Haru no Hana

Blossoms of Spring. Choka of Haiku

blushing blossoms rain
filling Mother Earth's wellspring
run rivers flush with life

orchards of Spring thought
cloud Autumn's Summer harvest
Winter memories

florescent dunes drift
vernal winds carry petals
to rest against love

Spring blossoms call bees
blonde dust flies black through pink clouds
feel pollen's love buzz

aching Summer waits
vernal needs want life's fruit
seeds soothe Winter's Fall

sekimen suru hana no ame ga hahanarudaichi o mitashi izumu no kawa gu seimei ni michi aforete imasu

2022

Author's Note

This is an interactive post. I would love it if someone would like to turn these into a Renga with a few couplets. And you can try to guess which Haiku I translated at the end. The translation has way more than 17 syllables. Waka is written in one line. Apologies to my Japanese friends if I mangled your language.

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Very much enjoyed the beautiful imagery in your Cboka of Haiku Bill. I do love this form very much, particularly when they are used collectively. Can't help with the Renga, but would hazard a guess at the fifth Haiku being the translated one. Having said that, my fingers are crossed, luck isn't usually on my side :)

Chris

[William Michael Reeves]

Whooonk! You lose. Guess again. There's a clue in the title you can use. One more guess then I'll tell you. Glad you enjoyed. I see blossoms piling up against the curbs like snow drifts and that got this series going.

[Red Brick Keshner]

yellow petals prance
dance in perfect unison
breeze in sunlit hair

[William Michael Reeves]

I'll start a Renga with your haiku ...

tangles Spring in Sol's ballet
blossoms blew pink into white

[Red Brick Keshner]

huzzah! .

[Coyote Poetry]

So wonderful, so beautiful these words Bill.
"aching Summer waits
vernal needs want life's fruit
seeds soothe Winter's Fall"
The above lines. Perfect my friend. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[William Michael Reeves]

Thanks. You picked one of them that I managed to get all 4 seasons into. Interesting that you use the word perfect. Japanese poetry almost wants to be imperfect. Stumble into beauty. Halting in a profound way. I was trying to find that and feel like you see it. Thank you!

[Coyote Poetry]

You did well Williams. And you are welcome.

[Lisasview]

Hi Bill,
This is something I have never tried..and I know nothing about but I did love it.. I see loads of metaphors ... which I always enjoy as it makes me think..What??? Why???
Lisa, on vacation now in Madrid

[William Michael Reeves]

You are are always somewhere new without ever going anywhere. Always in Spain but definitely not sitting still! If interested, you would write 2 line couplets that are 7 syllables each. Try to tie my ideas together. Japanese poetry wants to read as one long line. With a couplet between each from another poet it is called a Renga. Thanks Lisa for viewing me.

[Lisasview]

Hi there...
Yes, always in Spain...but normally in our home..
Went on a 5 day vacation to Madrid..
Interesting this whole Renga thing...just need time to look into it..
On our way home... love trains!!

[Patricia]

Lovely haikus and no I won’t be partaking but I hope everyone else does ;)

[William Michael Reeves]

You could have ventured a guess at which one I translated. Thanks.

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

Bill, your word usage is awesome! Each description of nature was set right before my eyes! Simply beautiful!

[William Michael Reeves]

Landscape art written as eye candy. Thanks Kathy!

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

My pleasure, Bill!

[KAREN]

The descriptive imagery you used was excellent. Each stanza was filled with awe-inspiring beauty.

[William Michael Reeves]

That has me wondering if a haiku that's part of a Choka would be considered a stanza. Poetry is so complicated! Part of what makes it poetry I guess. Thanks Karen

[KAREN]

You're welcome!

[Betty Hermelee]

Way beneath the earth
fall seeds hide from potent winds
clouds unlock raindrops

Lovely images of summer and fall... add mine if you wish!
Best. B

[William Michael Reeves]

You're supposed to write couplets. I'll turn that into a couplet..

clouds unlock earthen raindrops
Fall seeds hide from potent winds

That would work between the first and second haiku. Now give me 3 more to slip between the rest and it's a Renga. Renga 'round the Posey!

[Betty Hermelee]

Sounds good! 👍

[jacob erin-cilberto]

nicely done...true haiku.
j.

[William Michael Reeves]

Tried to stay true to the form. You initiated a good lesson when I first stepped into the cafe. Thanks Jacob

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

These are all wonderful haiku poems with the second being my favorite. Wonderful work on these writings, William.

[William Michael Reeves]

Nice to hear from you Carlos. I'm guessing you like the second haiku because of the theme of thoughts clouding memories. Trying to get tricky with it. Nothing can have only one meaning. Thank you.