Thursday, November 1, 2018

Carpe Diem #1536 Autumn ... the season


Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at the first episode of our new month here at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai. This month, November 2018, all our prompts will have something to do with autumn and that means classical and non-classical kigo (seasonwords) and haiku, to inspire you, by the five greatest haiku poets, Basho, Chiyo-Ni, Issa, Buson and Shiki. This will be another wonderful month here at CDHK.

The fall of the year is not merely the fall of the leaves but the fall of the vital powers in all natural things including man. We feel it in ourselves and are thus and thus only able to see it in things outside.
The Milky Way is most clearly seen and deeply felt in this month, but it is the moon that is the soul of autumn. The sun we take for granted, but the moon, in the remote nearness, its silent-smiling light, deepens the mystery of our own life. The wind of autumn also has a different voice from that of any other season; we can hear perhaps the rustle of death in it.
It seems difficult not to write well on scarecrows; these are a peculiarly Japanese subject. The crying of insects in autumn was always a cause of poetical feeling, in Chinese and Japanese poetry.
The beauty of leaves and flowers, and the powerful, esoteric scent of the Chrysanthemums make them the chief flower of the season. (Source: Haiku Volume 3, R.H. Blyth)

Scarecrow in the mist
Well ... that was the introduction to our new month at CDHK ... so let's go on and make this month one of the most beautiful of 2018. I love to start with a haiku by Shiki, who was not only a great haiku poet, but also an awesome haiga painter. I love to challenge you to create your own version of this beauty by Shiki:

entering autumn,
the painting of flowering plants
a daily task


© Shiki

And here is my own version of this beauty by Shiki:

last day of summer
the leaves are already coloring
in the moonlight


© Chèvrefeuille

And now it is up to you.

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until November 8th at noon (CET). I will try to publish our new weekend-meditation later on. For now ... have fun!

PS. I have had my first interview for a new job and I am happy to tell you that I had a very good feeling about this interview. I have already my contract, but haven't signed it yet, because I have another interview next Tuesday in an university hospital. So there is light after the darkness of being unemployed.


3 comments:

  1. Thousands of sunsets
    Glow in the evening light
    Autumn leaves glitter

    ReplyDelete
  2. Woohoo...good news about the interviews....I feel there will be a very positive outcome for you

    we are all crossing
    our fingers and toes for
    dear Kristjaan

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wish you all the good luck Kristjaan!

    ReplyDelete