Carpe Diem Utabukuro #7 a drop of water by Cor van den Heuvel

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

It's Saturday again and that means time for a Utabukuro episode. This week I have given a lot of feature here at CDHK a thought, and also this Utabukuro feature came a long. It's a lovely feature and I love creating it, but I have decided to make this feature no longer every week, it will become a bi-weekly feature (on the other Saturdays we will have CD's Time Machine feature).

For this episode of Utabukuro I have chosen two beauties written by Cor van den Heuvel (1931-) to inspire you. Why have I chosen these two haiku? Well these are very nicely written and very much in tune with nature and it's fragility. Especially that second haiku is a beauty and for sure a favorite of mine.

By the way ... I always thought that Cor van den Heuvel was a Dutch haiku poet, but I discovered, just recently that he is from New England, but as I look at his name I would say he has Dutch ancestors, but that I don't know for sure.
Cor van den Heuvel, born and brought up in New England, has been writing haiku since he first discovered the genre in 1958 in San Francisco, where he heard Gary Snyder mention it at a poetry reading in North Beach. Though he is considered one of America's leading haiku poets, van den Heuvel is best known as the editor of The Haiku Anthology, generally considered the definitive collection of American and Canadian haiku. First published in 1974.

Cor van den Heuvel

reading a mystery

a cool breeze comes through
the beach roses

a drop of water
floats by the canoe
on a curled leaf

© Cor van den Heuvel

It wasn't easy to come up with a nice haiku or tanka, so I have a nice tanka to share here from my archives.

taking a last zip
the coolness of the last drop of water
burns my throat
desert sand between my toes
ah, that coolness

© Chèvrefeuille

Well .... now it's up to you. For Utabukuro there is no need to use the "theme" of my post, you may choose a haiku or tanka by your self, or from a haiku/tanka poet which you like. The only "task" is to write an all new haiku or tanka (or one from your archives ..) inspired on the haiku or tanka of your choice. Of course it's also great to read your explanation of your choice. It's up to you ...

PS I am still busy with creating the list for our first Carpe Diem Haiku Kai Renga Party, so be patient. I hope to publish it a.s.a.p. 

This Utabukuro episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until Saturday August 22nd at noon (CET). Have fun!