World Haiku Series 2019 (96) Haiku by Laurence Sullivan

World Haiku Series 2019 (96)

Haiku by Laurence Sullivan

 

Haiku Masters, NHK-World

 

quiet reflection
the world stops
in a tea cup

 

静かな反射

世界が止まる

ティーカップに

 

awaiting morning
hidden beneath a blanket
reliving my dreams

 

待ち構えている朝

毛布の下に隠れて

私の夢を追体験

 

soaring skyward –
fields of wildflowers
explode into life

 

空高く舞い上がる–

野の花のフィールド

爆発して生命を得る

 

lost in the fine mist
gods of a forgotten past
rise to embrace us

 

細かい霧の中で失われた

忘れられた過去の神々

立ち上がって私たちを抱きしめる

 

Yamadera Basho Museum Haiku Collection

 

on a warm May night
fireflies swirl in silent skies –
torches in the wind

 

暖かい5月の夜に

ホタルが静かな空をぐるぐる舞う–

風の中の松明

 

empty nest –
distant bird song
fills the void

 

空の巣–

遠くの鳥のさえずり

隙間を埋める

 

unstoppable fire –
will your bright burning embrace
forge any new life

 

止められない火–

あなたの明るい燃える抱擁は

私の新しい人生を築く

 

border wall
through the cracks
sunlight

 

国境の壁

亀裂を通って

日光

 

musty book –
marginal notes
echo still

 

かび臭い本–

欄外の覚え書

静かに反響する

 

across the river
wisteria cascading
as a bridal veil

 

川を横切って

藤が滝のようにたれる

花嫁のベールのように

 

— Translated by Hidenori Hiruta

 

 

Bio:

An English author of short stories, flash fiction, and haiku, Laurence Sullivan’s work has been featured multiple times on NHK-World as part of their Haiku Masters programme, and appeared in the annual anthologies of the Yamadera Basho Memorial Museum, with all these selected haiku having previously been published by those two places.

Most recently he received an Honourable Mention in the 73rd Basho Memorial Haiku competition.

Sullivan became inspired to start writing during his studies at the universities of Kent, Utrecht and Birmingham – after being saturated in all forms of literature from across the globe and enjoying every moment of it. More of his writing can be found online at: www.laurencesullivan.co.uk