Carpe Diem Renga With Basho #5 such a fragrance

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at a new Carpe Diem Renga Challenge now retitled as "Renga With Basho" as I stated in our last Renga Challenge. Why this chance of name? Well ... in this feature I use only haiku written by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), whom I see as my sensei. All haiku used in this feature are taken from Jane Reichhold's "Basho, The Complete Haiku" and are (of course) all translated by Jane. Jane died two years ago at the end of July on her own choice, but she is still missed here at CDHK, but also missed all over the world ... she was the Queen of Haiku and Tanka. In a way this special feature is a tribute to her. Her spirit is still dwelling here and inspires us and for sure she inspires me.

As you all (maybe) know the goal of "Renga With Basho" is to create a renga together with the master with a minimum of six stanza or a maximum of twelve stanza. You may choose your own line up of the given haiku and have to write / create the two-lined stanza between the haiku. By doing that you create a "closed chain". Remember that the "hokku" (the starting verse) and the "ageku" (closing verse) must have a connection in a certain way to make "the circle" complete.

Well ... I am looking forward to all your responses. Enjoy this "Renga With Basho". Here are the six haiku I have chosen:

red plum
creating unobtainable love
blinds of a noble lady

what kind of tree
with the unknown flower
such a fragrance

spring night
someone in retreat is lovely
in the temple corner

with a fan
drinking wine in the shadow
of scattered blossoms

© Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)

with a fan
drinking wine in the shadow
of scattered blossoms

melting away
the brush draws up the water
of a spring

blossoms at their peak
the mountain the same as always
at daybreak

© Matsuo Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)

I hope you like the choice of haiku and of course I hope it will be a joy to create a renga together with Basho.

This "Renga With Basho" episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until August 20th at noon (CEST) Have fun!