Haiku Horizons "master"

 

Inspired by the prompt at

 

 

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

 

It's a little time ago that I posted here at Chèvrefeuille's Haiku-blog, my home-weblog, but I think it's time to make this weblog a little bit more active. So therefore I have chosen to write a post in response on Haiku Horizons prompt "master".

I wonder in what kind of sphere I have to place this prompt. Means "master" the teacher or does it mean that you have "mastered" something? Well ... both ways are possible I think, but I will go for the teacher and I am gonna tell you a little bit more about my haiku-master, Matsuo Basho (1644-1694).

Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) was a haiku master and had several new ideas for writing haiku. One of his ideas was the Kanshicho-style in which he wrote haiku in a different way than we (all) know it.
As we (all) know haiku has three sentences with 5-7-5 syllables, but haiku written in Kanshicho-style were different. The three sentences could count, for example, 6-4-10 syllables or 3-11-5 syllables.
I embraced the Kanshicho-style when I wrote my first English haiku in 2005 and I started my first haiku weblog. The first English haiku I ever wrote was the next one:

 

a lonely flower
my companion
for one night

© Chèvrefeuille

 

Notice the syllable count 6-5-4. In that same year this haiku was translated into several languages, for example, Hindi, Tagalog and Scottish and also in Dutch (my maiden language). At that moment I realized that I could become a well-known International Haiku poet and remained writing my haiku in English.
The years following were with ups and downs, but I remained writing haiku in English, but mostly in Dutch. I also began to translate haiku of other haiku poets into Dutch, French, German and Spanish. As you all should have noticed Basho's my 'role-model' or let me say “Basho is my haiku-master”. Several fellow haiku poets have told me that my haiku are touched by Basho's Spirit. In other words my haiku according to fellow haiku poets, are in the same tone and sphere as Basho's. I am honoured and proud that my fellow haiku-poets compare me with Basho … it makes me just a humble haiku-poet.

Well ... that was the introduction to this Haiku Horizons prompt "master" and here is my haiku inspired on that prompt. I hope that you like it.

watching a snail
in the light of the full moon
just a silver trail

just a silver trail
points me to rhe right place
mountain monastery 

Credits: Snails in the moonlight

mountain monastery
finally becoming one
I bow to my master

I bow to my master
Matsuo Basho told me the way
to watch a snail

© Chèvrefeuille

Well ... I hope you did like this post on "master" and I am looking forward to your comments. Have a great week ... and 'til another time.

Namaste

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