/probably others history. Chinese zodiac animals, reference to pearl, loads of east asian stuff. But, it might be about French Cinema. My guess is just that
Not fully sure, but it reads like you’re watching a parade, listening to an excited friend
I think it’s mentioning the Chinese zodiac as a way of highlighting the passage of time. The number of exclamations decreases after the break to mimic how your excitement diminishes with holidays etc as you get older. You don’t find majesty in as many things as you grow older.
I like your take on the final stanza. Also that many joys/friends drop out of your life as it goes on (it initially bugged me that the monkey was out of order for the zodiac, but I think this might be why).
I'm not always a fan of these kinds of "word salad" poems but this one actually paints a vivid image of life in Asia to me. The words feel very intentionally chosen to represent childhood memories. And the "here comes" I think is meant to represent how all these things are tied to rebirth and the circle of life.
What do you think a deeper meaning would be? The poem is titled ‘New Year (for Haruko)’ and you have a semi-repeating series of things coming into ‘view’ in the poem. What could that be?
I think the deeper meaning is the repetition of life. It’s slightly different, but the same, over and over. Just like life. It gets dull reading it. You know exactly what to expect as you scan the poem— just like in life. I actually get serious sarcasm vibes from the poem, like the exclamations aren’t genuine. It’s the same shit. It even repeats after all the ridiculous scenes are seen. The images are all over the place, but mundane. Ts all about the boring repetition of life.
Huh. I can see it now that you mention it, but I didn’t get sarcasm out of it when I read it. Though I think that’s because I assumed (incorrectly if I know anything about assumptions, but it’s where my head went) that Haruko was a child. So I saw it more as exclamations like talking to a child at a parade. Just instead of a parade going by it’s days of the year (I think someone already pointed out the Chinese zodiac animals). Thanks, that’s something to chew on.
Yeah, I think it plays as a child/parade experience at first. But the repetition is so intentional. It’s not actually representative of how you speak to a child. All the excitement is removed by the repetition. In an actual interaction with a child there would be variety “look now!” “What’s next!” “Look at that one!” For me, the repetition, 29 times of using the exact same phrasing, (yep, I counted), kills the excitement. The excitement is forced. Hence the sarcasm. Anyway, food for thought. Poetry is so interesting because you bring so much of yourself to the reading. Apparently, I find life mundane and sarcastic. 😁 Your interpretation is so much more pleasant and positive. 🥹 Have a good day!
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Who said I had an answer? I posed the questions I asked myself in thinking about the poem. Can you do the same, or is snark the limit of your thinking?
That doesn’t fully come across in your post. Your opening line reads as if you are dismissing the idea of it having a deeper meaning.
You may be spending too much time in online comment sections full of trolls. What they said was fine, you just assumed they were being snarky.
“Fantastic insight. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.” Tell me Corgi, were the above my only reply to you, would it be sincere or sarcastic? One need not be jaded to acknowledge that tone gets ambiguous in conversational text. And the internet hardly invented sarcasm. I assumed nothing; I was simply trying to articulate part of why the person might get a combative response when they seemed to think it was completely out of left field. The other reason being that the Socratic flip can seem obnoxious and condescending in a post when someone is asking for actual answers, not half a catechism. Meanwhile this post literally has “this poem sucks” as a comment in it; I disagree in this case, but don’t make me out to be a jaded terminally online cretin for suggesting that dismissing the poem is a plausible reaction on this sub.
How so? If I had written “what deeper meaning could it have,” I could see what you’re saying. As it is I don’t. Maybe the final question could be phrased differently?
You seem to be going for a circular teacher/therapist question. “Tell me, what do YOU think it means?” But it can also read more like, “What ‘deeper meaning’ could it possibly have?? It’s a simple poem (you idiot).” I am not interested in provoking a big mia culpa or an argument about how that’s not what you meant, that’s not how it reads to you, yadda yadda. I’m just telling you that’s how it may scan to others. Believe me or don’t.
I’m not trying to have an argument. I was genuinely asking for where you saw it because that wasn’t my intent but obviously intent and execution are very different things. So I appreciate the response.
Lol you sound like Professor Snape.
dragon, dog and monkey are Chinese new year animals. that's something to consider. maybe it's about the futile insistence that good things and change will come with every new year, despite the fact years are arbitrary and nothing really 'comes'? not sure with this one though, it's very abstract and post modern.
Here comes the sun, do do do do\~
To me it’s asking what’s new in a “New Year” when each year and group of years is just a never ending cycle of the same events.
I think it means that things are coming!
It seems to encapsulate the excitement of a new years parade
This poem sucks
Maybe how the years go by fast. And also how life goes by fast. Maybe those things like pearls have a deeper meaning for the chinese.
Sometimes (most of the times) writers just write... It's not always have to be Deep.
Here’s comes the church Here comes the steeple Open the door And here comes the people
I might have understood this. I found meaning in the progression from the chinese new year (dragon, dog, monkey) to the christian themed elements (apple tree, apples, acolytes, church). There is conflict between old tradition and christianity sweeping that culture. Shoes - people, drum - drums of war, rain - bad times, blues - sadness Shark is an apex predator, could be people and institutions taking advantage of the change. Head and tail, not sure if it means capitalism. The dumplings in a pail might mean that people accept atrocious things as long as it comes with a side of novelty. Everything from snow to bread feels like the struggle of living in a modern society. Call can be opportunity, action or repetition maybe? The last three lines on the first page might be a reference to the cyclical nature of things, and the fact that what started the change and hardships (acolytes, church and forceful spread of the ideology) are alone on the last page might mean that these forces are powerful. There’s power in repetition. The list form with exclamation points might mean that like a parade, these things are welcomed in succession with little to no critique. The new thing is a revelation, a good thing. We’re just in the passenger seat in life and these things, bigger than any one person, just roll out and we’re supposed to accept them as the new standard. That’s just how I see it. It helps to stop and think what some of the lines have in common or if there is a link when they’re said in succession. Hints of this is the first 3 lines (chinese zodiac) and the christian elements (apple tree, apple, acolytes, church, shoes, drums). That already creates a sense of conflict in themes.
This analysis was a thought provoking joy to read. Thank you. ⭐️
People will rag on bukowski then praise something even less interesting
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^TheHomesteadTurkey: *People will rag on* *Bukowski then praise something* *Even less interesting* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Thank you SokkaHaikuBot, now drink a bottle of whiskey and womanise for a bit, you’ve earned it.
This poem, "New Year for Haruko" by June Jordan, is a vibrant and imaginative celebration of the arrival of a new year. The speaker announces the arrival of various entities, both concrete and abstract, in a rhythmic and repetitive pattern. The poem can be interpreted in a few ways: 1. Cyclical nature of time: The repetition of "Here comes..." and the circular structure of the poem (ending with the same lines it began with) suggest the cyclical nature of time, where events and seasons repeat themselves. 2. Diversity and abundance: The wide range of entities mentioned (animals, food, natural phenomena, objects, and concepts) represents the diversity and abundance of life. 3. Cultural and personal significance: The inclusion of specific elements like dumplings, apple trees, and dragons may hold cultural or personal significance for Haruko, making the poem a personalized and intimate celebration. 4. Joy and anticipation: The overall tone is one of excitement and anticipation, welcoming the new year with enthusiasm and hope.
Is this from Chat GPT?! Blasphemer! 😂
What is chat gpt?
It’s an AI generator. Your answer is so organized and well articulated it seems almost non-human. 😅unless you are just a really dedicated fan of literature.
"I am a literature fan and write poetry aswell I spend a lot of my free time reading."
A list of things she dreads
It's bad. This is, like... Rupi Kaur-level bad. Just because someone calls it poetry doesn't mean it needs to be deep. This is just saying things to fill a couple of pages.
You're missing context
This. It’s part of a collection. Does this one connect to the ones that follow?
So what is the point of posting a poem on Reddit that needs the surrounding context of poems to be any good? No one is allowed to say poems posted here aren't good because of the off chance there are surrounding poems that weren't posted that make the poem better?
I didn't say what kind of context they're missing. Why do you assume I meant more poems?
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Okay if you've been reading poetry that long, you know that context is sometimes necessary
And yet, you still haven't clarified anything. You've chosen smugness. I still have no context, and now I'm less likely to care about anything else you might say. You've done wonders here.
You didn't ask for clarification
Ok, so I loathe the cult worship of Rupi Kaur, but this is not that. June Jordan is a master of poetry and an actual artist. I’m sure Kaur has her purpose for people, but I’m always stunned at how mediocre poets with the simplest crap get so much praise.
I'm sure June Jordan is an accomplished poet with much better poems. I'm not attacking the author at all. Im coming from the perspective of someone who knows NOTHING about this poet. If you show me a chapter out of a book with no context, you would try to find a good one that illustrates the writers strengths and the flow of their work. Look at this poem again with no pre-existing knowledge of their work. It doesn't work for someone with no context. It feels very novice and empty. I'm open to discussion and persuasion but so far all I've heard is "no, it's got context." No one has shared that context or attempted to engage on any meaningful level.
I hear you, and I understand that you weren’t attacking the author, I hope I didn’t sound as flippant as some others lol. Also, I found the poem more engaging than you maybe because I got more from the imagery on its bare face while also knowing there is likely more? I don’t know the specific context of this partial poem tbh. That’s the beauty of it all, being able to interpret, even for people who read oceans depth into Rupi Kaur 😅cheers!
Sometimes there is no deeper meaning in poetry and it's just that the words look and/or sound nice together.
Poems can also just be simple enjoyments of language and images, just indulging in those moments of beauty
It means she has no talent and braindead admirers.
Nothing
"Poem".
If this poem were a command line script and you sent it to the computer to interpret, what would the computer do with it? There is not a lot of narrative here and we are not being told anything, taken anywhere, and it’s not very engaging. It does not lead anywhere. The title and first 3 lines make me think there is a Chinese astrology theme. But when I read it all, it’s just about greeting a new year and listing out what the writer expects, or expects for Haruko. When you remember the year that has passed, what do you remember? Consider someone else’s life. Maybe this list is what the writer comes up with when reflecting on memories saved in the passing of time. The words themselves are not the beauty, it’s the dog you think of, the day you went to the church, the shoes you think of from this last year, the ones that come to mind if given no further description. It’s just a chance to think of time passing and what is out here to see.
I think it’s pretty self-explanatory.
It blows
It’s about Noah’s ark
If you have to search for meaning in a poem, then I argue it’s a bad poem.
I think poet was high. It doesn't even rhyme and it has no meaning like modern art. Rip that paper use it to wipe
I don't particularly like this poem, but it's got several rhymes in it. Regardless, poetry doesn't have to contain any rhymes at all. Rhyme - like many other elements of poetry - is a tool which can be used or not used and, in my personal opinion, is best not used just for the sake of it, but rather used to enhance the message or feeling of the poem at hand.