triveni spotlight A FEATURE EVERY ALTERNATE DAY! hosts: Kala Ramesh and Vidya Shankar GUEST EDITOR: Keiko Izawa 1st October 2023
shunshō no haha nimo tsuma nimo aranu toki
spring evening
the time I’m neither
a mother nor a wife
Kazuko Nishimura (1948 – ) from the Internet
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. _()_
Quite excited to see all your selections, Keiko. I learn so much from your own poems too.
The relationship between the kigo and the verse as a whole evokes two questions:
1) What is unique to spring evenings that make them "the time I’m neither a mother
nor a wife?"
2) Who, on summer evenings, is she?
In considering the questions, the reader becomes involved in the poetic process. The poetry happens inside the reader, instead of on the page.
The kigo, "spring evening," suggests romantic answers. The ku is heartwarming, and so it chimes with karumi, lightness.
I look forward to this month!
Most beautifully worded.
Yes, a time for herself to be who she wants to be on a spring evening.
Very interesting ku. When she says she is 'neither this nor that' - the question that emerges is 'if that is so, what/who is she then in that moment? In Hindu Vedanta there is a path to inquiry which is called 'neti, neti' - which means 'not this, not this' - prompting us to ask - if not this, then what is? I am sorry if this is going off in a tangent - but these were my immediate thoughts....