song of yellow lands
praising the gift from nature
tales of life and death
~
born of soil and stones
destined to complete circle
return to the earth
~
a worm creeps outside
from within the hole in soil
nurtured in the earth
* For Carpe Diem # 269.
born
Cicadas Haiku
with prominent eyes
cicada hums a love song
debut performance
~
wears a bow of love
aiming for suitable mate
drums beat in stomach
~
a resurrection
its time to born once again
mother earth tears up
~
limbs sweat profusely
heat seeps into the body
hear cicadas’ sing
* The third haiku is based on the fact that some cicadas can lay dormant for as long as 17 years in the womb of the mother earth and one day comes when they come out again in their usual demeanor, which has become a symbol of resurrection.
* It was difficult for me to write haiku about an insect I haven’t got to see and listen to much. I have just faint memories of listening to the singing insects; so can’t be sure whether they were cicadas or not. Written in response of Carpe Diem # 232.
Takenoko/Bamboo Shoots Haiku
going up and up
reaching for eternity
rigid, tall and straight
.
evergreen bamboo
shoots cut down and thinly sliced
boiled, to feast upon
.
survival circles
displayed around the body
every few inches
.
ward off the evil
takenoko surrounding
lonely Shinto shrine
.
wet and slippery
showered in the morning rain
a bamboo-poet writes
.
a childish cutter
gash shining stalk of bamboo
emerge moon goddess
.
shedding those gold tears
watching in pain, her moon world
born from bamboo stalk
* Written for Carpe Diem # 217 Takenoko/Bamboo Shoots
* The last two haiku are derived from a Japanese folktale; The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. I came to know about it in a Japanese cartoon show once.
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