By the Old Temple

By the Old Temple - form Summary

Haiku's Quiet Juxtaposition

This poem is a haiku: a compact three-line image that pairs a tranquil setting with a small human action. The form’s economy forces the reader to join the two scenes—old temple and peach blossoms—with the man treading rice, producing an immediate sense of seasonality and everyday ritual. The compressed structure emphasizes fleeting presence and quiet observation rather than narrative or exposition.