Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge #42, ''before the spring equinox''

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers.

To stay in tune with this month's classical haiku-poets who are in the lead I have decided to use also classical haiku by classical haiku-poets for our Tan Renga Challenge. Today we have a Tan Renga started with a haiku by Yasomura Rotsu, a not so wellknown haiku-poet. I will tell you a little bit more about him later in this episode. The goal of the Tan Renga Challenge is to compose a second stanza of two lines following the 7-7 syllables-count towards the given haiku. Tan Renga looks similar with Tanka, but instead of written by one poet (as Tanka is) the Tan Renga is composed by two haiku-poets, it's a ''short-chained'' renga (chained verse) and I think it's a great way to learn to associate on the given haiku images.

Credits: Rotsu (on the left)

Rotsu was born at the temple Miidera, but when this happened isn't very clear. It is said that Rotsu was 90 when he died in 1738. Rotsu was from Otsu in Omi and well versed in poetry and classical literature.

He was one of the eccentric disciples of Basho. He traveled as a mendicant begging monk around Japan for many years and later returned to a secular life.
He joined the Basho discipels in 1685 and lived for a while close to the Basho-An in Fukagawa Edo.
He could not accompany Basho for his trip to "Oku no Hosomichi" but went all the way to Tsuruga to meet him on the last leg of the trip.
Rotsu was one of the Fukagawa Happin, "Eight Beggars of Fukagawa"  a company of eight friends (including Basho) which came together on a regular base to write renga together.

higon-mae samusa mo hito-yo futa-yo kana

before the spring equinox;
the cold will last
only a night or two more

© Yasomura Rotsu

Credits: stoking the fire again

And here is my completion of this Tan Renga:

before the spring equinox;
the cold will last
only a night or two more                         (Rotsu)

stoking the fire again
to expel the last cold                               (Chèvrefeuille)

Well ... this came out really fast ... what a beauty (how immodest). What do you think?

This Tan Renga Challenge is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until next Friday at noon. Have fun, be inspired and share your continuation or completuion of the Tan Renga with us all here at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai.
!! I have launched a new Wordpress Weblog ''Carpe Diem A Haiku Family'' !!