Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Carpe Diem Special #18, Shiki's 'The Peacock'



Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

This month's Haiku Master is Shiki (1867-1902) and so I have sought a new Special haiku written by him. He has wonderfully composed haiku and that makes it very difficult to choose a haiku. As I was preparing our episode of yesterday I hadn't found a nice haiku already, but than I ran into a wonderful haiku when I was reading R.H. Blyth's Haiku Vol. 2 Spring.

harukaze ni o wo hirogetaru kujaku kana

the peacock
spreading out his tail
in the Spring breeze



Credits: Peacock, tail open


Blyth's comment at this haiku was:

[...] To see the Spring breeze in the outstretched fan of a peacock's tail is no easier, and no more difficult, than to see a world in a grain of sand or heaven in a wild flower, but the emphasis is to be laid, not on 'breeze', but on 'Spring'. [...] (source: Haiku Vol. 2 Spring - R.H. Blyth)

I think this haiku by Shiki is one of his best. It paints an image in which you can see, feel, hear and touch Spring. The Peacock is just the trigger to place the reader in the right emotion.

king of the farm
spreads out his gorgeous tail -
feathers on a vase 


feathers on a vase
eyes looking deep into mine -
again in love

again in love -
the first day of Spring has come
listen to the breeze



Credits: Peacock, tail closed

Isn't it awesome ... the peacock king of the farm ... it's a wonderful bird.

Have fun, be creative and share your haiku inspired on the one by Shiki with us here on Carpe Diem.

This Special will stay on 'till January 24th 11.59 AM (CET) and I will post our new prompt later on today around 10.00 PM (CET). Our new prompt will be: 'heath' provided by Bjorn Brudberg of Bjorn Brudberg's Writings 



5 comments:

  1. The peacock is like a wildlife symbol of grand beauty! Lovely haiku!

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  2. Wonderful haiku you have chosen. And I like your haikus a lot. This is so fun :-)

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  3. An excellent set of haiku Kristjaan. I love the way you link the purpose of the Peacock's feathers with human love.
    I hope the love goes well as in some cultures it is considered bad luck to bring Peacock's feathers indoors :)

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  4. Lovely haiku and extraordinarily beautiful bird. I like your selections and your line of thought.

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  5. Wonderful haiku and lovely photo ~

    Thanks for hosting an excellent haiku link ~

    (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

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