Haikus is a traditional art of short poetry started by Buddhist monks in Japan. The spiritual art form emphasises being in the moment, and the brevity of 3 lines, reflects Zen philosophy.
Masaoka Shiki
My life, –
How much more of it remains?
The night is brief.
Toward those short trees
We saw a hawk descending
On a day in spring.
Kobayahsi Issa
Don’t weep, insects –
Lovers, stars themselves,
Must part.
The wren
Earns his living
Noiselessly.
Winter seclusion –
Listening, that evening,
To the rain in the mountain.
Yosa Buson
Old well,
a fish leaps-
dark sound.
Blowing from the west
Fallen leaves gather
In the east.
Natsume Soseki
Over the wintry
forest, winds howl in rage
with no leaves to blow.
The lamp once out
Cool stars enter
The window frame.
Basho Matsuo
Along this road
Goes no one,
This autumn eve
Old pond
A frog jumps in –
The sound of water
From time to time
The clouds give rest
To the moon-beholders.
The summer grasses
All that remains
Of brave soldiers dreams
Lynn Crosbie
the flowers are a
venus-flytrap, with red curls
flames and noxious breath
I’ll sue him and write
and build a home, in the
desert, on the sun
Kato Shuson
I kill an ant
and realize my three children
have been watching.
By Gray, L.
