Haiku by Dennis M. Holmes for Int’l Haiku Spring Festival 2010 (6)

 

On January 25, 2010, I received an e-mail from Dennis M. Holmes through Face Book:

Hi,
Did we perhaps meet at the World Haiku International Conference, 2002, held in Yuma Town, near Akita? I attended as part of the World Haiku Club.
I enjoyed the area very much. It was August; but, the fall colors were not yet full. There were many red dragonflies, (akatonbo), as I recall.
Sincerely,
Dennis M. Holmes (my haigou, “chibi”)

 

Our friendship renewed then.

He really loves Japan and Haiku.

Here is a photo of Dennis taken during his stay in Japan.

 

 

Dennis kindly contributed his work of renku to our festival, saying in his e-mail as follows:

 

Dear Hidenori san,

I am sending a juunichiou renku that was composed at the beginning of the year. Perhaps, as part of the Akita anniversary in May there could be interest in renku compositions? If you find any errors in our translations, please let me know, thank you.

I wish you success in haiku and poetry.

Sincerely,

Dennis (chibi)

 

 

庭かまど(celebratory cooking pit) Jûnichô

Authors:   Kosei Meiken , Dennis M. Holmes (chibi), and Master Basho.

Date: Started January 9th 2010 end January 23^rd 2010 evenings in Tokorozawa, Japan and mornings in St. Simons Island, Georgia USA

 

1)      Basho

 

叡慮にて賑ふ民や庭かまど 

 

Eiryo nite

nigiwau tami ya

niwa kamado

 

by the Emperor’s* good graces

a cooking pit

for the New Year’s celebration

 

*The Emperor Nintoku was very successful and well-loved.  This famous Basho hokku made in Sakamoto was a reference to Nintoku’s poetry.  We chose this as our hokku, too.

 

2)      K

 

初雪宿す 

旭日の霊 

 

Hatuyuki yadosu

Kyokujitu no tama

 

Resided in first snow,

the deity of the rising sun

 

 

3)      C

蜜蜂だ 

それが今年の 

初夢だ

 

Mitsubachi da

Sorega Kotoshi no

Hatuyume da

  

Bees!

The first dream

In the New Year

 

4)      K

花揺れる里

虫とまる度

 

Hanayureru sato

Mushi tomaru tabi

  

the flowers of the village sway

as each insect settle

 

5)      c

百貨店

化粧臭くて

客嚔

 

Hyakkaten

Keshou kusakute

Kyaku kushami

  

At a department store

the bad smell of perfume

causes a customer’s sneeze

 

6)      K

水着売り場で

キツいのを買う

 

Mizugi uriba de

Kitsui no wo kau

  

Buying  smaller swim suits

While on sale

 

7)      K

太平洋

イチジク浣腸

漂流記

 

Taiheiyou

Ichijiku kancyou

hyouryuuki

  

In the Pacific Ocean,

fig shaped enemas,

drifting

 

8)      c

ライフガードを

細さで誘う

 

Raifugaado wo

Hososa de sasou

  

Attracting a life-guard

with  thinness

 

9)      K

石清水

三日月そっと

目を閉じる

 

Iwashimizu

Mikaduki sotto

Mewo tojiru

  

At Iwashimizu Hachimanguu shrine,

a crescent moon

softly closes the eye

 

10)  c

ティッシュ配りが

スモッグに泣く

 

Tisshu kubari ga

sumoggu ni naku

  

A tissue hawker

cries in the smog

 

11)  K

雪吊の

縄を北風

つま弾いて

 

Yukituri no

Nawa wo kitakaze

Tumabiite

 

The North wind

Plucks the Yukitsuri

ropes

 

 

*Yukitsuri (雪つり) is a technique for preserving trees and shrubs from heavy snow. Trees are given extra support by bamboo poles with ropes attached to limbs; whereas, shrubs are often tied tightly around the circumference.

 

12)   c

窪みの水が

かかる靴ひも

 

Kubomi no mizu ga

Kakaru kutuhimo

 

                                                            pothole water up to

the boot’s laces

 

 

The photos of Senshu Park (千秋公園)　in Akita (秋田), Northern Honshu, Japan are posted in order to decorate our on line Haiku festival.

 

― Hidenori Hiruta