Haiku by Professor Kirby Record (Part 2)
2009/12/26
Professor Kirby Record teaches as director of English for Academic Purposes at Akita International University(AIU)(国際教養大学) in Akita.
He also writes haiku. He is a fellow haiku poet of mine.
On October 11 and 12, we participated in AIU Festival and exhibited works of haiku posted on the website, giving haiku activities, such as some haiku quiz.
During the event, Professor Kirby Record joined our activities and contributed his book of poetry titled “A Welcome Coolness” to me.
I post poetry in his book, dividing them into some parts and giving them a Japanese translation, which isn’t sometimes literal. It’s me, Hidenori Hiruta who translated his poetry into Japanese.
The title of his book is derived from the following haiku:
a sudden breeze
in bright winter sunlight, leaves
a welcome coolness
冬光に 爽涼迎ふ 風そよぐ
toko ni soryo mukau kaze soyogu
春は花 Haru wa hana
夏ほととぎす Natsu hototogisu
秋は月 Aki wa tsuki
冬雪さえて Fuyu yuki saete
すずしかりけり Suzushi kari keri
道元禅師
This poetry is Waka (和歌literally “Japanese poem”) written by Dogen Zenji (道元禅師)(1200-1253), a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher born in Kyoto, and the founder of the Soto school of Zen in Japan.
Professor Kirby Record translated it into English as follows:
“To everything there is a season.”
Ecclesiastes
In Spring, cherry blossoms
In Summer, the cuckoo,
In Autumn, the moon,
In Winter, the snow,
Cold and clear.
Dogen Zenji
Here I post haiku about autumn by Professor Kirby Record.
after rain the ferns in the window turn gold
雨の後 窓辺のシダや 金色に
ame no ato madobe no shida ya konjiki ni
sleeper car the clacking of rails october rain
寝台車 レールのカタットといふ音 十月の雨
shindaisha re-ru no katta to iu oto jugatsu no ame
scent of the rice harvest at dawn
刈り入れの 稲の匂ひや 暁に
kariire no ine no nioiya akatsuki ni
first october frost
just cold enough to feel good
with hands in pockets
十月の初霜 ほど良い寒さに ポケットに手を
jugatsu no hatsushimo hodo yoi samusa ni pokketo ni te wo
japanese maple
brighter than bright sunlight
all around it
イロハモミジ 日光よりも鮮明 周囲悉く
iohamomiji nikkou yorimo senmei shui kotogotoku
autumn moon glowing
nearly as bright as the sun
sinks into sunset
秋の月 夕日のごとく 鮮やかに
aki no tsuki yuhi no gotoku azayaka ni
the autumn colors
on those nearby mountains, blur
into pure whiteness
近山の 秋色かすみ 純白に
kinzan no shushoku kasumi junpaku ni
climbing the mountain
how quickly it is passing
forty-sixth autumn
山登る ４６度目の秋 速し
yama noboru yonjurokudome no aki hayashi
late october rain
on rice fields’ empty stubble:
orange persimmons
１０月の晩雨 稲田の刈り株 柿オレンジ色
jugatsu no ban u inada no karikabu kaki orenji iro
Next I post some haiku of mine and some photos of autumn.
Autumn high skies
Mt. Taihei coloring
purple
天高く 紫深し 太平山
ten takaku murasaki fukashi taiheizan
Snow-capped mountain
leaves coloring ―
late autumn
晩秋や 山 雪帽子 紅葉に
banshu ya yama yukiboshi momiji ba ni
Japanese maple
brightening the garden ―
samurai premise
映える庭 イロハモミジの 武家屋敷
haeru niwa irohamomiji no bukeyashiki
The autumn colors ―
gingko accompanies
Japanese maple
秋色や イロハモミジに イチョウの木
shushoku ya irohamomiji ni icho no ki
Fallen leaves
into the water ―
Lake Tazawa
秋更ける 田沢の湖に 散る落葉
aki fukeru Tazawa no umi ni chiru ochiba
Princess Tatsuko
sees fallen leaves ―
how many years ?
辰子姫 落葉見しより 幾年ぞ
Tatsukohime ochiba mishi yori ikutose zo
Last of all, I post my favorite haiku of Basho’s, translated into English by Donald Keene.
Along this road
There are no travellers ―
Nightfall in autumn
此の道や行人なしに秋の暮
kono michi ya yuku hito nashi ni aki no kure
Autumn has deepened
I wonder what the man next door
Does for a living ?
秋深き隣は何をする人ぞ
aki fukaki tonari wa nani wo suru hito zo
― Hidenori Hiruta
Haiku by Mr. Marshall Hryciuk (Part 1)
2009/12/19
Marshall Hryciuk is a Canadian haiku poet. On November 28th,, 2009, I met him and his wife Karen Sohne, a haiku poet, who has written haiku in English for over 20 years.
It was at a symposium by the Haiku International Association (HIA)（国際俳句交流協会） in Tokyo that we met for the first time. The title of the symposium was Haiku Worldwide – Present and Future. We talked about haiku and made friends with each other at the party.
Marshall Hryciuk contributed his haiku book, “Arizona to Crete” to me at the party.
This haiku book looks like his travelogue he wrote during his journey with his wife by car from Arizona to Crete.
The photographs on the front cover, “Monument Valley” and on the back cover, “Off Butterfly Gorge” were both taken and contributed by his wife, Karen Sohne.
I found that haiku by Marshall Hryciuk are very beautiful and very exciting when I translated them into Japanese.
I’ve divided them into some parts, and I post them on our website to share them with our readers.
Arizona, New Mexico 2004
among fallen yucca heads sprouts of new yucca
下に落つユッカの頭間新芽生ふ
cliff wind loud in the trees breath tastes of pine cones
崖おろし松間に吹きてかさ匂ふ
sheer lookout over junipers
the whistle of pines above us
糸杉に松のうそぶき渡り行く
wizened foliage but mist between distant mountains
葉群はしぼめど遠き山かすむ
air parched
even when cold
poppies, sulphurs not yellow
orange
空気はからから
寒い時でさえ
芥子、硫黄色、黄色ではなく
オレンジ色
vultures
by the roadkill
off to the side
two ravens grooming
禿鷲
路上の死体のそば
脇の離れた所に
オオガラス二羽毛づくろひ
charcoal still charcoal
three coats on pulling
bones from a salmon
濃炭色さらに濃炭色
三枚の外皮 引っ張っている
一匹のサモンから骨を
vultures circling over the crest
of a pock-marked precipice
禿鷲山頂の上空を旋回
あばた印の絶壁
animal sniffing my hair
through the tent
i punch its nose twice
動物が私の髪の匂ひをくんくん嗅ぐ
テント越しに
鼻をげんこつでなぐる 二回
morning after our salmon dinner
raccoon prints cover the Toyota
サモンの夕食後の朝
アライグマの跡がトヨタ車を覆ふ
Last of all I post haiku by Karen Sohne.
the street lamp’s
cone of light fills
with falling snow
街灯の
光 満たして
雪の降る
(To Be Continued)
― Hidenori Hiruta
Haiku by Professor Kirby Record (Part 1)
2009/12/12
Professor Kirby Record teaches as director of English for Academic Purposes at Akita International University(AIU)(国際教養大学) in Akita.
He also writes haiku. He is a fellow haiku poet of mine.
On October 11 and 12, we participated in AIU Festival and exhibited works of haiku posted on the website, giving haiku activities, such as some haiku quiz.
During the event, Professor Kirby Record joined our activities and contributed his book of poetry titled “A Welcome Coolness” to me.
I post poetry in his book, dividing them into some parts and giving them a Japanese translation, which isn’t sometimes literal. It’s me, Hidenori Hiruta who translated his poetry into Japanese.
The title of his book is derived from the following haiku:
a sudden breeze
in bright winter sunlight, leaves
a welcome coolness
冬光に爽涼迎ふ風そよぐ
toko ni soryo mukau kaze soyogu
春は花 Haru wa hana
夏ほととぎす Natsu hototogisu
秋は月 Aki wa tsuki
冬雪さえて Fuyu yuki saete
すずしかりけり Suzushi kari keri
道元禅師
This poetry is Waka (和歌literally “Japanese poem”) written by Dogen Zenji (道元禅師)(1200-1253), a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher born in Kyoto, and the founder of the Soto school of Zen in Japan.
Professor Kirby Record translated it into English as follows:
“To everything there is a season.”
Ecclesiastes
In Spring, cherry blossoms
In Summer, the cuckoo,
In Autumn, the moon,
In Winter, the snow,
Cold and clear.
Dogen Zenji
Here I post haiku about spring by Professor Kirby Record.
sunset floating
with a single cherry blossom
over green stones
夕焼けの緑石の上桜花
yuyake no ryokuseki no ue sakurabana
in the rain
cherry blossoms start
falling faster
雨の中散り急ぐかな桜花
ameno naka chiri isogu kana sakurabana
this first hike of spring
following another’s shadow
resting on my own
初ハイク人の影追ひ我に依る
hatsu haiku hito no kage oi ware ni yoru
an empty house
only pictures on the wall
spring rain
春の雨空き家の壁に絵画のみ
haru no ame akiya no kabe ni kaiga nomi
sudden gust opens my front door into spring
玄関を風吹き開けて春と化す
genkan wo kaze fukinukete haru to kasu
turning the curve of her waist in spring light
春光に腰の曲線向き変わる
shunkou ni koshi no kyokusen muki kawaru
april rains
all－white stones of many shades
rushing water
四月の雨影のある白石走る水
shigatsu no ame kage no aru hakuseki hasiru mizu
back from a walk
the fresh scent of weed
on tattered blue jeans
散歩から帰る草の新鮮な匂ひボロボロの青いジーンズ
sanpo kara kaeru kusa no sinsen na nioi boroboro no aoi ji―nzu
spring rain futon on tatami mozart faintly
春の雨畳の上の布団モーツアルト微かに
haru no ame tatami no ue no futon mo―tsuaruto kasukani
Last of all, I post some pictures of cherry blossoms I took this spring, because Professor Kirby Record’s haiku and Dogen Zenji’s waka reminded me of my visit to Kakunodate（角館）.
Kakunodate（角館）in Akita flourished as a castle town. The attractive view of the many remaining samurai premises surrounded by black fences and cherry trees gives the town an appearance similar to that of Kyoto and is called “Little Kyoto”.
Cherry Trees Along the Hinokinai River Bank
The bank of Hinokinai River is designated as a scenic spot of Japan. At the end of April, residents and visitors enjoy viewing the cherry blossoms under the tunnel of cherry blossoms of the Somei Yoshino cherry trees that stretches for two kilometers along the river bank.
― Hidenori Hiruta
The Haiku International Association(HIA)（国際俳句交流協会）, a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting haiku globally, celebrated the 20th anniversary of its establishment with a symposium titled Haiku Worldwide ― Present and Future on November 28, Tokyo.
First of all, HIA President Akito Arima (会長有馬朗人) gave a speech of celebration as a greeting.
Secondly, they announced the results of the 11th HIA Haiku contest（ＨＩＡ俳句大会）.
Here we post the names of haiku poets and their haiku selected as prize winners and honorable mentions (Non-Japanese Section). We also post their haiku translated into Japanese.
木村聡雄選 (Selected by Toshio Kimura)
特選 (Prize Winners)
Tatjana Stefanovic (Serbia) タチアナ ステファノヴィッチ（セルビア）
Gliding to sea 海へと滑る
towers of sandy castle. 砂の城楼
Long lizard’s tail 長き蜥蜴の尾
Olga Hooper (U.S.A) オルガ フーバー（アメリカ）
late autumn ガラス瓶に
moonlight preserved 閉じこめられた
in a glass jar 晩秋の月明かり
入選 (Honorable Mentions)
David Dayson (UK) ディビッド ディソン（イギリス）
ghosts of distant conflict 遙かな諍い
still haunt ― 亡霊ら未だ彷徨う―
the unarmoured soul 武具つけぬ魂
Roberta Beary (U.S.A) ロベルタ ベアリー（アメリカ）
(She is a fellow haiku poet of mine) （私の句友）
new coolness 新涼の
soldiers’ black boots crunch 黒き軍靴が踏み砕く
leaves of gold 黄金色の落葉
Zeljka Vucinic Jambre (Croatia) ジェルカ ヴチニッチ ヤンブレ（クロアチア）
all the reed 葦すべて
combed in one way 一方向へ梳かれ
the wind in a marsh 沼風
Petar Tchouhov (Bulgaria) ペタ チュホヴ（ブルガリア）
full moon 満月
the hole 彼の結婚指輪の
of his wedding ring 穴
木内徹選 (Selected by Toru Kiuchi)
特選 (Prize Winners)
Tomislav Z. Vujcic (Serbia) トミスラヴ・ヴィチッチ（セルビア）
Two invalids ― 二人の傷病兵 ―
me disabled veteran 不具の退役軍人である私と
and a deer 鹿
Owen Bullock (New Zealand) オウェン・ビュロック（ニュージーランド）
waterfowl 水辺の鳥が
drift into さまよい入っていく
photos 写真の中
入選 (Honorable Mentions)
Pamela A. Babusci (U.S.A) パミーラ・Ａ・バプーシ（アメリカ）
night of silence 夜のしじま
I found a river stone 私は河で拾った石を見つけた
in my pocket ポケットのなかに
Kirsten Cliff (New Zealand) カーステン・クリフ（ニュージーランド）
winter afternoon 冬の午後
one empty space 一つの空きが
in the library carpark 図書館の駐車場に
Naomi Y. Brown (U.S.A) ナオミ・Ｙ・ブラウン（アメリカ）
moonlight ― 月光―
Spanish moss hung from tree サルオガセモドキが木から垂れ下がる
ghost swaying 幽霊が揺れる
Tatjana Stefanovic (Serbia) タチアナ・ステファノヴィッチ（セルビア）
summer shower: 夏の夕立 ―
Donald Duck’s head peeping ドナルドダックの頭が覗く
out of gutter-pipe 排水溝のパイプから
Thirdly, they gave the symposium（シンポジウム）, whose panelists were four haiku representatives from the United Kingdom, the U.S., Germany and Croatia, and HIA President Akito Arima.
They gave a lecture on principles and present circumstances of haiku and discussed and suggested further information for future haiku.
I was deeply impressed with their viewpoints on the meaning and roles of haiku in their daily lives, and also the values of haiku.
I was also impressed with the prediction by HIA President Akito Arima.
He predicted as follows:
Haiku will survive as the shortest form of poetry.
Haiku will have more things to do with nature.
More and more young people will write and read haiku.
More haiku poets will share their haiku on the Internet.
Global haiku meet or exchange will increase on the Internet.
Here we post the panelists and the coordinator and their haiku.
Annie Bachini, President of the British Haiku Society
アニー・バッチーニ（イギリス俳句協会長）
sliding on and off つかず離れず滑りゆく
the river’s edge 川のへりを
autumn leaves 秋の葉が
Lenard Moore, president of the Haiku Society of America
レナード・ムーア（アメリカ俳句協会会長）
autumn sunset 秋の夕陽
helicopter rises ヘリコプターが上がる
from the heliport ヘリポートから
Marijan Cekoji, president of the Croatian Haiku Society
マリアン・チェコリ（クロアチア俳句協会会長）
here, behind the Crown ここ、木のてっぺんの後ろに
of a tree the sun going down 夕陽が沈む
to the next side of the world この世界の向こう側へ
Stephan Wolfschutz, president of the German Haiku Society
シュテファン・ヴォルフシュッツ（ドイツ俳句協会会長）
the pebbles 小石が
under my feet 私の足下に
Buddha’s birthday 仏陀の誕生日
HIA President Akito Arima
有馬朗人（国際俳句交流協会会長）
looking for
something lost ― 失ひしものを探しに冬帽子
wearing a winter cap
Tsunehiko Hoshino, HIA vice-president as coordinator
星野恒彦（国際俳句交流協会副会長）司会
Walking a little apart
from its shadow ― 影すこし離して行くや朝の蟻
early morning ant
Last of all, we post the party（懇親会） held in order for participants to talk about haiku with each other, share and exchange haiku and ideas, and deepen friendship.
Many speeches were made and haiku were presented on the stage too.
Honorary President of Modern Haiku Association, Tota Kaneko（現代俳句協会名誉会長 金子兜太）, gave a speech of congratulations.
The Fruit grove
is the isolated island of mine, 果樹園がシャツ一枚の俺の孤島
― wearing only a shirt
What impressed me most was that Marshall Hryciuk, a Canadian haiku poet, demonstrated haiku by sign language on the stage.
I made friends with him and Karen Sohne, a Canadian haiku poet.
They presented haiku book and haiku publications to me, and I also presented our yearly pamphlet on ‘Akita International Haiku Network’ to them in return.
In the haiku book titled ‘Arizona to Crete’, I found that Marshall Hryciuk won first prize at Eighth HIA Haiku Contest, Non-Japanese Section, Tokyo 2006.
Marshall Hryciuk (Canada) マーシャル・リシック（カナダ）
in darkness 闇のなか
i await 我が声を
my voice 待つ
Karen Sohne recited her haiku to me.
カレン・ソーニー（カナダ）
steps cut into stone 階段の
in each corner 石の隅ごと
petals 花びらよ
We parted, saying ‘Good Luck!’.
And we promised that we would exchange and share haiku by e-mail and on the website.
By Hidenori Hiruta
HIA member
