triveni spotlight: 17th October 2023

triveni spotlight A FEATURE EVERY ALTERNATE DAY! hosts: Kala Ramesh and Vidya Shankar GUEST EDITOR: Keiko Izawa 17th October 2023

chichi ni nita otoko to kurasu shijimi jiru

living with a man

who resembles father…

shijimi clam soup

Itsuki Natsui (1957 – )

from her collection Ryu (Dragon)

Note: shijimi clam soup (mostly miso based) is often served on Japanese dining tables. It’s a spring kigo.

During this month, I’d like to introduce contemporary Japanese haiku, including kigo, which are referred to as “yūki haiku(有季俳句)”. In yūki haiku, toriawase (matching kigo and the remaining phrases) is the key point, not to mention its creativity and originality. In my view, Japanese haiku are generally simple compared to English (language) haiku, but the subtle sensibility is embedded within as the synergies with the power of kigo. I hope you enjoy karumi (lightness) blended with seasonality in these haiku.

Keiko Izawa

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Thank you for being our next guest editor Keiko Izawa You are bringing something fresh and this is going to be a treat for all our members. _()_