12/31/2006

December snow

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snow on my bamboo -
this year ends with
a white finale


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more PHOTOS are here !



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Tibetan Buddha

  










mild winter sun -
the Medicine Buddha
watches over me





when I caress you
I feel the hands of
your creator






We bought him more than 30 years ago in the Himalayas. He is rather roughly carved. He sits on our TV and takes care of the welfare of our home ! In his hands he holds the never-empty medicine bottle.



Read my Entry about the Tibetan Buddha of Healing

Read my Entry about Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of Healing 薬師如来



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12/26/2006

silcence of a bird

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suddenly
the silcence of a bird
hit by a stone




the neighbour's boy on the run ...


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While I was sitting on my terrace listening to the sudden silence, a few stories came to mind:

the old farmer, always complaining about his nagging wife. But when she was hospitalized a while ago, he suffered more from her absence than he ever really did by her presence

the young mother ... her baby would cry all night ... but when it was taken from her by an acute disease, even the nightlong cries turned into fond memories

the adolescent ... his father lectured him about the virtues of a MAN, until he took off and run away from home. But when the father dies by a sudden traffic accident, he could not stop crying ...


I am sure you can add your share of this kind of happenings ...

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Senryu, Zappai and Haiku

川柳、雑俳、俳句




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December forsythia

  








december sunshine -
an early forsythia
streches its head







Forsythia is a kigo for spring.

Here is a similar one
Wax Forsythia, roobai 蝋梅


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Dried to the bone

  








dried to the bone
your former beauty
still lingers








for my mother, who died much too young






Amida Buddha -
you smile at life
you smile at death




tulip petals
falling one by one -
a mother's death




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12/25/2006

Camellia Shadows

  







わが庭の冬の日差しに椿あり






winter sunshine -
the manyfold shadows of
a small camellia












I even got a long-winged mosquito on the yellow asters.

Look at my colorful little friends from today
from HERE to the end !





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morning dew

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drenched
in morning dew
the flowers and I





Artwork by Dr. Angelee Deodhar, India, December 2006




。。。。。。。朝露を浴びて 濡れし 花と吾
asatsuyu o abite nureshi hana to ware


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Thank you, Angelee san, for this lovely present!



My Haiku quoted from Lishanu / an interlingual haikai journal
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-BfzpZ0EmdLRDdKKhEty08iA-?cq=1&p=98


This haiku is a rather old one of mine.
..... More are HERE !


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Accept each moment

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the only way to live
is to accept each minute as
an unrepeatable miracle



Margaret Storm Jameson
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Wjameson.htm


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here and now -
accept each minute
accept each haiku




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Long-winged mosquito

  



looking for food
in the winter sun -
a long-winged mosquito







looking for shelter
in the winter rain -
the homeless of the world







scrounging for scrap
in a pile of garbage
empty christmas



R.K.Singh, a friend from India


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Here is more about
the winter sunshine in my garden tody !




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12/24/2006

WKD - Blind People

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Do blind people write haiku..?

This question strikes me as rather odd.
Almost like asking :
Can blind people feel happy ?

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kigo for late spring

shakutoo-e 積塔会 (しゃくとうえ)
ceremony for blind people


..... shakutoo-e 石塔会(しゃくとうえ)
shakutoo 石塔(しゃくとう)"stone pagoda"
..... shakutoo 積塔(しゃくとう)
zatoo shakutoo 座頭積塔(ざとうしゃくとう)


Zatoo 座頭 blind minstrel


February 16
Blind people like biwa players (zatoo) meet on Kyoto, Seiju-an 清聚庵 at Shinomiya Kawara 四宮川原 and pray to the Deity of Blind People Amayo no mikoto 雨夜尊. This is a memorial service to the fourth son (shi no miya) of emperor Ninmyo 仁明天皇 (810 - 50), who was blind. He was a good player of the biwa.
This area of Kyoto is in the "demon direction" kimon in the northwest of the town. The blind monks and people each one places a stone on top of the other to build a "stone tower" in memory of all the blind people of Japan. Blind monks recice the "Heart Sutra" (Hanya Shinkyo) for 1000 times.
Later they sing and feast.



source: fukuchi shoten
Painting by Yosa Buson

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observance kigo for late summer

zatoo no suzumi 座頭の納涼 (ざとうのすずみ)
blind people enjoying the cool

suzumi no too 涼の塔(すずみのとう) memorial stone pagoda in the coolness
suzumi shakutoo 、涼み積塔(すずみしゃくとう)

On the 19th day of the sixth lunar month, a special memorial service is held for the blind. It is also the memorial day for emperor Kookoo Tennoo 光孝天皇 Koko Tenno, who was the first blind emperor.




光孝天皇 Koko Tenno

830 - 887
The third son of Emperor Ninmyoo.
The Taira clan of Koko Heishi 光孝平氏 dates back to Emperor Koko.

. SAIJIKI ... Ceremonies and Festivals  

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topic for haiku

blind woman, goze 女盲, ごぜ, ゴゼ, 瞽女
blind nun, ama goze 尼ごぜ、あまごぜ


From the Edo period (1600-1868) goze organized themselves in a number of ways.
. blind woman from Echigo, Echigo goze 越後女盲 .
越後ごぜ , 「瞽女(ごぜ)」
海御前(あまごぜ)

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a warm smile on the
blind man's face -
summer sunshine

autumn sunset -
the blind man reaches
for his dog

the tearful eyes
of a blind woman -
winter sun


cheerful laughter
in the blind kid's school -
spring sunshine


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source : Jules Bastien-Lepage

the look
in the blind beggar's eyes -
autumn sunset


Gabi Greve

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雉なくや座頭が橋を這ふ時に
kiji naku ya zatoo ga hashi o hau toki ni

a pheasant cries out
as a blind man crawls
across the bridge

Tr. Chris Drake

This hokku is from the 2nd month (March) of 1818, when Issa was traveling around to various villages and towns near his hometown. In his diary at this time Issa has three hokku in a row about pheasants, of which the above hokku is the second. All three seem to be serious and based on close observation.

In the hokku, the pheasant has noticed something it feels to be important or dangerous, and it turns out to be a blind man (or woman -- the gender is not given) crawling across a nearby bridge. Perhaps it is a narrow bridge with no railing, or perhaps there is ice or cold rain on the bridge, making it slippery. In any case, the blind man decides it would be dangerous to try to walk across, and he gets down on his hands and knees and crawls across instead. The pheasant probably doesn't understand what's happening, but Issa seems impressed by the way it senses something is unusual or wrong.

The pheasant isn't warning of danger to itself, but it might be warning of danger it vaguely senses to another creature. Issa understands what's happening, and he may be using the pheasant's loud, sharp cry to suggest his own momentary worry for the safety of the blind man. There's no hint in the wording of the hokku that Issa is making fun of the blind man or comparing blindness to any form of benightedness or spiritual lack. After all, imperfection is the human condition, and Amida accepts sincere humans in spite of their weaknesses. Issa often compares himself to a beggar and calls himself a fool, and he is surely sympathizing with the man who is forced to crawl in order to stay alive. Perhaps the hokku is intended as a human form of crying out.

The word zatou literally means 'group leader' and is the lowest of four ranks in the organization created by blind performers in the Edo period. In addition to chanting ballads and plays, telling stories, and singing and composing songs to the accompaniment of various instruments, blind professionals were active in many fields, especially in acupuncture and massage. The term zatou can also simply mean a blind person.

Chris Drake
. WKD : Kobayashi Issa 小林一茶 in Edo .

座頭坊や赤椀で蠅追ひながら
zato boo ya aka wan de hae oi-nagara

the blind priest
with his red bowl...
shooing flies

Tr. David Lanoue


Two Blind Men Crossing a Log Bridge

. Hakuin Ekaku (白隠 慧鶴 Hakuin Ekaku) .
(1686-1769 or 1685-1768)

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stop sign . . .
the blind veteran waves
a dozen roses


Don Baird

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Close your eyes and spend one whole day like that!
Then you will know the answer, I hope.
WKD : World Handicap Day .. Black Day for the Blind

Haiku Topics in the World Kigo Database

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bedtime story
my grandfathers' fingers
touching the Braille


- Shared by John Wisdom -
Joys of Japan, 2012

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Blind People and Elephant 盲人と象 - Hokusai



O how they cling and wrangle, some who claim
For preacher and monk the honored name!
For, quarreling, each to his view they cling.
Such folk see only one side of a thing.


Buddha
. Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) 葛飾北斎 .

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座頭かと人に見られて月見哉 / zatō
zatoo ka to hito ni mirarete tsukimi kana

I appear to people
like a blind man
watching the moon . . .


Written in 1686, Basho age 43. 貞亨3年八月十五夜
Basho was wearing the outfit of a monk, often used by blind poeple.

The cut marker KANA is at the end of line 3.
zatoo was one of the four grades of the Biwa Hooshi singers 琵琶法師:
kengyoo 検校 - bettoo 別当 - kootoo 勾当 - zatoo 座頭

During the Edo period it was also used for other kind of blind people.

. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .
. tsukimi 月見 つきみ moon viewing .

- quote -
The Story of the Blind Bankers of Edo Era Japan
Centuries ago, members of the Todoza saw no reason why being blind should keep them from being rich
By Cezary Jan Strusiewicz
- source : tokyoweekender.com/2021 ... -

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. Pagoda and Stone Pagoda - Topics for Haiku

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12/20/2006

Daily Walk

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my daily walk -
new patterns of frost
on mother earth



my daily walk -
new patterns of frost
at every step



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Last Samurai

  



winter chill -
the last samurai
in hiding










Just saw the movie with our dear Watanabe san.
I found the landscape rather "American".

How about the above, from my neighbourhood, for a retreat?

These are not clouds.
They are trying to make smoke signals, I guess !

Much later, it dawned on me:
This was the result !


The Last Samurai, official HP



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12/19/2006

Striped Clouds

  


雲海や今日も吾がここに居る






sea of clouds -
I am right here right now
this morning














Look at my frosty dandelion
! HERE !


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Dandelion in Frost

  


朝霜や





by the roadside -
a dandelion bows
to the frosted leaves












Look at the sea of clouds from this morning
! HERE !



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. Dandelion (tanpopo) .


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12/17/2006

First Snow

  



初雪や





first snow -
all the weeds
with a white hat













  






sunshine
spreads its light -
the bare branches sparkle






ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo






blue sky -
shades of white
and snow






My Winter Photo Album
Start from here to Nr. 13 !



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Dew on last rose


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winter morning -
a few dewdrops on
my last rose






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the next morning :



first snow -
my last rose now
covered in white






This is the Camellia in snow !

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More on the discussion of this haiku is here
MU and Haiku


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12/14/2006

Camellia and Samurai

  



... 武士の夢の後 ...







camellia blooming
in an old garden -
samurai's dreams









entertaining guests
in the sitting room -
camellia tree







I found this tree in Katsuyama.

The Samurai Residence in Katsuyama
勝山の武家屋敷



Camellia, Tsubaki, a KIGO

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Red Raindrops

  



雨 の 雫






raindrops
in the autumn sun -
a samurai's garden













The Samurai Residence in Katsuyama
勝山の武家屋敷



Read my Haiku Archives

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quote

Treading on God's Gift

" 'How beautiful the rain looks,' thought the Mulla, watching from his window. 'It washes everything clean and makes the flowers and trees grow. It is truly one of the most beautiful signs of God's grace.'

"Just then, the peaceful view of the square with the rain pelting down on the flowers and trees was interrupted by a figure dashing through it. It was Enver, the Mulla's neighbor from two doors down. The Mulla stood up and leaned forward a little.

" 'Enver! Enver, my friend! Why are you running?' he called as Enver got nearer.

" 'To get out of the rain, of course,' yelled Enver without stopping, swerving sharply towards his house.

" 'What a terrible, terrible shame!' Mulla Nasruddin called back.
'Rain is one of God's great gifts. I can't believe that people try to run away from it. No wonder God asks in His holy book: How many of My gifts will you deny?'

"The Mulla noticed with satisfaction that Enver was slowing down even though the rain was getting heavier.

" 'A job well done,' he thought. 'I have managed to do some good.' And he settled back to watch the rain, until he became so mesmerized by the falling drops that he began to doze.

" 'Khoja!' called his friend Jamal, knocking at the window. 'The rain has let up for a bit. Do you fancy some coffee at Aydin's shop? I hear he has some fresh baklawa just in.'

"The Mulla was never one to turn down fresh baklawa; and besides, Aydin served excellent coffee with just the right amount of cardamom. He heaved himself up and joined Jamal.

"The baklawa was as fresh and crisp as he had hoped, and the coffee as rich. When he had finished, the Mulla looked out at the sky and saw that it was beginning to cloud over again.

" 'I think I'll get back home,' he said. 'It looks as if there's more rain coming.'

"A bank of clouds had built up in the sky and, just as he stepped into the square, the first drops splattered the Mulla's face and shoulders. Quick as a lightning flash, he grabbed the folds of his trousers and sprinted across the square.

" 'Are you running away from the rain, Khoja?' called Enver's startled voice from his window.

" 'What does it look like to you?' replied the Mulla, crustily.

" 'I thought you said it was shameful to deny God's greatest gifts?'

"And the Mulla replied, 'So it is. So it is, my friend. Now don't distract me — I mustn't tread on a single one of God's precious gift of raindrops.' "
source : www.spiritualityandpractice.com


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. WKD : Rain in various kigo .


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12/13/2006

Polished Floor Boards

  






a winter's tale -
the polished floor of
a samurai home







ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo



Can you guess what part of the furniture this is?
Write your guess as a comment to this BLOG !











Read more about this Samurai residence in Katsuyama


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12/12/2006

Wedding Anniversary

  







wedding anniversary -
does he still love me
like the red winter berries ?








We got married on the twelfth month,
the twelfth day, at 12:12 o'clock
at the Embassy in Tokyo,
may years ago !








Join me on a walk trough
KATSUYAMA town !




Read my Haiku Archives


. WKD : June Bride .


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12/06/2006

Moss Tree Life

  




winter forest -
new lifes sprouts
from the old








Winterwald -
neues Leben spriesst
aus altem







Read more haiku abou my haiku walk in
Izumo Kaido, Postal Station of Doi 




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Patterns in a Town

  



Patterns of the Postal Station of Doi, Mimasaka
Mimasaka, Doi Juku 美作市土居宿








decorative woodwork of old






ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo






woven woodwork -
the hands of an old craftsman
speak to me now













  




patterns -
looking down to the ground
to find a treasure













My Haiku Trip to Izumo Kaido, Doi Town, December 2006
Mimasaka, Doi Juku 美作市土居宿




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