Haiku Heights, stars

published for: Haiku Heights

A new Haiku Heights, this week's theme ... Stars.

looking at the stars
I feel little and humble
I bow my head

Hm ... a nice one I think ...

See you next week

Tackle It Tuesday Preview, back to basic

Dear haijin,

As promised ... a new Tackle It Tuesday Preview for next week's prompt/theme.
The upcoming week I love to go 'back to basic'. All the way back to the time of Matsuo Basho (1644-1694} in that time haiku was strict in it's rules. The first rule was the syllable count 5-7-5; second there had to be a kigo (a word that refers to the season);  third  a deeper meaning mostly based on the philosophy of the poet.
Basho was a Buddhist and therefore in his haiku we can find the deeper meaning of life as Buddhism learns.

Buddhist Jakhong Monastery in Lhasa Tibet

When we look at the following haiku by Basho we can see the mentioned rules. Let us take a closer look at this haiku:

morningglories -
in the daytime a lock
upon the gate

Morning Glory

Let us look closer to this haiku:

rule 1: 5-7-5 syllable-count yes that's OK (a "-" can be seen as a syllable)

rule 2: a kigo (or a season-word) yes that's OK (Morning Glory is a kigo for Summer)

rule 3: a deeper meaning yes that's also OK, the meaning of this haiku is that Basho took time for a retreat to think about his life. So he locked the gate of his house. 

The classical haiku has a lot of rules, but the three I mentioned are the most important ones. 

As I learned to write haiku I had always difficulties with these rules, than I discovered the Kanshicho-style, in which Basho wrote his haiku several years. It felt OK when I started to write in this Kanshicho-style and I still continue to write in the Kanshicho-style in which the rules are a bit different according to the syllable-count. The Kanshicho-style is more similar to the Western form of writing haiku in which the syllable-count isn't the most strict rule.

But back to next week's theme 'back to basic'. The classical way of writing haiku is (at least to me) not easy, but it's a challenge ... and that makes it a great way to write haiku.

The above haiku is one of Basho's which I used on my other weblog Basho Revisited. As inspired on that haiku I wrote a new haiku in the classical way.

guarding the fence

around my cottage -

the Honeysuckle

Credits: Honeysuckle

This classical haiku isn't easy to write, but ... well ... take on the challenge and be inspired.

Well ... see you all next week again when this new Tackle It Tuesday 'back to basic' is on ... have fun and maybe it's a bit easier to write a haiku with this given information.

Warm greetings,

Chèvrefeuille 

Tackle It Tuesday, Holy Isle

Also shared with Rebecca's Haiku My Heart

Dear Haijin,

As I told already, in my last week's Tackle It Tuesday episode, the theme for this week's Tackle It Tuesday is Holy Isle. In the preview-post of Tackle It Tuesday I have told you something about Holy Isle. Holy Isle is situated on the west coast of Scotland. It is a Buddhistic island since the early 90th. Holy Isle has a wonderful history.
The earliest recorded name for Holy Isle was Inis Shroin, which is old Gaelic for 'Island of the Water Spirit'.

After the time when the Celtic Christian saint St. Molaise lived on the island at the end of the 6th century, it became known as Eilean Molaise, which is Gaelic for 'Molaise's Island'. This name gradually evolved over the course of centuries until early in the 19th century the island became generally known as Holy Isle and the village on the other side of the bay became known as Lamlash. (For more on Holy Isle's history go to: history )

Holy Isle has a wonderful environment with lots of different flowers and plants. Also the fauna of the Isle is wonderful. On their website you can find a lot of information on Holy Isle's nature.

I was touched by the so called 'painted rocks'. 'Painted Rocks' are rocks on which the monks on Holy Isle have painted pictures of deities or gods or spirits,

Dusum Kyenpa, the first Karmapa in the Kagyan tradition.
He lived from 1110-1193

So I found my inspiration for this week's theme Holy Isle on their website.

painted on rocks

the devote Buddhist monk

Holy Isle

Holy Isle

the Kagyan Tradition

painted on rocks

Share your haiku on the theme Holy Isle. Use the given information or let it inspire you. Enjoy the fun and write your classical or non-classical haiku.

This theme stays on 'till August 6th 11.59 PM. If you have a thought for a new theme please share it with me.


Next week's theme will be 'back to basic', in a new Tackle It Tuesday Preview I will tell you more about the  new theme, but for now ... have fun with this week's theme 'Holy Isle' ...

Please leave a comment after linking ... thank you ...


Namaste,

Tackle It Tuesday preview upcoming theme 'Holy Isle'

Dear Haijin and visitors,

As promised in the first comment of  my last Tackle It Tuesday episode (posted July 23th 2012) I will tell you something about "Holy Isle", the theme for next week's Tackle It Tuesday. Therefore I have made this preview-logo. Several years ago I heard for the very first time something about "Holy Isle" by a colleague of mine. She told me about "Holy Isle" as a wonderful and spiritual strong place. What is "Holy Isle" ?

Holy Isle is located off the west coast of Scotland, Holy Isle has an ancient spiritual heritage stretching back to the 6th century.It's now the place where you can come for a retreat based on the Kagyu Tradition of Lama Yeshe Rinpoche, a Tibetan meditation master. On Holy Isle you can find your peace and relief of your busy days.

Holy Isle is a wonderful place and I surely recommend you to visit their website. It gives you more information about Holy Isle and Buddhism in the Kagyu Tradition.

Why "Holy Isle" as the theme for next week's Tackle It Tuesday? Well ... haiku has a Buddhism base ... e.g. Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) was a Buddhist Monk and Haiku Master. So this theme for Tackle It Tuesday has a reason to be.

Credits: Holy Isle

Well ... my dear Haijin ... this theme will come up next week. Be inspired and enjoy the fun of writing your haiku.

Namaste

Tackle It Tuesday, passion

Dear Haijin (haiku poets),

Another week has gone. Again it was a busy week. I had to work the whole week at the hospital and I have started writing a new novel. I am not only a haiku poet, but also an author. Writing is my passion. Haiku is one of my biggest passions, but I love to write novels too. My novels are all written in Dutch. I hope someday that I can find the time to translate one of my novels in English, but that's ... maybe just a dream.
This week's theme for Tackle It Tuesday is "passion". Passion, what is it? Passion can mean romance, love or doing something passionate, such as writing haiku.

Passion, can also refer to the events that occur with Easter. The whole story on Jesus Christ can be called passion so that can also be a inspiration for you, my dear Haijin, to write a haiku about.

So this week's theme is passion. Write a haiku or set of haiku, classical or non-classical, on passion. Enjoy your writing and sharing it with Tackle It Tuesday. Maybe this haiku can inspire you, it's one of Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), a haiku master. He is one of my favorite haiku poets and I see him as my Haiku Master who inspires me to write haiku.

sazo na hoshi   hijikimono ni wa   shika no kawa

surely star-lovers

using as a rug

a deer skin

I like this one very much. Basho was inspired by the Tanabata-festival, one of the greatest festivals in classic Japan. Tanabata is a Japanese festival celebrated each year on July 7th. It celebrates the coming together of Orihime and Hikoboshi, the stars we call Vega and Altair. In Japanese folklore they are celestial lovers, separated by the river of the Milky Way, except for one day a year.

Credits: Tanabata festival

The haiku tells us how a boy and a girl are laying down on a deer skin to watch at the stars to see Altair and Vega meet each other. It's a romantic haiku, but (in my opinion) also a haiku on passion.

When Tanabata is on, streets, houses and other items are covered with colorful strips of paper.

colorful strips of paper in the streets for the Tanabata festival 

It looks wonderful and I think this colorful picture can be a source of inspiration. Let the haiku or the wonderful pictures inspire you to write a haiku (classical or non-classical). Enjoy the fun ... see you next week.This episode stays on 'till Monday July 30th 11.59 PM 

OK ... my haiku on this week's theme:

midsummer night

walking along the seashore

with the one I love

Haiku Heights, Meaning (#154)

Inspired by the theme at

Good day visitors, poets, haijin and every one else,

This week was a busy week. I had to work several days and I have started to write a new novel (in Dutch by the way). So I hadn't much time to surf on the WWW and look after my own websites (weblogs) and those of my Haiku friends.

Also I hadn't time to look on Leo's weblog "Haiku Heights", if I could find the time than I had earlier posted a new haiku for Haiku Heights. This weeks theme is Meaning not an easy one, but I have to try of course (smiles). Meaning? What's meaning? Is this about e.g. the meaning of life or the meaning of writing haiku?

I write haiku since the late eighties and I love it very much. To me writing haiku brings a bit more meaning to my life. In the early 21th century I became Internationally known as a haiku poet ... from that time on I only write my haiku in English. English isn't my maiden language so sometimes I have to search the WWW for synonyms and meanings of the English words. So I thought that I had to search for the meaning of Meaning, but I don't think that's necessary. So here I go. 

I think not the theme is difficult, but the form ... Haiku Heights prefers the classical haiku form 5-7-5 so that's making it difficult for me, because I write my haiku in the Kanshicho-style in which the classical syllable count isn't used, but ... well I have to try (smiles)

the meaning of life

being here in Mother Earth's arms

sharing my love

sharing my love

with all the other haiku poets

the meaning of life

Maybe ... 'till next week ....

Namaste

Tackle It Tuesday, wind chime

Also shared with: Haiku My Heart

Dear Haijin,

I am a bit late with this new episode of "Tackle It Tuesday", but I was to busy with other things and have just now (early evening 7.45 PM) have found time to bring up a new week's theme.

Several days ago I made a walk through my neighborhood and heard the sweet, meditative sound of a wind chime. I stood their for a while and felt the relaxing influence of it's fragile sound. So ... this weeks theme is "wind chime". 

Write a haiku (classical or non-classical) with wind chime as theme. Feel free to interpret the theme as you like it. It's all up to you. Just have fun, be inspired and enjoy writing your haiku.

Credits: wind chime

And of course a haiku of my own. Just written right now ...

evening walk
the sound of a wind chime
deep silence

This episode of Tackle It Tuesday will stay active 'till Tuesday July 24th 11.59 PM.

Enjoy and ... please leave a comment after linking. If you have an idea for next weeks Tackle It Tuesday ... feel free to mention it to me.

See you next week. I hope that I can be on time next week. Sorry again ... for the late post of this weeks Tackle It Tuesday.

Tackle It Tuesday, "paint the picture"

Dear Haijin,

I hope you all had a wonderful week. I certainly had a nice week it was a nice week with lots of sunshine (but also a lot of rain) and warm weather. This weeks challenge for Tackle It Tuesday is "paint the picture".
I will challenge you to write a haiku (classical or non-classical) with a picture as inspiration.

Maybe you remember the haiku challenge of SiS ... in that challenge we had to write sometimes a haiku with a picture as inspiration ... well this is the same.

This is the picture:

This weeks Tackle It Tuesday ends on Monday July 16th 23.59 PM.

Let the picture inspire you, enjoy the fun ... write your haiku right from your heart.

Please leave a comment after posting ... thank you for being part of Tackle It Tuesday.

Tackle It Tuesday, "fireworks"

Dear Haijin,

Last weekend we had a big festival in our city. My city is situated at the coast and there was a big festival in the harbor district. We had boat races, a lot of music and there was a fair.
To end the festivities there was a wonderful symphonic firework.

Credits: Symphonic Firework

Of course a very wonderful sight above our harbor. Great flowering fireworks.

Credits: Symphonic Fireworks

This weeks theme for Tackle It Tuesday is FIREWORKS have fun and enjoy. Write a haiku on the theme and contribute it to Tackle It Tuesday. It isn't a must to use the classical 5-7-5 haiku form, you can write your haiku in the more Western way of Kanshicho (no strict 5-7-5 count). Use the pictures as an inspiration or maybe the haiku which I wrote for this new edition of Tackle It Tuesday.

above the harbor
fireworks colouring the sky
a new day rises


a new day rises
the resound of the fireworks
above the harbor

Well ... enjoy ... let flow your creativity and be inspired ... have fun ... share your haiku ...

See you next week for another Tackle It Tuesday. Do you have an idea for a theme? Please tell me ... By the way: This Tackle It Tuesday closes on Monday July 9th 23.59 PM.
Please be so kind to write a comment after linking your haiku ... Thank you for your cooperation.

Just another haiku on "Summer Solstice"

Also shared on: Poets United's Poetry Pantry (#105)

Poets United's Poetry Pantry

Today was a nice day and I enjoyed it very much. I read some of my haiku and haiku from my fellow haiku poets. I also read a few haiku written by Basho (1644-1694). One of those haiku was the following:

departing spring
along with the people of Omi
missing it

It's about the "Summer Solstice" seen from the perspective of missing it ... Basho was on his way and maybe fell asleep and misses the Solstice of Summer. This haiku inspired me to write another one on "Summer Solstice".

at the seashore
wind of summer through my hair
the shortest night

In this haiku (similar to the one of Basho I think) it's not the longest day that's in my mind, but the shortest night ... the night which Basho missed I think. A night so short that you don't have to sleep at all (smiles).

Chinese Lanterns to Light the shortest night

This picture shows a Chinese Lantern ... it's made in Poznan (Poland) on the "Summer Solstice" or Kupala Night. Thousands of these Chinese lantern were used to set light in the shortest night.

Nice ... such festivals we don't have here, but ... we have Sunsation (*) a great festival full of music, dance, poetry and more. It's a great party and it culminates on the moment when the Summer Solstice happens.

(*) this site is in Dutch sorry