On March 12th I joined the Hailstone Haiku Circle for their Ginko-no-renga event (a poetry composition stroll), on this occasion in Iwakura. Originally the linked verse, or renga, was meant to begin with a hokku (starting verse) that Buson had written in Iwakura.

遅き日や雉の下り居る橋の上

The days grow longer –
A pheasant has fluttered down
Onto the bridge.

However, the Tohoku disaster had occurred just the day before and was naturally very fresh in all our minds. It was only natural that our collaborative verse  would reflect to some degree the traumatic events in the north. For this reason, our sabaki (捌き – or coordinators), Stephen Gill and Keiko Yurugi, had chosen another verse by Buson that seemed absolutely perfect.

The day grows longer –
echoes are heard
in a corner of Kyoto…..

This was the first time I had joined one of these events so I was a little concerned that I would fail to be inspired and unable to contribute. However, as we strolled around Iwakura, the Jisso-in temple and the Iwakura shrine I found myself taking lots of notes on odd scraps of paper. Later, back at Mr. & Mrs. Higashinaka’s house we took tea and sat around to compose our verse. The event was easy going and fun and I was both surprised and delighted that a verse I had written was chosen to become part of the collaborative effort. It was also fascinating to see how our sabaki chose each verse in order to somehow continue the mood of the renga and yet keep it moving and developing. I definitely want to take part in one of these events again.

Here is how the poem begins (can you guess which of the first six verses is mine?):

Echoes

The day grows longer –
echoes are heard
in a corner of Kyoto….. (Buson)

Between two gardens
abandoned tiles

Calm corridor –
one step, one prayer
white plum blooming beyond

Struck dumb
by the presence of stones

Again and again
from far across the still pond
one black wave

The silent hills look on
bathed in watery sun

Click here to continue reading this poem.
You can see more photographs from the event below. Please visit the Hailstone Haiku Circle website to find out more about their events and publications.

Of Related Interest:
Irish Haiku!
One Hundred Poets on Mount Ogura, One Poem Each
Introducing Keiji Minato
Songs and Stories of the Kojiki retold by Yoko Danno
Japan International Poetry Society