Haiku about Winter (7)

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822), a British poet, wrote, “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” in his poetry ‘Ode to the West Wind ’ (1819).

The winter tide

flowing near in front ―

this river

この川の近きを流る冬の潮

Kono kawa no chikaki o nagaru haru no shio

The spring tide

flowing far behind ―

that river

あの川の彼方を流る春の潮

Ano kawa no kanata o nagaru haru no shio

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Winter (6)

Let me post haiku about 'Snow Fairy （雪女）(yuki onna)'.

According to Edo Period(1603-1867) folk legend, the yuki onna(snow woman) is the apparition of a beautiful, but terrifyingly seductive lady who mysteriously appeares only when it snows.

After the storm passes, her victims are often found dead. She is thought to be a form of deity of the New Year who visits people at the end of the year.

A lost man

in such a blizzard

snow fairy

吹き荒ぶ旅の道連れ雪女

Fukisusabu tabi no michi zure yuki onna

Candles lit

where does she blow to

snow fairy

灯火にどこに吹かるる雪女

Tomoshibi ni dokoni fukaruru yuki onna

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Winter (5)

On January 23, 2010, Bonden Festival in Akita （梵天祭り）（秋田）appeared in 'Special Galleries .....DARUMA MUSEUM (03)' by Dr. Gabi Greve in Okayama, Japan.

The site address is : http://darumamuseumgallery.blogspot.com/.

Another blog by Dr. Gabi Greve, 'WKD-Saijiki for Festivals and Ceremonies' is also of much interest. Please check out the address: http://wkdfestivalsaijiki.blogspot.com/.

Here now, let me post some haiku and a photo of Bonden Festival in Akita.

Sending out steam

dedicating Bonden

New Year's Festival

湯気立てて梵天納む寒祭り

yuge tatete Bonden osamu kan matsuri

The first Bonden

rushing into the shrine

Coming-of-age Feast

成人の梵天宮に初名告

seijin no Bonden miya ni hatsu nanori

From Hindu skies

does the wild goose carry

Bonten

ヒンドゥーの空の梵天雁運ぶ

Hinduu no sora no Bonten gan hakobu

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Winter (4)

My haiku appeared on the Asahi Haikuist Network by David McMurray on January 1 and 15.

One of them is this: http://www.asahi.com/english/haiku/.

From Heaven's hand

do snowflakes spill

falling stars

神の手のこぼす雪片星降りぬ

kami no te no kobosu seppen hoshi furinu

A cup of tea

keeps us cozy ―

snowy garden

雪の庭一杯のお茶に温もれり

yuki no niwa ippai no ocha ni nukumore ri

Haiku about Winter (3)

I visited Senshu Park （千秋公園）in Akita on January 11.

Garden viewing

snow sits on the bench

evergreens

庭景色ベンチの雪見る常緑樹

niwa geshiki benchi no yuki miru jouryokuju

The old pond

reflects winter sky

carp unmoving

冬空を映す古池鯉静か

fuyu zora wo utsusu furu ike koi sizuka

― Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Winter (2)

The old bear

dreams of eternity

a bamboo grove

竹林の老ひし熊見る永遠の夢

chikurin no oishi kuma miru towa no yume

In the snow

too cold for the lute

into silence

雪の中琵琶の音凍へ静寂へと

yuki no naka biwa no ne kogoe shijima e to

―　Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku about Winter (1)

On December 25, I visited the foot of Mt. Taihei（太平山）, Akita.

The winter sun

breaks ―

Mt. Taihei

冬日差し山気緩むや太平山

fuyubi sashi sanki yurumu ya Taiheizan

The rice fields

hibernate ―

snow cover

雪覆ひ眠りに就きし稲田かな

yuki ooi nemuri ni tsukishi inada kana

―　Hidenori Hiruta