I completed a fusion haiku for Carpe Diem Crossroads #13 chilly coolness on Thursday that was meant to be a fusion troiku. I didn’t want to wait to finish traveling to complete the challenge, so I posted it without a fusion troiku. The two haiku provided in the prompt are by Matsuo Bashō (translated by Jane Reichhold). Here is my complete response.
chilly coolness
my feet on the wall
for a midday nap
the color of wind
planted artlessly
in a garden of reeds
Bashō
~~~~~
no koi left in pond
reflecting on cold water
wind colors the reeds
no koi left in pond
heavy toll from long winter
old man considers
reflecting on cold water
wondering if time has come
life slowly fading
wind colors the reeds
standing barren and lifeless
faint stirring within
(My mind is in a better place than this response might indicate. This troiku has evolved from thoughts about losing those dear to us and the inevitability of our own mortality.)
A fusion haiku is a new haiku inspired by the words in two other haiku (“fusing” them)
A troiku is three haiku, with each of the three lines from a suggested haiku as the first line of each haiku in the troiku. It’s not always possible to have a 5-7-5 format in the second haiku, due to the limitations of the suggested haiku. The name of the form is derived from “troika,” a sled or carriage drawn by three horses harnessed side-by-side, an iconic symbol of Imperial Russia.
Both forms were devised by Kristjaan Panneman at Carpe Diem.
Image source: ukiyo-e.org
rivrvlogr 
The troiku brings out the layers of meaning…a pleasure to read.
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Thank you, Janice.
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Your troiku is gorgeous Ken as I already had expected. You have mastered this form in a great way.
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Thank you, Kristjaan. I am inspired by your prompts.
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Simply beautiful Ken.
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Thank you.
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It’s wonderful how the essences become distilled in contemplation…just what a haiku is meant to do. (K)
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🙂 I’m happy when I accomplish that in a haiku.
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Ken, this is stark in a beautiful way–like a winter landscape or a desert. But there is also hope in that last line. I think this is one of your best.
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Thank you, Merril.
I wasn’t sure what that “faint stirring within” would be. A simple recognition of the process, or that life goes on? I like the idea of hope.
Your compliment means a lot to me. Thank you. If it is so, it’s due to personal investment.
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You’re welcome. You’ve invested in many ways.
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