Comments for Icebox

Comment on What if by Mari Kawaguchi

Mari Kawaguchi — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:52:25 +0000

I like the autumn colour. It is the best season now.

Comment on Waterside Birds, Part II: The Cormorant by Tito

Tito — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:23:12 +0000

It just so happens that on Sunday, atop Mt. Ogura here in Kyoto, we were decorating a tree with poems. The tree would represent to the wind and the rain our feelings about this poets’ mount during the next two weeks. My own poem was about the summer-time cormorant-fishing that takes place in the Oi River at the foot of the hill, so I share it here with tanka-style trans. by Okiharu Maeda. Since we had a camera crew with us that day, it might well be featured on Mainichi TV later this month.

Fire moving
On night water:
Cormorants plying
The two worlds.

夜の水面映え移しけむ火明かりは　彼の世此の世往き帰す鵜かも
yo no minamo, hae-utsushi kemu, hoakari wa, ka no yo ko no yo o, iki-kisu u kamo

Comment on 7-5-3 by Willie

Willie — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:32:36 +0000

Charming!

Comment on 7-5-3 by david mccullough

david mccullough — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:25:30 +0000

7-5-3 refers to the Shichigosan tradition in Japan where seven, five and three year old children are taken to shrines to be blessed. Its an occasion for parents to give thanks that their children are growing up at last and to take lots of photographs. Children dress in colourful kimono and hakama – one of Japan’s prettiest sights as they pose for pictures under the red leaves of autumn.

Comment on 7-5-3 by Tito

Tito — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:08:07 +0000

David will explain … (?)

Comment on 7-5-3 by Willie

Willie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:38:24 +0000

How does ‘7-5-3′ tell us it’s November, Tito? Are the odd numbers significant?

Comment on Nagaoka-kyo ‘Vestiges’ Ginko-Kukai by Toshi

Toshi — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:23:11 +0000

Dear HBS friends,
I am most thankful to you all for your interest in my ginkgo haiku. A couple of days ago I received the third prize from Stephen — a unique bookmark topped with a frog. On the mat paper the following passage is inscribed:

“At night I went out into the dark and saw a glimmering star and heard a frog and nature seemed to say, well do not these suffice?” (R.W. Emerson)

It is full of haiku spirit! Thank you again for such a thoughtful gift.
Toshi

Comment on Waterside Birds, Part II: The Cormorant by Tito

Tito — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:44:31 +0000

Thanks for this, Richard. I loved the yellow smog of buses. There’s a daily mist of them out here at Arashiyama, too. The author of the piece is Nobuyuki Yuasa. Haigo (pen names) are given on the Contributors page. His is Sosui, ‘running water’, a touch cormorant-ish?

Comment on Waterside Birds, Part II: The Cormorant by Richard Woodchopper

Richard Woodchopper — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:11:42 +0000

I do not know who posted the Waterside Birds, Part II entry, there’s not name attached. But I’d like to comment on Basho’s haiku, and his sadness. I read the poem to mean that Basho is sadden by the fact that the birds cannot keep the fish they catch. The ring around their neck prevents the bird from swallowing the fish. Down the river’s depths the black bird has to go repeatedly, probably catching the same fish again and again. Looked at it this way, my sadness also goes out for the fish. Eventually, it catches on to the fact that this is some sort of game, so not to worry.

What, again? same beak,
same air toss, same return splash;
dumb fish thots to smart rock

Meaning the stone hugs the river bottom close, and avoids getting caught by the bird; the fish notices this, but doesn’t get the clue.

In Kyoto’s autumn, there is one out-of-town tourist for every leaf on the maples in Heian Shrine. It has been calculated this way. Hence, the yellow smog of buses in the fall to match the yellow sand from China in spring.

eyes watering, nose running, masks mounted;
lovely times, ancient capital

Still, if it’s possible to escape the masses and get to the hills surrounding us, some fantastic views are awaiting.

From Mt Hiei, glorious capital
fills the king’s valley

Enuf for now; back to the riverbank.
Richard

Comment on 7-5-3 by Tito

Tito — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:50:17 +0000

This was posted without a category, but with its seasonal title, ‘7-5-3′, which tells us it’s November, and its genuine happiness (rather than wittiness or irony), surely this is not a senryu. Shichi-go-san is a festival in Nov. when children of those ages go to the local shrine for a blessing – or, you could say, obversely, go to bless the local shrine!

Comment on Events & seminars – NEW & ORIGINAL! by Alan Summers

Alan Summers — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:39:51 +0000

THE LOCAL/GLOBAL 1000 VERSE RENGA PROJECT
The renga project, due to its overwhelming popularity, is now being extended into Christmas.
If you wish to take part, email Alan Summers: 1000verses@withwords.org.uk

Comment on On Olive Island by Lee, Hong-kyu

Lee, Hong-kyu — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:58:34 +0000

Even though I cannot appreciate Haiku well, I could appreciate vague feeling. Where is this desolate hotel, Royal? I wish to follow your steps sometime. Should it be in spring or autumn? Any suggestion for a trip from and to Kansai airport?