Monday, April 18, 2016

Carpe Diem Theme Week 3: Magnolia Blossoms, haiku by Soseki Natsume; 2: plum flower temple


Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

It's my pleasure to bring to you our second episode of the Third Carpe Diem Theme Week "Magnolia Blossoms, haiku by Soseki Natsume".

This Theme Week is a little bit different than the other two Theme Weeks we had, but I think Soseki Natsume deserves his own Theme Week here at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai. This week I will share haiku written by Soseki and I hope to tell you all a little bit more about this haiku poet and contemporary of Shiki.

Yesterday I shared a haiku by Soseki on Magnolia Blossoms and one way or the other it turned out that Soseki has written more haiku themed with blossom. So I have another nice haiku by him for you:

Plum flower temple:
Voices rise
From the foothills.

© Sōseki Natsume (Tr. Soiku Shigematsu)

A beautiful haiku I would say. As I read this one I immediately thought about a temple which is known for its beautiful plum trees, Tenman-Gu Shrine in Hofu (Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan).

Credits: Plum Flower Temple, Tenman-Gu Shrine
This Tenman-Gu Shrine fits the "back-bone" of Carpe Diem Haiku Kai, because I am promoting haiku as an art and I try to help you all to improve your haiku writing skills. Tenman-Gu Shrine is dedicated to the god of learning. Of course I don't pretend to be your master, but I love to share my knowledge about haiku in a respectful way with the world.

Back to this haiku by Soseki ... did he create this haiku when he was viewing the plum blossoms at Tenman-Gu Shrine? It could be ... I wasn't there, but as I look at this image above than I realize that I would be inspired for sure at such a sight.

breathtaking
a sea of colorful plum blossoms
departing winter

© Chèvrefeuille

This Theme Week episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and it will remain open until April 20th 10.00 PM (CET). Have fun!


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