life plans
trailing the sun
few birds twitter
this cold November night
a shift to C minor
.
.
©️2019 Ontheland
Inspired by November with Basho Day 2:
Very Early on the twenty-seventh morning of the third moon, under a predawn haze, transparent moon barely visible, Mount Fuji just a shadow, I set out under the cherry blossoms of Ueno and Yanaka. When would I see them again?…
Spring passes
and the birds cry out– tears
in the eyes of fishes
Sam Hamill (Trsl.), The Essential Basho, page 4
“The moon and sun are eternal travellers”
~Basho
.
.
spinning: the moon, the sun, planet earth, solar systems, the Milky Way … a spiral dance to eternity.
unity
what we always have
known and lost
.
.
©️2019 Ontheland
Thank you to Frank Tassone for offering a November with Matsuo Basho feature, using for inspiration Basho’s The Narrow Road to the Interior as translated by Sam Hamill. Day 1’s excerpt is this:
The Moon and Sun are eternal travelers. Even the years wander on. A lifetime adrift in a boat, or in old age leading a tired horse into the years, every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home…
Even this grass hut
may be transformed
into a doll’s house
Basho, “Narrow Road to the Interior” The Essential Basho (Trsl. Sam Hamill) pg. 3,4
:
:
Heaven to earth
autumn petals fall
ice crystals bloom
:
©️2018 Ontheland
In Heeding Haiku, Chèvrefeuille asks us to write one poem inspired by the following three by Basho. The first is believed to be the last one that he wrote before he died:
falling sick on a journey
my dream goes wandering
over a field of dried grass
lying down
with quilts over the head
such a cold night
a rainy day
the autumn world
of a border town
© Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) (Tr. Jane Reichhold)
:
falling sick I dream
a meadow feathered with snow
dark ravens calling
:
©️2018 Ontheland
This 8th episode of Carpe Diem’s Renga with Basho features six of Basho’s haiku, as translated by Jane Reichhold, including one that was unfinished—I have completed the first haiku by adding a third line. Basho’s writings are shown in boldface type and my additions are in regular type (hopefully the Reader does not alter this).
~
missing a wife
putting on bamboo grass
I step out the door
:
into the blazing sunlight
a dusty road before me
:
above all else
a dependable chinquapin tree stands
in a summer grove
:
shade welcomes wanderers
a place of rest for weary feet
:
path of the sun
the hollyhock leans into
early summer rain
:
another cool blessing
I lower my grateful head
:
each with its own light
fireflies in the trees
lodge in flowers
:
no darkness this summer night
my way well-lit from above
:
a dragonfly
unable to settle
on the grass
:
wherever I am is home
until the wind calls my name
:
an early winter shower
a rice paddy with new stubble
darkens just a bit
:
this bamboo hat keeps me dry
as winter wind nips my cheeks
~
©️Matsuo Basho haiku shown in boldface type (taken from Basho, The Complete Haiku by Jane Reichhold)
©️2018 Ontheland
It’s time for another Renga with Basho. For this challenge the haiku offered by Chevrefeuille, our Carpe Diem host, are translations by Robert Hass. The bold three-line stanzas are by Basho, renowned Japanese poet (1644-1694), and the italicized two-line stanzas are mine.
:
by the old temple
peach blossoms;
a man treading rice
.
golden manna from the storehouse
each grain a nourishing pearl
.
all the day long
yet not long enough for the skylark
singing, singing
.
old farmers toil and hum
whispering paddies rustle
.
the shallows
a crane’s thighs splashed
in cool waves
.
an evening in the rice fields
quiet moments bathed in peace
.
the dragonfly
can’t quite land
on that blade of grass
.
we shall spread a blanket
under the shady willow
.
I’m a wanderer
so let that be my name
the first winter rain
.
when peach leaves are falling
my staff will be by my side
:
Thank you to Carpe Diem Haiku Kai for this challenge. As mentioned above, the bolded stanzas are by Matsuo Basho, as translated by Robert Hass, and the two-line italicized stanzas were written by me.
sound of the old pond
arc of flight ends with a plop
in the flower bed
:
©️2018 Ontheland
My noticing the telltale plop and the words of my poem are attributable to the classic haiku by Basho as translated by Jane Reichhold:
old pond
a frog jumps into
the sound of water
©️Basho
In this special edition of Carpe Diem’s Renga with Basho series Chèvrefeuille asks us to commence with a greeting verse (‘hokku’) actually used by Basho to commence a Renga Party. The other verses by Basho were written as stand alone haiku. As usual I have bolded Basho’s haiku (translated by Jane Reichhold) and italicized my two-line responses.
:
autumn coolness
each peeling with our hands
melons and eggplant
:
last embers of summer
lodge under our fingernails
:
swinging bridge
lives are intertwined
in ivy vines
:
the trellis has been transformed
brimming with succulent fruits
:
with young leaves
I would like to wipe away
the tears in your eyes
:
a blur of joy and sadness
ushers in each season
:
blossoms at their peak
the mountain the same as always
at day break
:
a mist of whitening dew
blades of grass sparkle at sunrise
:
a clear night
cooling myself under cherry trees
waves of flowers
:
I peel my eyes to glimpse
a shooting star flash the night sea
:
©️2018 Ontheland (bolded haiku are authored by Basho as translated by Jane Reichhold).
:
:
The Basho haiku for this Carpe Diem Renga challenge are translated by Robert Hass. The two-line responses in italics are mine. A true exchange of stanzas would be done in real time. This challenge is an opportunity to appreciate the haiku of a master and to practice writing two-line 7 syllable responses (I use the syllable count as a guide but don’t force my responses to comply).
:
cedar umbrellas, off
to Mount Yoshimo for
the cherry blossoms
©️Basho
:
our favourite rite of spring
don’t forget the wine glasses
:
midfield,
attached to nothing,
the skylark singing
©️Basho
:
crescent moon lingering to
enjoy a dawn serenade
:
with every gust of wind,
the butterfly changes its place
on the willow
©️Basho
:
bamboo chimes clack and sway
a lullaby in rustling leaves
:
the dragonfly
can’t quite land
on that blade of grass
©️Basho
:
dewdrops shimmer and scatter
sunbeams bounce in beryl green
:
when the winter chrysanthemums go,
there’s nothing to write about
but radishes
©️Basho
:
pink like mountain hanami
flowers tint my winter dreams
:
©️2018 Ontheland
Hanami is the Japanese custom of blossom viewing.
:
In this Renga with three haiku of Matsuo Basho, translated by Jane Reichhold, the three line stanzas in bold italics are written by Basho and the regular typeface responses are mine.
what kind of tree
with the unknown flower
such a fragrance
.
is that a brown-headed crow
snapping air for flying fare?
.
with a fan
drinking wine in the shadow
of scattered blossoms
.
wren on the pedestal bath
sipping flower-flavoured tea
.
melting away
the brush draws up the water
of a spring
.
swift strokes over rice paper
unveiling a waterfall
.
blossoms at their peak
the mountain the same as always
at daybreak
.
floral scents infuse the dawn
bird songs trill to greet the day
~
©️2018 Ontheland
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