Carpe Diem's Quest for a (new) masterpiece #4 autumn leaves

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

I had what spare time so I will give you a new episode of our special "(new) masterpiece" feature. During the ages there were haiku poets both classical and non-classical, and as all of us hope, they wrote masterpieces of haiku (and tanka). There are several "masterpieces" to find. Here are a few masterpieces I found while on a journey on the Internet. (I don't know the name of the translator, so if you are the translator or you know the translator, please let me know)

The light snow.
The ice without any trace
On the lake.

© Kawahigashi Hekigoto (1873-1937)

In the bamboo grove
The yellow spring sunlight,
I look up at it.

© Takahama Kyoshi (1874-1959)

Woodblock print

The sound of rain.
The clouds on right-side are
With the summer moon.

© Hasegawa Kanajo (1887-1969)

Grasses in summer.
The warriors’ dreams
All that left.

© Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

Four wonderful haiku masterpieces I think and I dare to say that you, my dear haijin, visitors and travelers, can create such masterpieces too. For this "quest for a (new) masterpiece" episode I love to challenge you to create your masterpiece inspired on "autumn leaves".

Maybe you can remember our first introductory episode of this new feature in which I gave my idea about what makes a haiku a masterpiece! 

What makes a haiku (or tanka) a masterpiece? Well ... I will give it a try to tell you what a haiku (or tanka) makes a masterpiece in my opinion.

First: It has to describe a moment that got your attention.

Second: You have to use the right words. Words that describe the moment in its true way.

Third: Maybe ... use the classical way of creating haiku (or tanka) (as mentioned in CDHK Lecture One above in the menu).

Fourth: It has been written right from the heart or soul not the mind.

Fifth: It's (maybe) in the sense and tone of the classical haiku (tanka) poets.

Sixth: It has to be ... how shall I say it ... be your child, your creation ... in a masterpiece we can read, between the lines, the poet who created it.

the sound of water
refreshes my overflowing mind
balance again

© Chèvrefeuille

Well ... the above haiku, freshly from my mind, isn't inspired on the theme "autumn leaves", but I think it's in a way connected to the theme, autumn leaves are falling in a wonderful dance, for dancing you need balance. 

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until October 13th at noon (CEST). Share your (new) masterpiece with us all and as you all know I have planned to create a new exclusive CDHK E-book with your (new) masterpieces.

Carpe Diem Crossroads #8 The First Snow (Kanajo)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at a new episode of our special CDHK feature "Crossroads" in which I challenge you to create a new (fusion) haiku from two given haiku. This week I have chosen for a not so well known female haiku poet, Hasegawa Kanajo(1887-1969). She was a contemporary of Shiki and her husband was one of the editors of Shiki's magazine Hototogisu.

Hasegawa Kanajo

Let me give you a brief biography of her:

She was born near Nihonbashi, in the center of Tokyo. She entered the Mitsui Family in 1903 to learn about proper housekeeping and the virtues of a good wife, but could not continue due to a heart disease. In 1909 she married her private English teacher, the haiku poet, who later was known as Hasegawa Rsishi (1888 - 1928), who was a member of Hototogisu.

She begun to write haiku herself and on request of Takahama Kyoshi joined a Woman's Haiku Group.
Shortly after the death of her husband in 1928 her home in Shinjuku burned down and she moved outside to Urawa town, Saitama, where she died of lung infection at the age of 81.

And here are the two haiku to work with. I think her haiku have wonderful and beautiful fragility:

the first snow
on the Mt. Fuji and the round
cloud flows from there

the sound of rain
the clouds on right-side are
with the summer moon

© Hasegawa Kanajo(1887-1969)

the first snow on Mount Fuji (woodblock print)

clouds move away
first snow on Mount Fuji
reflects moon light

© Chèvrefeuille

Hm ... not a strong "fusion", but I like this haiku inspired on the both haiku by Kanajo. Now it is up to you.

This "Crossroads" episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 9th at noon (CEST). Have fun!