AN ANTHOLOGY ABOUT CHERRY BLOSSOMS AS PUBLISHED ON: HTTP://CHEVREFEUILLESCARPEDIEM.BLOGSPOT.COM
PREFACE Good day dear reader, I am proud to present to you a new anthology of haiku compiled by and written by myself, Chèvrefeuille, host of Carpe Diem Haiku Kai a daily haiku-meme. In this “little” anthology I have brought together cherry blossom haiku and sometimes a haibun about cherry blossoms. I am an admirer of the cherry trees and blossoms and I am happy to have an old Sakura in my garden. (As you can see hereafter, this is a photo from my Sakura in Spring 2013).
As I started writing haiku, back in the eighties, I couldn’t have dreamed that I would become an internationally known haiku poet with a worldwide weblog about haiku and a regular group of visitors. And now I have another nice anthology for you all. In “fragile beauty” I share haiku and haibun in which Cherry Blossoms are the theme. So have fun while reading this anthology … and maybe it gives you already a feeling of spring or at least the longing for spring. Namaste, Chèvrefeuille February 2015
2
SPRING IS COMING It's early in the morning of March 21, the start of Spring. I love this morning. Its every year a great day to me. Celebrating Spring ... the young green leaves start to bloom and all those blossoming trees. Birds chanting and lambs in the field. Spring ... the beginning of the light part of the year. After the dark time of autumn and winter finally the light has come back. Today the sun is shining bright when I come out of my bed. "Yes", I think ... finally I can go out sitting in the sun. I have a nice garden with lovely trees and bushes and when it's a sunny day I go out. Love to feel the sun on my skin. "At last. Spring is there. I go out with the kids playing in the park and do some fishing in the pond. I smell the blooming flowers, narcissus, crocus, clover, the cherry and plum blossoms. Awesome! This is my time of the year. Spring ... a season of new life, new beginnings and young animals and birds. It's also my season to write haiku. I have written a lot of Spring haiku mostly about the blossoming trees of Cherry and Plum. Today it's the first day of Spring a light breeze caresses my hair and my body. Mm feels great love that feeling. spring breeze caresses the fragile blossoms of young cherry trees At night I see the hazy moon. Mysterious hidden behind the clouds. She, the moon, is still a bit shy on this first night of Spring, but then ... she is no longer hiding ... the clouds fall apart and then ... her lovely face ... the full moon of March. What a sight! Neo Pagans calling her "death moon", Chinese calling her "Sleepy moon" and the ancient Celtic name of her is "Moon of Winds". Isn't it great all those names for her ... the moon ... our natural satellite? moon of winds showing her face through the clouds what a mysterious sight finally Spring green leaves open carefully the Death Moon "Death Moon" strange name for the moon of March. March the month of Spring, new life sprouting, cherry blossoms bloom and then she, our lovely moon, called "Death Moon". It's for sure a strange name and I am not sure what it means, but it makes some contrast with the new life, the new beginning, the starting of the light part of year. Maybe "Death" stands for ending the dark part of the year or ... I don't really know. Spring brings joy and happiness. Spring ... that's my season. cherry blossoms bloom such a fragile beauty the Spring breeze
3
DANCING In the middle of the night. I couldn't sleep. Too much thoughts tolling around in my head. Even the ones I love to have about haiku. I see every hour go by. At last I am going downstairs. have something to eat and drink and maybe ... that's making me sleepy. As I look through the window I see that a new day is dawning. The sky colors in the most wonderful reddish and yellowish. With a smile on my face I see the first blossom of the cherry tree in my backyard. I walk outside. I am so in love with my cherry tree and when the first blossoms begin blooming I become very happy. My thousand thoughts have gone. I only have eyes for the young cherry blossoms. And then ... birds begin to sing in a most wonderful symphony ... it's the ultimate experience and leaves me in awe. I forget everything around me and start dancing. I love this feeling of freedom and happiness. It's really a great and wonderful morning. I wonder ... why has the Almighty given me this great present. I bow my head and then I see my naked body. A smile on my face ... "this is freedom!" standing naked in awe of the first cherry blossom dancing in the garden
4
SPRINGTIME When the dark period of the year goes by and spring is coming I become happy. Spring is my season. After hibernation nature begins blooming and comes to live. As I see the Snowdrops come in bloom I feel how Mother Earth is reborn again. The Cherry- and Plum-trees begin blossoming and especially when the Cherry tree in my backyard is starting to bloom I am so happy. I have to give a party when the first Cherry blossom blooms. I call all my friends and family to tell them that my Cherry tree is in bloom again and that's worth a celebration. I love that moment. I feel a little child again and come to live after my hibernation. Springtime ... nature comes to live once again. It's worthy to celebrate when the Cherry trees are blooming, especially mine of course :-). I have written a lot of haiku about Cherry trees, but I have never written , as I call it, "my masterpiece" on Cherry trees. Maybe this is the one. In this haiku I hope that spring is present. on winter's edge the first Cherry blossom blooms rain falls softly Well ... did I succeed in my goal to write "my masterpiece" on Cherry trees? Maybe not, but spring is surely present.
5
THE BLOSSOMS RETURN! Yes ... I have seen that. In my garden the first cherry blossom has been spotted, so yes the blossoms return ... finally Spring is coming after a long cold winter. As I walk through the park that's near my house I see the crocuses bloom and the narcissus, but also the flowering Trees are coming in bloom. It's a wonder .... I love the sight of these fragile blossoms and flowers and all the pretty colors. It makes me very happy. ah! sweet perfume of the young cherry trees first time blooming on an old branch a young sprout of cherry blooming again
6
ALMOST SPRING It's almost Spring and in my garden the cherry tree starts to bloom. I love the cherry trees. I love their fragility and colors. It's wonderful to sit down beneath the cherry trees with my family and friends. It's always great to be outside when the cherry trees are blooming. I have written a set of haiku to celebrate the cherry blossoms. cherry blossoms bloom in the fading light of day looking fragile cherry blossoms looking even more fragile in the moonlight in the moonlight leaving me in awe blooming cherry trees
7
SUCH SADNESS such sadness the spring wind has molested cherry blossoms The sadness is in the scattering of the Cherry Blossom. The Japanese were very anxious before wind as the Cherry trees began to bloom. cherry blossoms fall it feels like an eternity before summer I love seeing my Cherry Tree bloom. It's almost magical when I see the fragile blossoms open. In the moonlight they look even more fragile ... so wonderful and mysterious. such fragility sprouting cherry blossoms in pale moonlight cherry blossoms bloom in the moonlight so fragile ah! the Spring breeze
8
VANCOUVER CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL Back in 2010 one of my haiku got a honorable mention in the haiku invitational of the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival: the cooing of pigeons between blooming cherry trees the cool rain
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 after the funeral the cherry tree in my backyard makes me happy
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 first snow of the year covers fragile blossoms tears in my eyes such a sad event young cherry blossoms frozen in a cold spring night
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 cherry blossoms bloom resolving bare branches the first day of Spring
9
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 such a malice cherry blossoms in full bloom the Spring wind!
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 cherry blossom buds almost ready to open up expecting brightness
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 after the dark winter restless cherry blossom buds starting to bloom
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 closing the gate to become a real master cherry blossom falls
10
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 bare Cherry branches covered with powder snow the first blossom the first blossom worthy to have a party blooming cherry tree blooming cherry tree finally King Winter departs longing for Summer
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 blossom haze walking in the middle of falling petals Ah! those cherries have to let go their blossoms blossom haze
11
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 Departing cherry blossom petals fall without sound without sound cherry blossom petals ride on gusts of wind on gusts of wind cherry blossom petals, full circle, the taste of cherries the taste of cherries helping me through the cold winter Sakura blooms again
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 finally Spring after waiting a long time first Cherry Blossoms first Cherry Blossoms blooming on barren branches finally Spring
12
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 in praise of Cherries a geisha is playing the Koto singing Sakura singing Sakura wandering beneath the Cherry Trees Ah! what a joy
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 first cherry blossom every day I look up with greed another cherry blossom
13
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 just like that cherry blossom petals fall a colorful shower a colorful shower walking beneath the cherry trees while cherry petals fall while cherry petals fall a haiku by Onitsura comes in mind just like that And this is the haiku by Onitsura which I refer to in the above haiku: saku-karani miru-karani hana no chiru-karani the cherry-flowers bloom; we gaze at them; they fall, and ... Š Onitsura
14
TROIKU, A NEW FORM OF HAIKU WRITING Maybe you know that I have created a new haiku-form, the so-called Troiku, I love to share a Troiku here. This Troiku originated from the haiku by Onitsura (above): (The Sleigh): the cherry-flowers bloom we gaze at them they fall, and ... (Horse 1): the cherry-flowers bloom finally King Winter has gone Ah! What a feast (Horse 2): we gaze at them weeping in joyful honor cherry trees bloom (Horse 3): they fall, and ... the promise of given fruits in late Summer
More about Troiku you can find at: Carpe Diem Haiku Kai
15
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 the first cherry blossom tears of joy roll over my cheeks I dance in prayer I dance in prayer my Creator gave me joy again the first cherry blossom
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 finally spring the old Sakura in the backyard in full bloom
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 cherry blossom opens without disturbing the pigeons building their nest quietly cherry blossoms bloom drizzling day
16
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 the light of full moon enchants the fragile blossoms of the cherry tree
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 cherry blossoms fall giving room for the leaves and cherries life goes on cherry blossom petals falling cherries in autumn
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 hazy moon cherry blossoms look mysterious the Spring breeze
17
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 raindrops falling between cherry blossom petals becoming one
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 cherry blossom petals fall one by one in the puddle hugged by the moon
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 spring rains falling suddenly the cherry trees bloom the sound of a wind chime in the gutter after the pouring rain of spring cherry blossom petals
18
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 ballroom dance between petals of cherry blossom raindrops seek their way
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 cherry blossom blooms following her intuition she shares her fruit
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 framed in silence cherry blossom embraces Mt Fuji even more quiet
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 cooing pigeons – petals of cherry blossom fall in muddy waters
19
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 Spring is coming with the first southern wind scent of Cherry blossom
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 Departing cherry blossom petals fall without sound
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 cherry blossoms fall after a glorious time tears in my eyes
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 Mother Nature's magic bewitches me every day again cherry blossoms bloom cherry blossoms bloom finally, after a long cold winter, I welcome spring
20
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 pilgrims transformation as buds burst open in spring flowering cherry trees
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 Rhododendron blooms while cherry blossom petals fall one by one
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 first Cherry Blossom worth a celebration spring is here
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 cherry blossoms bloom in the light of the hazy moon looking mysterious looking mysterious in the twilight light of the hazy moon blooming cherry trees
21
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 behind the veil of the midnight light of the hazy moon hides cherry blossom
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 after the darkness longing for the young leaves and cherry blossoms the blooming cherries watching them in the moonlight it’s magical under the cherry trees a gathering of families cherry petals fall
22
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 ah! that first blossom tears rolling down my cheeks that sweet perfume
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 walking on pink clouds dreaming about the first cherry blossom today I saw the first
0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0 the circle of life cherry blossoms bloom and fall one by one
23
CLOSURE Well … I hope you did like this little anthology “fragile beauty” a tribute to the beauty and glory of the Cherry Blossom. It was fun to compile this anthology for you … my dear reader … If you have fallen in love with haiku, then feel free to visit my weblogs: http://chevrefeuilleshaikublog.blogspot.com http://chevrefeuillescarpediem.blogspot.com And maybe, if you would love to read more, then you can find several weblogs and websites linked to at one of the above mentioned weblogs.
<< For the sake of the moon - ebook
24