Behind the gate – May 28, 2015

behind this gate
bright sun streams gaily
sparrows twitter

© G.s.k. ‘15

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this wooden gate
shuts me out for the night
winter moon

© Kikaku (Tr. Michael K. Bourdaghs)

finally home
I shut the gate of my garden
ah! the Honeysuckle

© Chèvrefeuille

Today’s episode of Carpe Diem Haiku Special featured Kikaku … inspired by the haiku “this wooden gate” our host wrote the above haiku …

Carpe Diem Special – above the sea – May 28, 2015

above the sea
under brooding clouds
the sunset

© G.s.k. ‘15

this wooden gate
shuts me out for the night
winter moon

above the sea
a rainbow, erased by
a flock of swallows

© Kikaku (Tr. Michael K. Bourdaghs)

Today’s Carpe Diem Special is dedicated to Kikaku(1661-1707 , one of Basho’s most well-loved disciple:

“Kikaku has almost the same attraction to the beauty of nature as Basho had and he (Kikaku) has written wonderful haiku. Later in his life Kikaku fell in love with the city and his haiku changed dramatically, but were all beauties.”  Chèvrefeuille

Carpe Diem Haiku Challenge

Carpe Diem Haiku

kojiki kana tenchi wo kitaru natsugoromo

the beggar!
he has Heaven and Earth
for his summer clothes

Kikaku

This is a special challenge:  write in the same tone and be inspired by the Haiku written by Kikaku.  For more information about who Kikaku was, click the link above.
This is not an easy Haiku to try to follow.  The spiritual implications of Kikaku’s Haiku are very profound indeed and is a classic of Zen Buddhist literature.
My Haiku, is only a humble reference to the altruistic qualities of true hospitality.

@)—>—>—

cold winter evening
host’s open home is Eden
warming wayfarers!

I would like to thank Ese’s Voice for leading me to this fascinating challenge!