Writing With Soseki – Haiku Haitaishi* – January 15, 2016

 

people of my age –
with the passing of years
less impurities to cleanse

©  Natsume Soseki

§§§§§

impetuous stream
flows past a weeping willow
– a hidden tear drop

ah – the geese fly south
leaving the ducks and blackbirds
by the lonely stream

[morning’s dark grey sky]
contrasting bright coloured leaves
in a flowing stream

the shell is empty –
lying in the wet green grass
careless stream flows by

ah now, observe life
leaves, birds and dead empty shells
endlessly flowing streams

© G.s.k. ‘16

(* I was happy to learn that haitaishi  is the name of linked verse on a set theme – not just linked haiku.)

Today’s episode at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai is a “Sparkling Star” , that is the introduction of a famous haiku poet of the past from whom we try to inspire ourselves.  The Rules of Sparkling Stars are particular:

Those new haiku, inspired on the ‘masterpiece’, have to follow the classical rules of haiku:

1. 5-7-5 syllables
2. a kigo (or season word)
3. a kireji (or cutting word, in Western languages mostly interpunction)
4. a moment as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water
5. a deeper meaning (could be Zen-Buddhistic or other spiritual or religious thought)
6. and the first and the third line are interchangeable

These are  the haiku written by Natsume Soseki

over the wintry
forest, winds howl in rage
with no leaves to blow

the lamp once out
cool stars enter
the window frame

on New Year’s Day
I long for my parents
before I was born

people of my age –
with the passing of years
less impurities to cleanse

when they strike the bell
these ginkgo leaves are falling –
Temple Kencho-ji

the worldly desires,
all one hundred and eight are gone –
this spring morning

©  Natsume Soseki