Fusion Haiku

polishing cedar ~ fusion troiku

/ Ken Gierke / rivrvlogr / 7 Comments

The prompt for Carpe Diem #1789 The Winter Trees (Crossroads)
starts with two haiku by Yosa Buson (in blue) to be used
to create a “fusion” haiku which is then to be the base for a troiku.

cutting into with the ax,
I was surprised at the scent.
the winter trees.

unfolding at the
hand of the glass polisher:
a camellia!

               Yosa Buson

polishing cedar
beauty of the grain unfolds
stimulating scents

polishing cedar
respecting treasured heirloom
held in loving hands

beauty of the grain unfolds
revealing further treasures
beloved keepsakes

stimulating scents
reminders of days long gone
held close to the heart

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.

Troika

Image source: wikimedia.org (troika)

walking through wet grass ~ fusion troiku

/ Ken Gierke / rivrvlogr / 14 Comments

This response to Carpe Diem #1784 soaking wet (Crossroads)
is past the acceptance window, but here it is, anyway. The challenge is to use two  haiku
by Santōka Taneda (in blue) to be used to create a “fusion” haiku,
which then is to be the base to create a troiku.

soaking wet
I can’t read the letters
on the signpost

walking through
the bush clover, the pampas grass,
walking on through them
               © Santōka Taneda
~~~~~~~

walking through wet grass
glistening beneath the sun
sign of morning rain

walking through wet grass
in early light’s rising mist
wishing for dry shoes

glistening beneath the sun
reflections like pearls of light
hanging from grass blades

sign of morning rain
erased by touch of mild breeze
sun melting the clouds

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.

Troika

Image sources:
wallpapersafari.com
wikimedia.org (troika)

thousands of footprints ~ fusion haiku

/ Ken Gierke / rivrvlogr / 9 Comments

In the days of the samurai, two ancient roads linked Japan’s two great cities of Kyoto and Edo (now Tokyo). Lords would travel these routes, accompanied by armies of samurai. Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #105 – Turn Back Time offers two haiku regarding the “Samurai’s Mountain Road,” one by Yosa Buson and the other by Matsuo Bashō, as inspiration for a tanka or haiku. My response is a fusion haiku, with elements of both.

changes happening
first yellow leaf on maple
autumn upon us
               Buson

quiet forest path
dry leaves stirred up by my feet
centipede scurries
                    Bashō (tr. Chèvrefeuille)

yellow maple leaf
following path to winter
waiting for no one

Image source: ukiyo-e.org – Kageishi in the Mountains of Hakone, by Kawanabe Kyosai

yellow maple leaf ~ fusion haiku

/ Ken Gierke / rivrvlogr / 23 Comments

yellow maple leaf
following path to winter
waiting for no one

Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #103 The Quest for a New Masterpiece Continues … The Start of Autumn asks us to create a gem of a haiku about autumn.
I decided to start with two of my own haiku to create a fusion haiku.
Here are the original haiku:

changes happening
first yellow leaf on maple
autumn upon us

quiet forest path
dry leaves stirred up by my feet
centipede scurries

Image: Letchworth State Park, 13 October 2007
(click image for larger view in new tab)

hours before sunrise ~ fusion troiku ~ hineri

/ Ken Gierke / rivrvlogr / 19 Comments

The prompt for Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #90 Crossroads
Summer Solstice (Troiku Hineri)
starts with two haiku by Jane Reichhold and Yosa Buson (in blue) to be used
to create a “fusion” haiku which is then to be the base for a troiku.
The hineri (or twist) is to use each of those haiku to create three new troiku.

this short night –
from a shallow well I scoop
a persimmon flower
                      Yosa Buson

solstice splits
between the peach halves
a red stone sun
                      © Jane Reichhold
~~~~~~~

hours before sunrise
a shallow well of darkness
summer solstice night

hours before sunrise
early morning dew on grass
field mouse in hiding

a shallow well of darkness
offers little time to hunt
owl returns to nest

summer solstice night
shadows fading into light
eyes closing at dawn

The three additional troiku follow, below.

hours before sunrise
tiny feet finding way home
safety of darkness

early morning dew on grass
faint signs of activity
traveler’s footprints

field mouse in hiding
snugly secure in its nest
before coming light

a shallow well of darkness
holding opportunity
for keen eyed hunter

offers little time to hunt
darkness giving way to light
before finding prey

owl returns to nest
spending the day in silence
patiently waiting

summer solstice night
approaches with setting sun
wings spread in darkness

shadows fading into light
successful night of hunting
hunger satisfied

eyes closing at dawn
owl hidden within shadows
waiting for nightfall

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.

Troika

Image sources:
Library of Congress
Bullfinch and Horned Owl, by Kitagawa Utamoro (cropped here)
wikimedia.org (troika)

fragrance of flowers ~ fusion troiku

/ Ken Gierke / rivrvlogr / 14 Comments

The prompt for Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation # 88 Crossroads – sea cliffs
starts with two haiku by Jane Reichhold (in blue) to be used to create a “fusion” haiku,
which then is to be the base to create a troiku.

coming to sea cliffs
the off-shore breeze raises
a flower fragrance

curving with the land
a rainbow of clouds
moves out to sea
                      © Jane Reichhold
~~~~~~~

fragrance of flowers
warm breeze rising from sea cliffs
rainbow between clouds

fragrance of flowers
floating on the summer air
gulls fly overhead

warm breeze rising from sea cliffs
bringing sweet scent of fresh air
rain a memory

rainbow between clouds
reflection of scene below
flowers above cliffs

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.

Troika

In addition, this troiku also fits the prompt
for Frank Tassone’s #Haikai Challenge 89: fragrant breeze.

Image sources:
ukiyo-e.org – Tshushima, by Utagawa Hiroshige
wikimedia.org (troika)

lotus flowers nod ~ fusion troiku

/ Ken Gierke / rivrvlogr / 10 Comments

The prompt for Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation # 87 Crossroads
starts with two haiku by Chèvrefeuille (in blue) to be used to create a “fusion” haiku,
which is then to be the base to create a troiku.

reaching for the sun
lotus flowers bloom from the mud
old pond changes

deep silence
even deeper as the nightingale starts to sing
beautiful life
                      © Chèvrefeuille
~~~~~~~

lotus flowers nod
reaching for the setting sun
deepening silence

lotus flowers nod
turn to follow fading light
lengthening shadows

reaching for the setting sun
blossoms greeted by darkness
swallowing shadows

deepening silence
wraps itself around the night
nightingale responds

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.

Troika

Image sources:
ukiyo-e.org – Flowering Lotus, by Ohara Koson
wikimedia.org (troika)

early rain waking ~ fusion troiku

/ Ken Gierke / rivrvlogr / 5 Comments

The prompt for Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation # 71
Crossroads Hineri … cherry blossoms 
starts with two haiku by Chèvrefeuille (in blue) to be used to create a “fusion” haiku,
which is then to be the base to create a troiku.

standing naked
in awe of the first cherry blossom
dancing in the garden

on winter’s edge
the first Cherry blossom blooms
rain falls softly
                      © Chèvrefeuille
~~~~~~~

early rain waking
reluctant cherry blossoms
forgetting winter

early rain waking
new buds waiting to open
in spite of the cold

reluctant cherry blossoms
wishing for warmer weather
welcome chance to drink

forgetting winter
surrounded by fresh blossoms
gay robin singing

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.

Troika

Image sources:
wallcoo.net – Robin and Cherry Blossoms, by Susan Bourdet
wikimedia.org (troika)

moon shining on snow ~ fusion troiku

/ Ken Gierke / rivrvlogr / 27 Comments

The prompt for Carpe Diem #1587 Buson’s Memorial Day
starts with two haiku by Yosa Buson to be used to create a “fusion” haiku,
which is then to be the base to create a troiku.

someone goes by wearing a hood
in his own darkness
not seeing the harvest moon

the first light snow
then when the bowl of the sky is empty
the moon hanging in the bamboos

               © Yosa Buson
~~~~~~~

moon shining on snow
bringing insight to questions
hidden in darkness

moon shining on snow
rabbit looking for shelter
hungry owl takes wing

bringing insight to questions
a hunter satisfies need
end of tracks in snow

hidden in darkness
prey evading predator
safety in shadows

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.

Troika

Image sources:
ukiyo-e.org – Owl, by Tsuchiya Koitsu
wikimedia.org (troika)