Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,
Today we are leaving 'early winter' and start with 'mid-winter', the second ten days of our December month on classical Japanese kigo. Our first 'mid-winter' prompt is Winter Camellia.
Camellias
are evergreen shrubs, bloom in autumn and winter, and very popular because of
their great beauty because of their flowers, form and also foliage. They grow
in a habit form, have glossy leaves and exquisitve form. Most Camellias at
first were imported from Europe but now are grown in gardens from southeastern
Virginia thru the Carolinas to Florida an along the Gulf Coast and even along
the Pacific coast.
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| Credits: Camellia |
What a wonderful flower this is ... the Camellia ... so fragile and beautiful. Another picture of a Camellia.
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| Credits: Camellia in Winter (Kyoto) |
Awesome, just awesome ...
I found a few nice haiku on Camellia written by Issa:
pachi-pachi to tsubaki saki keri sumi keburi
snap and crackle
the Camellia blooms
the coal fire smokes
(c) Issa - 1803
amatsusae umi e mukatte fuyu tsubaki
snap and crackle
the Camellia blooms
the coal fire smokes
(c) Issa - 1803
amatsusae umi e mukatte fuyu tsubaki
also facing
the sea ...
winter Camellias
the sea ...
winter Camellias
(c) Issa - 1803
hi no me minu fuyu no tsubaki no saki ni keri
without seeing sunlight
the winter Camellia
blooms
the winter Camellia
blooms
(c) Issa - 1803
All wonderfully crafted haiku ... especially the last one I enjoyed very much ... it's a masterpiece I think.
Let's try it myself
Let's try it myself
loaded with snow
the deep red Camellia
in the backyard
the deep red Camellia
in the backyard
in the shadow
of the snow packed pine
a Camellia
of the snow packed pine
a Camellia
winter colors
Camellias blooming -
snow falls
Camellias blooming -
snow falls
I love it, I love it ... what a joy to write haiku inspired on this classical Japanese Kigo ... really it's a joy. I hope that you, my dear haijin, do love it too.
This prompt will stay on 'till December 11th 11.59 AM (CET) and I will post our new prompt New Year's Eve (toshi no yo) around 10.00 PM (CET) today.
Lovely haiku Kristjaan, and the pictures are out of this world. I saw the translation snow camellia when I googled, and I might use that instead. Now back to writing. Thanks again for the wonderful prompts, and explanations.
ReplyDeleteLove the photos. Love all Issa's "facing the sea" haiku. Love both your haikus. Excellent.
ReplyDeleteI need to go back to the drawing board on my own haiku. I've never mixed snow thoughts with camellias. It never snows in Southern California, but I know these plants well, they get as tall as small trees.
One interesting fact I picked up while writing about camellias is that they are related to the tea plant "camellia sinensis."
Once more thanks for your beautiful images and interesting explanations, Kristjaan.
ReplyDeleteI love your snow camellia, very beautiful haiku indeed.
I love "loaded with snow"...for some reason it stands out for me amongst the wonderful images and words that surround it. Funny how one language can have so many different effects and meanings on people.
ReplyDeleteLike Lolly, we don't see much snow here in Brisbane, but we have camellias which we were always told thrived on having cold tea poured into their pots.
Thank you all for your kind words. I am grateful to be your host here on Carpe Diem.
ReplyDeleteHosting a meme
writing every day haiku
rooted in the Far East
Thanks you as always Kristjaan. I love your words and images.
ReplyDeleteLike Lolly, we don;t get much snow in Brisbane, but we have Camellias.
On her note about Tea...we are told that Camellia's love to be feed cold tea in their pots...interesting.
This was an interesting prompt...a new winter bloom for me to know about.
ReplyDeleteThank you
I have a friend who named her daughter Camellia. A lovely prompt to brighten a winter day. Thank-you
ReplyDeleteBeautiful prompt to brighten a winter's day. Thank-you
ReplyDelete