Poetry Collection 'Carrying Each Shade of Blue' (39) Towing the Sky

The boat that does not row out

spends the day

towing the sky

so that the lake

does not forget the sky

Two boats are floating on the lake, heading nowhere, carrying nothing. They sway slowly while reflecting the blue of Lake Como.

As I painted them, I began to feel that the boats were connecting the lake to the sky. The blue of the sky descends to the water's surface, and the blue of the water returns to the sky. Between them, they simply sway in silence.

We tend to value moving forward and achieving things. But perhaps there are times when we need to stop, sway in the wind, and look up at the sky.

Just as the boat that does not row out keeps the blue in the lake, we, too, must ensure we do not forget our own blue.

Harue

Harue

Harue, first tanka collection

'Carrying Each Shade of Blue'

For the cover, I used the watercolor painting 'Blue'.

I painted this piece in the ancient city of Taormina on the island of Sicily.

It was born amidst the light and wind of the Mediterranean, and I feel it resonates deeply with the theme of 'each shade of blue' that this collection explores.

This painting, which traveled to a new owner at my 2025 solo exhibition, is now beginning a new journey as the cover of this poetry collection.

I hope that this book, too, will meet someone's blue.

Harue

Please do come and visit. Thank you for your support.