Renga #3 with Bashō

Why a video featuring pheasant sounds? Read on and it should make sense. This is my response to Carpe Diem’s third Renga Challenge featuring, once again, Japanese Haiku Master, Matsuo Bashō (1644-1694).

The three-line haiku in bold print are written by Bashō (as translated by Jane Reichhold). My couplet responses are in italics. Here goes:

passing through autumn

a butterfly seems to lick

chrysanthemum dew

.

a long pilgrimage begins

with sweet wine and sad farewells

.

five or six

sitting with tea and cakes

a fireplace

.

under Cold Moon, drumbeats sound

the caroller’s descant soars

.

a skylark sings

the pheasant’s voice is

the instrumental music

.

snow geese call in urgent tones

flying to their far North home

.

how glorious

young green leaves

flash in the sun

.

a child sage writes in the sand

an old poet lifts her pen

.

early summer rains

falling so heavily they cover up

the waterfall

.

chrysanthemum blooms live long

tending hopes and memories

©️2018 Ontheland (as noted, haiku are written by Bashō)

Chrysanthemum image is from Pixabay.