Carpe Diem Special Japanese Poetry In The Lowlands #1 Jeanine Hoedemakers'

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

I have decided to bring this month a few Dutch haiku poets, my colleagues so to say, and as I am preparing this first episode of "Carpe Diem Special Japanese Poetry In The Lowlands" I realize that I have taken up a real challenge. I have to translate the haiku of my fellow Dutchmen into English I of course will do that I only hope I do honor their work with my translation(s).

This first episode is about Jeanine Hoedemakers, a gifted haiku poetess, who has already published a few haiku books. I got to know her through the Haiku Kring Nederland (the Dutch Haiku Circle) several years ago. I was just a starting haiku poet and loved to make my haiku better. So I decided to become a member of the Dutch Haiku Circle. Jeanine then was coordinating the so called "chain letter" of the Dutch Haiku Circle. A group of haiku poets who shared their haiku with each other through a letter. I am still a member of that chain letter and I love it. It's a chance to read the work of others and comment on it to improve the haiku (or tanka) shared.

Jeanine is a long time member of the Dutch Haiku Circle and she always enjoys reading work of others and share her own work. She is a very active member of the Dutch Haiku Circle for sure more active as I am.

Jeanine Hoedemakers

Next to being a great poet, shae also is a very gifted photographer and painter. In this episode of "Japanese Poetry In The Lowlands" I love to share a haiga and a tanka to inspire you.

nu de rozenstruik
te groot werd voor de pot
moet hij de grond in
we moeten goed onthouden
zegt hij, hoe klein het begint

the rosebush
too big for the pot
should be earthed
we must remember
he says, how small it starts

© Jeanine Hoedemakers (Tr. Chèvrefeuille)

And here is a beautiful haiga she created:

haiga Pair of Snails (photo and haiku © Jeanine Hoedemakers)

hij geeft haar een zoen nog een, bedelt ze lachend,

in slowmotion © Jeanine Hoedemakers he gives her a kiss another one, she begs with a smile, in slowmotion © Jeanine Hoedmakers (Tr. Chèvrefeuille)

Of course there are a lot more beauties by Jeanine Hoedemakers, but that's maybe for another month. You can visit her (Dutch) website by clicking on the above given link.

This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until November 6th at noon (CET).

Have fun!