Carpe Diem #1062 Candles

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at this belated episode of our Carpe Diem Haiku Kai, there were a few circumstances which took my time, so my excuses for the delay.

Today our prompt is candles and it's extracted from Jane's "A Dictionary of Haiku" (the printed version). As I started preparing this episode a haiku by Yosa Buson (1716-1784) came in mind:

shokunohiwo shokuni utsusuya harunoyuu

one candle
gives its light to another -
spring evening

© Yosa Buson (Tr. Chèvrefeuille)

Candlelight ... brings warmth and happiness, but also fear because of the shadows it casts on walls or reflections in the window. Candlelight to me means however romance, warmth, love and more positive feelings.

candles in the moonlight

Here are the haiku examples by Jane Reichhold for this modern kigo of autumn, in these haiku you will also see the classical kigo "moon" (tsuki):

lighting a candle
the moon slips away
in a smoky cloud

replacing the candle
the full moon comes
in the window

moonset
into the dawn burns
a candle

© Jane Reichhold

All wonderful haiku with the modern kigo "candle" and the classic kigo "moon" what a beautiful symbiosis ...

Yellow Chrysanthemums

Another haiku by Yosa Buson, makes this complete I think:

teshokushite iro ushinaeru kigikukana

in the light from the candle held
their color lost--
yellow chrysanthemums

© Yosa Buson (Tr. William R. Nelson)

What to say more about this modern kigo "candle"? Do I need to create a haiku myself on this modern kigo? Or ...

reflections
the light of the candle
on her face

© Chèvrefeuille

Well ... I hope that Jane and Buson inspired you to create haiku or tanka. Have fun!

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until September 29th at noon (CET). I will publish our new episode, butterfly, also today.