Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,
Last week I introduced a new feature here at Carpe Diem to honor "my haiku master" Basho and his haiku. I realized myself that I had forgotten to write an all new episode of "Encore" yesterday (Thursday May 21st) so here it is a new episode of our new feature "On The Trail With Basho Encore" and I think I have a nice haiku for you all.
The given
haiku Basho wrote when he was 33 years old, a mature man, and he had
contributed it, together with 19 other verses,to a colossal poetry contest
arranged by Fûko (a rich daimyo patron). The contest was entered by over 60
poets. Kigin and Saiganji Ninko were the referee-judges.
After the
contest father and son Ninko created an Anthology of the results called Roppya
kuban Haikai Hokku awase (The Hokku contest in Six Hundred Rounds). It was
shown that of the twenty verses Basho entered nine were published, placing him
as one of the best of the participants and that made him an established master.
That's for
the background ... now back to the given haiku for this week's “On The Trail
With Basho Encore” episode. First I will give the Japanese verse in Romanji
followed by the English translation.
eda
moroshi hi toshi yaburu aki no kaze
fragile
twigs
breaking off the scarlet papers
autumn winds
© Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)
breaking off the scarlet papers
autumn winds
© Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)
'Toshi'
refers to a very fragile paper made in China. The idea of the poem was that
even a fragile twig could tear the paper or the twigs were too fragile to hold
on to the Autumn leaves.
 |
| autumn colors |
I can picture this scene in front of my eyes. A stormy Autumn day, the fragile twigs, elastic as they are, ruining the scarlet papers or the soft skin of the tree, but can't stand to hold up their leaves. Fragile as the twigs are they finally break taking with them in their fall the fragile paper or skin of the tree.
To write a
haiku inspired on the one by Basho, in his Spirit so to say, isn't easy, but I
have to try it of course ...
autumn
winds -
colorful leaves struggling
their end is near
colorful leaves struggling
their end is near
©
Chèvrefeuille
I think
this one is a wonderful one (how immodest). It's for sure in the Spirit of
Chèvrefeuille, but is it also in the Spirit of Basho? I don't know ...,
but I think ... yes it is.
!! I am behind with commenting I hope to catch up a.s.a.p.
This episode of "Encore" is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until next Thursday May 28th at noon (CET). Have fun!
!! I am behind with commenting I hope to catch up a.s.a.p.
This episode of "Encore" is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until next Thursday May 28th at noon (CET). Have fun!
I hope I stayed close to the spirit of the original and your very nice one, despite changing season and weather. I really enjoy these 3 prompt evenings! A busy time..though waiting for others is a pain, always keen to see other ones. Some excellent, others disappointing. I always know who is going to visit, and shame on those who never look at other haiku - you know who you are.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, those who don't make the rounds will probably never see your comment here either.
DeleteA shame not to have seen your haiku/renga and the one which was to follow. I can understand the impatience of waiting for other writers to post ... though that is rarely my problem as I post at dawn the day after the CDHK episodes go up.
DeleteGorgeous haiku, Chevrefeuille -- definitely in the spirit of the original.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful haiku with a suggested ominous tinge .I like yours better than Basho's !
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Chevrefeuille for the gems of wisdom you so carefully craft for us everyday! Your Haiku's are are truly inspirational!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Hamish for making me pull up my socks. My heartfelt apologies to all. I've been reading all of your inspiring work but am way behind in returning the love showered! I'll make sure to catch up. I'm pretty sure I top your list of disappointing, but I hope to get better by learning from all of your collective wisdom. :-) :-) :-) Have a wonderful week ahead everyone!!!