Our nephew Kelly had a school assignment to write a haiku that involved a river. We reviewed the classics:
• A Haiku Menagerie Living Creatures in Poems and Prints. By Stephen Addiss with Fumiko and Akira Yamamoto. Weatherhill, Boston MA, 1992
• The Sound of Water, Haiku by Basho, Buson, Issa and Other Poets. Translated by Sam Hamill. Shambala Centaur Editions, Boston & London, 1995
• Classic Haiku, The Greatest Japanese Poetry from Basho, Buson, Issa, Shiki and Their Followers. Edited and Introduced by Tom Lowenstein. Duncan Baird Publishers. London, 2007
Then the following emerged
At the forest pond
Leaping for the mosquitoes
The dark fish catches
By Kelly Carr inspired by Buson
River in my mind
The water is icy cold
Can’t wait for summer.
By Kelly Carr
Art teacher’s regret
Finger painting from hell is
For tiny people
Who would imagine
The river flows through Ukiah
Inspiring haiku
Ukiah and haiku
Like laughter and silly words
Just goes together
Nephew ponders things
Of poetry of rivers
Counts on his fingers
Contemplating the
Structured and the unstructured
Of modern haiku
Everybody dance now
Make an entrance with style
Just can’t stop myself
I’m gonna die soon
I swallowed five pounds of wax
Who gets my legos
(inspired by new braces)
New moon in blue sky
Chases light of setting sun
Overlap of the day
From the general
Mirth and splendor there emerged
Lighthearted phrases.
April 26th, 2010 at 5:52 am
dear master haiku sensei gewi,
please study the haiku we made tonight in our ancient temple…after our plentiful eggrolls and rice. the duck was dewicious. yes yes indeed sensei. tank you vewy mush for your patience sensei
your wise student
kewi carr
April 26th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
why thank you sensei. your wise and helpful sponsorship shall help me with the great future that lie ahead.