Chionin Bell
Butterflies in haiku poetry often suggest the transitory nature of life, a key Buddhist concept. Here’s an old haiku poem, anonymous from what I can tell, that neatly brings together the butterfly and Buddhism. The image in this haiku suggests to me a butterfly seeking momentary respite in the sanctuary of a temple, both key images of my novel, Buddhaland Brooklyn.
Upon the temple bell
A butterfly is sleeping well
Masoaka Shiki
The skies are grey, my daughter is home for the weekend, and I am cleaning out my closets. Perfect time to make another respectful offering to the literary gods as my novel, Buddhaland Brooklyn, makes its way in the world. Here is a seasonally appropriate haiku from Masoaka Shiki (1867 – 1902).
snow’s falling
I see it through a hole
in the shutter….
A large waterfall by Utagawa Hiroshige
As part of my haiku series of “offerings” to the literary gods, as my novel Buddhaland Brooklyn is readied for sale, I present a poetic morsel from one of my all time favorites, Yamazaki Sokan (1464 – 1552.) The poet was one of the granddaddies of haikai no renga, which are sort of offbeat and humorous linked verses that morphed into formal haiku. Sokan had a lovely sense of humor – here’s a taste.
O thou obsequious frog
With hands spread on the ground
And croaking flatteries of such solemn sound.
Poet-priest, Matsuo Basho
Matsuo Basho (1644 – 1694) is considered by many to be the finest of all Japanese poet-priests when the haiku art form was blossoming in the 17th century. Basho routinely left his village, traveling by foot throughout Japan’s countryside. For Basho taking to the road as an itinerant poet-priest was a disciplined means of renouncing his human ties, to be reminded of his cosmic solitude, all of which he exquisitely captured in haiku.
Beneath the roof,
Drops of spring rain
Trail slowly
Down the honeycomb.
Consider this a poetic offering to the literary gods as I polish my novel, Buddhaland Brooklyn.
