Carpe Diem #1274 Ryuko-ji (compassion)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

In our CDHK history we have done exciting things all along the virual road. We made several journeys and we have walked pilgrimages all over the world. Back in 2014 we went to Shikoku Island, Japan after our journey straight through the former USSR. On Shikoku Island we visited, like millions of other O-Henro, the 88 temples converted to Kobo Daishi (also known as Kukai). The Shikoku pilgrimage is to Buddhists what the Hajj is for the Muslim. The Buddhists have to make this pilgrimage once in a life time and so it was our duty, as haiku poets, to visit Shikoku.

Today I have chosen one of the temples on Shikoku Island to inspire you with. This temple is named Ryuko-ji and is devoted to the Buddha of Compassion. One of the main ideas of Buddhism. In that episode (HERE) I also told you a little about the "State of Zen" in haiku and I remember that I told you a little bit more about "wordlessness".
"Wordlessness" is (in my opinion) one of the pillars of haiku. Look at our haiku. Three lines, approximately 17 syllables and around 15 or 20 words. It's a very short poem, but in that poem the strenght is the scenes that are tols about without words. So "wordlessness" is part of haiku.

Kobo Daishi (a.k.a. Kukai)

As I am preparing this episode I remember that I experimented with the haiku form last month and I think those experimental haiku are the best "image" or "example" of wordlessness in haiku. Nice to realize that. I hadn't thought about experimental haiku in the way of "wordlessness". Awesome.

Here is an example of what I call "experimental haiku", I think you will remember this one from last month.

stepping
into heaven
incense

© Chèvrefeuille (experimental haiku)

This one fits also the idea of pilgrimage in a way.

Let me try another "wordlessness"-haiku, sounds a bit strange ...

at dawn
dew shimmers
morning glories

© Chèvrefeuille ("wordlessness"-haiku)

This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7:00 PM (CET) and will remain open until October 17th at noon (CET). I will try to publish our new episode, nakedness, later on.

Carpe Diem #1261 The Pleasure of Reading

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

I love to read. Cuddle up on the sofa and reading a book. Of course not only poetry, but also novels. But I also love to "read" books full of art or photos. Just looking at those wonderful photos gives me already the feeling of being there. This is why I created this month, because an image tells us more than thousand words can do. Do you know that feeling? I surely do.

Today's CD Imagination is an example of such feeling. I have found this photo on Tumblr, to be precise on the poetbf tumblr. A wonderful tumblr full of gorgeous photos, images and art-work. This photo had no title, but I thought immediately of the pleasure of reading, so that became the title of this episode "The Pleasure of Reading".

Take your time to look at the image, become one with it, feel it, smell it and so on ...

The Pleasure of Reading

This scene is awesome. Cosy and warm, romantic ... The candles, the view through the window, that open book in which you can see one single rose. And that cup on the right? Is it filled with tea, coffee or something else? Use your imagination, and remember the theme of this month ... Imagination Without Limits ...

Here is my response on this beautiful scene, this beautiful photo. By the way I don't know the name of the photographer, so if you are the photographer or you know who the photographer is? Please let me know.

romance
I cuddle up
reading

© Chèvrefeuille (experimental haiku)

I am looking forward to all of your wonderful poems ...

This CD Imagination is open for your submissions tonight around 7:00 PM (CET) and will remain open until October 2nd at noon (CET). A preview of our new CD Imagination you can find on our CDHK Tumblr. Have fun!

Carpe Diem #1250 Autumn Colors

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Isn't it amazing? This is our 1250th regular CDHK prompt. I never had dreamed that it would be this big, but I enjoy it a lot and I hope you all enjoy CDHK. This month I challenge you all to create haiku, tanka or other Japanese poetry form inspired on an image. As we say "An image says more than 1000 words", and that's so true. Haiku is like an image, but with a lesser count of words ...
This month we are exploring the limits of our imagination.
As I look at the posts responses of the last two days I am glad that I created this month. It's really awesome to see how much differences I read in all of your poems inspired on the images I have shared. Isn't that a wonder? One image triggers so much different ideas and scenes ... awesome.

Today I have another beautiful image from Tumblr, this time I know who was the photographer of it. Today I love to ask you to create haiku, tanka or other Japanese poetry form inspired on a photo by Kyle Bonallo, a great photographer. I love visiting his Tumblr that has his name Kyle Bonallo, visit him HERE.

On the Northern Hemisphere we are running towards autumn, my favorite season, I love how Mother Earth is changing into an ocean of colors, and that fresh smell of autumn ... wonderful.

Autumn Colors by Kyle Bonallo

hidden
between
colors

© Chèvrefeuille (experimental haiku)

Look at this photo ... become one with it, experience it ... this is Autumn.

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until September 12th at noon (CET). I will try to publish our new CD Imagination later on. You can find a preview of tomorrow's CD Imagination at our Tumblr.