Hyper Pink Cherry Blossoms in DC
Photo by Keri Douglas

In time for the Cherry blossoms preparing to open in Washington, D.C this week, read a few haikus from A Net of Fireflies, Japanese Haiku and Haiku Paintings translated by Harold Stewart (1960). Each with delicate brevity and warmth.

“The Spring Sea”

All, with gently undulating swell,

The spring sea rose and fell, and rose and fell . . . .

Buson

* * *

“From My Window at Twilight”

A cloud of flowers. A booming temple-bell.

Ueno’s or Asakusa’s? Who can tell?

Basho

* * *

“Romance”

Evening in spring: the fox’s phantom played

A young and gallant prince in masquerade.

Buson

* * *

“Sunshower”

Warm sunshine through a clearing after showers;

And for a while, the scent of hawthorn flowers.

Kyoshi

* * *

By Keri Douglas, writer/photographer, Washington, D.C. (Please follow 9 Muses News copyright use policy.)