pale against
the hospital pillow
winter snow

– Christina Sng (Singapore)

There are times when we are down due to an illness or disease, where everything around us looks dysfunctional and depressing. We try to relate to our feelings with our surroundings, especially the weather. We strive to console ourselves by finding out our shortcomings in the outer world.

This haiku depicts exactly that situation, where the illness of a person can be connected to winter snow as both bringing depressing thoughts and feelings.

The word ‘pale’ indicates dullness and the fragile condition of a person who is seriously ill and depressed due to his or her illness. This colour also indicates autumn, where leaves change their colours and fall down—ultimately looking pale. Here, paleness also suggests a departure or farewell due to a serious illness. A person in this state might feel as if he or she is close…