triveni spotlight A FEATURE EVERY ALTERNATE DAY! hosts: Kala Ramesh and Vidya Shankar GUEST EDITOR: Keiko Izawa 23rd October 2023
ichijin mo yurusazu kuro no fuyubōshi
not a speck of dust
allowed…
black winter hat
Fura Maeda(1884 – 1954)
from 365 Nichi Haiku Techō (365-Day Haiku Diary) 2023
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. _()_
Maybe he was holding an important position in the administration that he had great respect for his black hat and that too 'allowed' is the only word placed in L 2 with an ellipsis giving the readers a moment to think and maybe have regards for the person's hat.
Good one, Keiko. Intriguing.
Sorry, I couldn't peek in for your earlier posts.
_()_
This reminds me of Saigyō:
a clear mirror
with just a speck of dust —
yet the eyes
have caught it, the world
having become what it is
—Saigyō tr Ueda
Sankashū c. 1180
via Bashō's later verse riffing on Saigyō:
white chrysanthemum
without a speck of dust
the eyes can catch
—Bashō tr Ueda
The hokku of a kasen renga 1694
The key word here is "allowed". Wondering what the regulations could be. Thanks for sharing this, Keiko.
Hmm ~ quite unique a black hat would naturally attract dust to settle on it .. and yet not a speck allowed .. toriawase at its best ….. thank you, Keiko.