A hundred gourds

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Image from Tumblr shared on Carpe Diem Haiku Kai

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A hundred gourds

From the heart

Of one vine

©Chiyo-Ni 1703-1775

A hundred gourds
flowers transmute to
fertile fruit

from the heart
a hundred seeds
court eternity

of one vine
of one seed, each gourd defines
infinity

©2017 Ontheland

In response to Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #2, Troiku ‘a hundred gourds’ the above poem is a ‘troiku’, a form introduced by Chèvrefeuille. Each line of a chosen haiku forms the first line of a verse based on the image of a Russian troika, described below:

“A troika (meaning: triplet or trio) is a traditional Russian harness driving combination, using three horses abreast, usually pulling a sleigh. It differs from most other three horse combinations in that the horses are harnessed abreast. The middle horse is usually harnessed in a horse collar and shaft bow; the side horses are usually in breastcollar harness. The troika is traditionally driven so that the middle horse trots and the side horses canter; the right hand horse will be on the right lead and the left hand horse on the left lead. The troika was developed in Russia during the 17th century…..” 

~from ‘Troiku: a new form of haiku’ by Chèvrefeuille

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Published by Janice

My name is Janice.  I started blogging as Ontheland when I moved from Toronto to a rural area near Kingston, Ontario in Canada.  Over time I have found myself writing poetry, mostly in Japanese forms, such as haiku and haibun.  One of my deepest interests is the natural world: the joy of it and how we can look after it better.

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