Haiku Poems II

By AshiAkira

Haiku writing is popular throughout the world today. In this, his second collection of English haiku, AshiAkira seeks to help familiarize modern poets with the essence of the classic haiku writers, who sought freedom in the nonviolent way. Born and raised in Japan, AshiAkira naturally breathed in the spirit of the poems written in the five-seven-five syllable pattern, which were later called haiku. These were first written in the era of feudalism under the rigid and decisive rule of the Tokugawa shogunate, by poets who yearned for true freedom. They sought liberty in obeying the law of nature, which is equal and fair to all kinds of people. AshiAkira, also yearning for true freedom in this troubled world of today, wants to emulate the haiku poets of old. In this collection of more than five hundred poems, one poet strives to honor the spirit of the original writers of haiku, writing from his own experiences. Red-and-white plum trees Innocently in full bloom Amid snow forecast.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Dec 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9781483475950

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AshiAkira

Copyright © 2017 AshiAkira.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-7596-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-7595-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017916230

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 11/20/2017

Introduction

Thanks to retirement, I became free.

Free from furious running to get ahead of others.

Free from nauseating, servile flattery to superiors.

Free from pulling the leg of others going ahead of me.

Free from talking with others over each other.

Having worked as a news reporter,

I have seen the pretentious faces of people in many walks of life.

Politicians, bureaucrats, businesspeople, showbiz celebrities, preachers, and priests—All wade through their lives with business smiles and political gestures.

I was one of them.

When I found myself free, the first thing I did was take a walk.

It was my first leisurely walk in many decades.

Walking along the Kanda River, I chanced to notice a roadside sign that said,

Basho’s hut was here.

As I was reading the board, I heard a roaring sound rising from the pavement.

The Kanda River is a canal, dug for miles to carry water to Edo, the old name for Tokyo.

Basho was in some way involved in the canal-digging project, the board said.

I have not studied poetry in my life.

But I knew Basho was a poet who wrote poems in the five-seven-five-syllable form.

Such syllables in our language give a pleasant, rhythmic sound to our ears.

Once we hear anything said in that rhythm, it will