Persimmons

Carpe Diem Special #203 Basho’s disciples: Mukai Kyorai’s “Master of Persimmons”

DOWNTOWNGAL

those fallen persimmons
bees and flies enjoy sweet nectar
– alas I must wait

 

 

 

 

Willow

Carep Diem #944 Willow

 

April’s air stirs in
Willow-leaves…a butterfly
Floats and balances”
― Matsuo Bashō, Japanese Haiku

out of the fog
the willow tree appears
enticing –
spring awakens
darkness departs

Stained Glass

Carpe Diem #938 Iris leaves

sunlight streams
spilling stained glass
over the sill

 

Forest

Carpe Diem #936 Forest

© Copyright Nikki Mahadevan and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

 

evergreen forest
path of brown needles
soften my steps

Against the Blue

Carpe Diem Special #200 Basho’s disciples: Ransetsu’s “against the blue”

The following are some poems by Ransetsu. The first is where the post got it’s title and the rest some of his work that I enjoyed.

At dusk the harvest moon
paints a pine-tree
against the blue

~~~

The pampas grass
sums up all the loneliness
of all Saga

~~~

a single leaf falls
then suddenly another
is stolen by the breeze

~~~

Ume ichi-rin ichirin hodo no atatakasa

one plum blossom
brings us just one more
step to the warmth

Hattori Ransetsu (1654-1707)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My attempt at capturing his spirit.

one daffodil
and suddenly
a field of spring

~~~

early march
a few fat snowflakes
and the sparrow’s tale tales

~~~

 amongst damp leaves
the wealth of summer
still hidden

~~~

against the blue
the red roses
ever redder

Moonlight

Carpe Diem Tokubetsudesu #71 moonlight

 

on a stormy night
the worm moon casting shadows
on sodden soil

moonlight dances
among the spring trees
tickling new leaves