haikaiTALKS: death poems - JISEI
host: Kala Ramesh
19 August 2023
Shall we try one more week of death poems - Jisei? It can be a haiku or a tanka!
For your own poems: Only TWO ku per week, per prompt, per poet.
First post: You'll search and find one you like.
You'll give your reason/s why you like it.
https://terebess.hu/zen/mesterek/Death.pdf Sample poem:
hope
transcends mountains
every day mother comes around the tulsi praying for an easy death
Kala Ramesh
Second post: This will be your first ku.
Third post:
This will be your second ku.
Please give your feedback on others' commentary and poems too. _()_
Keep writing and commenting!
#2
at my eulogy crickets
Susan Burch
comments welcome
#1
I am not worthy
of this crimson carpet:
autumn maple leaves.
KYOHAKU
Very relatable. I think it brings to mind questions of not only being worthy of such beauty in dying, but also in living. Have we lived our best life? Have we made mistakes? Have regrets? And whether we deserve it or not, these beautiful leaves there anyway, paving the way...
Two death poems by my favorite waka poet, Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875). The second one is really noted to be a death poem What I noticed about these is the personal imagery— name meant called “Lotus Moon.”
ねがはくは月のかげにて秋しなんさらばやみにもまよはざらまし
Negawaku wa tsuki no kage ni teaki shina nsaraba yami ni mo mayowa zara mashi
My hope is to die
beneath the moon
in autumn
so that in the darkness
I will never be lost.
ねがはくはのちの蓮の花のうへにくもらぬ月をみるよしもがな
Negawaku wa nochi no hachisu no hana no ue nikumora nu tsuki wo miru yoshi moga na
My hope
finding a way
to behold
the cloudless moon
upon a lotus blossom in the next world.
http://rengetsu.org/poetry_db/?ct=clr
#3 - 25/08/23
kauri snails
on the far side
of this rotting log
will my end be quick
or drawn out
Kanjini Devi
Kauri snails/pupurangi ( Paryphanta spp.) belong to the group of northern giant land snails, which contains some of New Zealand's largest snails. Would my tanka read better with 'giant land snails'in L1?
Poem 3
23/08/23
a little cold
will these eyes
light again?
feedback welcome