Of rivers and streams; shipwreck and treasure

For Poetry Thursday's prompt "rivers," I've written five haiku, inspired by actual events:

The Spanish government has filed a lawsuit against US marine explorers over a shipwreck found laden with treasure. The wreck containing $500m in coins is believed to be a 17th Century vessel, supposedly found off the coast of England. But the Spanish government contends the wreck was found off the coast of Spain. Odyssey Marine Exploration has said only that it was found in the Atlantic Ocean. The lawsuit challenges the company's right to recover or possess any property of the Kingdom of Spain recovered from sunken ships.

Sunken ship's cargo
centuries' treasure buried
sees the light of day

Modern-day version
piracy on the High Seas
whose bounty is it?

When I first went to London to live, David took me on a grand tour of Devon. Wherever we went, he'd say, "Look, there's a river." And me being American and used to big rivers like the Mississippi would laugh and say, "That's not a river; that's a stream." It became a running joke between us.

That's the River Exe!"
She scoffs: "No, that's just a stream."
"Here, it's a river."

An American friend who lived in Paris for 16 years returned this spring for a visit. At a smart restaurant near the Palais Royale, she was offered a menu in English. She told me she'd never seen such "amusing and confusing" translations of French to English. Eventually, she was forced to call the waiter over and converse in French about what choices actually were offered. The waiter was gleeful at the news, as he'd apparently told the owner - who fancied he could speak English and had written the translation himself - that the translation was full of errors. He brought another menu for my friend to mark changes needed in red ink, so he could prove the restaurant owner wrong.

"Freshly-pooled tuna"
something lost in translation:
was it caught today?

And finally, weary of daily stories of war and car bombs; of land mines, rapes and killings; of corruption and lies poisoning our atmosphere:

Cry me a river
empty the tears in a stream
all emotions spent

For more river tales, visit Poetry Thursday. Photograph of the Alcazar Gardens, Sevilla, Spain. Many explorers strolled through these gardens while awaiting an audience with the King and Queen of Spain. Explorers such as Cristoforo Colombo (as the Spainards called him) sought financial support for their expeditions, which required crossing the High Seas. Shipwreck was an occupational hazard.

Comments

[Gillian @ Indigo Blue]

Tara
Brilliant. I plan to stroll back down blog lane, through your archives as time allows. Maybe a couple a week. I picked this jewel at random. Well written!
xo
Blue

[Alex]

Thank you!

[JanePoe (aka Deborah)]

I love how these haiku were tied to true stories .... you're so clever, dear Tara!! xx, JP

[Kim G.]

A wonderful collection of haikus! What a wonderful reminder that it is as much art as science when we try to translate.

[Clare]

What creative, enjoyable and interesting haiku! I also really enjoyed how you described and explained the context around them. Very well done! And I like the "freshly-pooled tuna!" Cute!

[clockworkchris]

Tara-As usual everything you write is wonderful. Then I got to the last one and immediatly heard Justin Timberlake singing "Cry me a river" and it ruined it all. You can't use phrases like that. YUCK! It fit well but I don't want to think about him. Sorry this is short but I have tons of work to do before I sleep, price of vacations I supose.

[ally bean]

I'm laughing about the River Exe. I spent a term in college at the University of Exeter and I remember wondering why the Engish were calling their brooks, rivers. It just did not compute in my American mind.

[Jim]

Such unexpected places you take us! I think of myself as a happy stowaway whenever I come by and take a few minutes in reading your posts. Thank you!

[Becca]

A wonderful assortment of river views...I relate totally to your last haiku.

[Becca]

A wonderful assortment of river views...I relate totally to your last haiku.

[Britt-Arnhild]

Your pen has done a great job today :-)

[Brian]

Thanks for the comment Tara. :)

sour clams in booth
caught only ten days ago
worst we pleased to serve

[Rose Dewy Knickers]

Hi Tara,

It's very interesting how treasure stolen long ago can still cause so much trouble.

Rose

xo

[Abby]

Love these little haikus, especially the the conversation between you and David. Keep it up :)

[Amber]

What a neat post, full of lots of cool tidbits. All made me smile. ;)

I think America is so full of amazing physical things like LARGE rivers and GIANT mountains, and the GRAND CANYON. They have beautiful castles, but we have these! lol

:)

[rel]

Tara
What a delightful stream of haiku pouring into the catch basin of our minds. Beautiful images cascading, then floating in our conciousness. With you at the helm, our course to the shores of enjoyment is assured.
The rivulets of creativity are on high for you today. ;-)
rel

[Tammy]

How cool, a real treasure hunt! I'd love to find out who gets to keep the booty. :) Loved David's river. lol Freshly-pooled tuna...ewww. :)

The last haiku was very sad but apropos.

XXOO

[pepektheassassin]

I give you an "A" for both poems.

[Crafty Green Poet]

Funny, looking at some of the American Poetry Thursdayers rivers I've been thinking how small our rivers are here. I miss the large Shire River of Malawi. I liked your comments about the confusing translations too, I've seen that all too often.

[gautami]

Very interesting post. The haikus fit in rather well. They depict the present scenario.

Thanks!