haiku-usa

A blog devoted mainly to haiku and senryu and to thoughts about, and inspired by, haiku and senryu.

Haiku is to poetry as espresso is to coffee.

Thursday, January 06, 2011

piercing cold

I kiss a plum blossom

in my dream

Soseki 1867-1916

On the significance of plum blossoms in Japanese haiku, see the note to "after: 10."

For an explanation of "afters," see the post for Nov. 2,2010

Gillena Cox said...: plum trees will bloom
but first the new year's
edicts

-Issa, 1823; 3:23 PM
Bill said...: Thanks for that, Gillena. Of course, Issa was writing in the context of the lunar calendar, according to which the new year begins at the threshold of spring. We still have a wait for the plum blossoms.; 4:00 PM
Crafty Green Poet said...: ah, here the jackdaws are already pairing up, in the snowy branches, Spring will come...; 11:04 AM
Tikkis said...: Ha, trying to eat it?!; 3:12 AM
Bill said...: We do what we can, tikkis.; 12:30 PM