Haiku beyond Earth「天上俳句会」Haiku by Turkson Adu Darkwa as a New Year Gift

A New Year Gift

Haiku & Photos by Turkson Adu Darkwa (Ghana)

　

wild wind –

the peg swallows

the clothesline

荒れ狂う風の吹き込む物干し場ロープ巻き込む洗濯ばさみ

　

fading song

the mist swallows

a wren

消える歌霧の飲み込むミソサザイ

　

ripples –

as i freed

a captured stone

解き放つ捕えし石の波紋かな

　

teeth marks

on the mishappened apple –

autumn sweetness

歯形見ゆ不運な林檎甘き秋

　

bird calls

as I canoe alone

to the deep sea

鳥の声私のカヌー深海へ

　

shower night –

fireflies seeking shelter

in the cowshed

夕立に牛舎に避難蛍かな

　

heatwave –

the charred side

of a roasted plantain

プランテン焦げて熱波を放ちけり

　

sundown –

the gardener steps

into a squashed tomato

日没に潰れたトマト目に入る一人の庭師足を踏み込む

　

jungle warfare –

the tortoise becomes

its own armor bearer

無敵かなジャングル戦の亀鎧

　

lover’s letter –

the florist writes:

“forget me not”

恋文に「勿忘草」と花屋書く      

Translated into Japanese by Hidenori Hiruta

　

Haiku Poet

Turkson Adu Darkwa

(photo & profile)

　 　

　 Turkson Adu Darkwa, born on October 7, 1987, in Ghana, is a dedicated educator and accomplished poet. With a teaching career spanning both Ghana and China, he brings a global perspective to his work. Turkson’s passion for creative writing, particularly poetry, is evident in his numerous accolades.

　 He has received prestigious awards from the Ghana Poetry Foundation and excelled in international haiku competitions, winning the English section of the 5th Japan-Russia Haiku Contest in 2016 and earning the Akita International University President Award. His haiku, including the poignant “after the storm / the homelessness / of fallen leaves” and “long afternoon / a mango hangs / on a ripe sun,” garnered recognition in the 19th Mainichi Haiku Contest in Japan.

　 As a proud member of the Mamba, an African Haiku Magazine, and a published haiku poet in renowned international magazines like Heron’s Nest, Turkson continues to contribute to the global haiku community. Currently, he is working on his own anthology of haiku, showcasing his distinctive voice and profound observations. Beyond his literary pursuits, Turkson enjoys hiking, fishing, and shaping young minds as a teacher.

Hidenori Hiruta

Akita International Haiku Network