Carpe Diem Special #8, Spring Peace

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

As you may know this Carpe Diem month has for it's Specials haiku written by Issa, one of the four greatest haiku-masters. And today our third Carpe Diem Special of November is on. I love to share the next haiku by Issa for your inspiration.

spring peace -
a mountain monk peeks
through the hedge

In Romanji it's written as follows:

nodokasa ya kakima wo nozoku yama no so 

When he wrote this haiku is unknown, but nevertheless it's a wonderful haiku. It's referring to a classical story titled 'The Tale of Genji' (chapter 5). In this tale Prince Genji peers through a brushwood hedge and catches sight of Murasaki, a ten-year old.
In Spring even a mountain monk becomes a 'peeping Tom' notwithstanding their rule of chastity. It's a haiku full of humor I think and it is a joy to read this haiku again and again to visualize the painted scene.

Credits: Mountain Monk

All alone meditating in the mountains, contemplating on Buddha. Strong man (and woman) these Mountain Monks.

Well ... let me think (meditate and contemplate) this haiku by Issa over and over again. As a sort of Koan and write a new haiku in Issa's Spirit.

deep meditation
high up in the mountains
a Buddhist monk

a Buddhist monk
even he violates chastity
watching a geisha

watching a geisha
monk from high up in the mountains
he's also a man

Credits: Wisdom Seeking Mountain Monk

Isn't it wonderful? Seeking for wisdom in the mountains, that would be something, but I can find my wisdom just here at home, or at work or just in the city parc.

This Carpe Diem Special will stay on 'till November 24th 11.59 AM (CET) and I will post our new prompt Silver Birch today around 10.00 PM (CET).

I am looking forward to your posts. Be inspired and share your creativity with Carpe Diem.

Namaste.