Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge #72, "Cherry Blossom Rain" by JazzBumpa

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

What a joy to bring to you an all new episode of our Tan Renga Challenge and this week I have a wonderful haiku written/composed by JazzBumpa of Retirement Pastels. He wrote this in response on our Haiku Writing Technique of last Wednesday, comparison. It's (in my opinion) a masterpiece and worth sharing with you all and to challenge you with it by writing a second stanza of two-lines (7-7 syll.) towards it. You may of course use the classical count, but that's not an obligation. Poetry as haiku is ... has to give you the freedom to let your inspiration flow ... so, as Basho once said: "Now you know the rules, forget them immediately, because haiku writing/composing must come from within and not from rules".

cherry blossom rain
young girls with pink parasols
watched by eager boys

© JazzBumpa

Isn't it a beauty? I think this haiku has enough to give you the inspiration to write the second stanza of this Tan Renga.

Sakura blooming 2014 (photo by Chèvrefeuille)

cherry blossom rain
young girls with pink parasols
watched by eager boys                              (JazzBumpa)

she blushes up to her ears
getting her first kiss ever                           (Chèvrefeuille)

Isn't it great? I remember my first kiss ever as if it was yesterday. That strange new feeling of butterflies in your stomach, the blush up to your ears ... your heart pounds wild ... adrenaline kick ...

Great memories I think. Now it's up to you to write a second stanza to complete or continue the scene of the first stanza. Have fun!

This episode of our Tan Renga Challenge is open for your submissions today at noon (CET) and will remain open until next Friday February 13th at noon (CET).