Carpe Diem Utabukuro #10 Wim Lofvers' "a maple seed"

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

It's time again for our bi-weekly feature on Saturday, Carpe Diem Utabukuro, in which you may choose your favorite poem (haiku, tanka or other Japanese poetry form) of modern and classical haiku poets. The only thing you have to do is to tell us why you have chosen that specific poem and to write an all new haiku, tanka or other Japanese poetry form.

This week I have chosen a haiku composed by a fellow Dutchman whom however died in 2007. His name, maybe you have heard of him, is Wim Lofvers. I will first share a brief biography and than a few wonderful haiku.

Wim Lofvers (1930-2007) was a physician. He was a naval doctor in the former Dutch New Guinea (now West Papua), and worked as a general practioner in Norway and in the Netherlands province of Frisia. His interest in things spritual is rooted in anthroposophy, Buddhism and Zen-Buddhism. All of these determined his attitude towards haiku, which he was interested in as early as 1956.

Wim Lofvers (1930-2007)

In 1981, Wim created his own private press, 't Hoge Woord, which he started with the intention of publishing haiku. Since his retirement in 1993 he has spent most of his time there, doing just that. His interest lies mainly with micro-editions, among others, the 'Radish' series, in which haiku poets can present 25 - 28 of their haiku in a pocket-sized book. Another production is the annual 'Spreeuwenagenda' (Starling Haiku Diary) with seven editions so far. With a few intimate friends, he founded the biannual international haiku journal 'Woodpecker - Journal for sharing haiku' (since 1995) publishing haiku by poets from all over the world, in native languages as well as English, thus supporting and spreading the development of world haiku. 

Wim was president of the Haiku Kring Nederland (Haiku Circle Netherlands) from 1996 to 2000. He has published haiku in national and international journals and publications as well as in individual chapbooks. Haiku to him is a path to personal development and he regards his own achievements as only the beginning. (By the way, I am a member of the Haiku Circle Netherlands). (Source)

And here are a few haiku written by Wim to inspire you. He inspired me, I even had the opportunity to meet him once. He was (just like me) 'all haiku' and his haiku learned me more about the beauty of this wonderful poetry form of Japan.

before the fresco
just painted afresh
the first prayer

a maple seed
in a dark alleyway
- New Year's Day

the scarecrow
toppled headfirst
embraces the earth

© Wim Lofvers (Tr. Wim Lofvers, Max Verhart)

Three beauties I think all are a source of inspiration, but I was caught by "a maple leaf". Just a little maple leaf seed remembers us of the future, the past and the present on New Year's Day. I can see this scene in front of me ... awesome.

Credits: Maple Seed

"look granddad!"
he points at the maple seeds' dance
"it's a heli!"

© Chèvrefeuille

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until next Saturday September 26th at noon (CET). Have fun!