Men women
and their shadows
dancing
The author of the week is probably my favorite Japanese poet, and whose life is just as interesting as his haiku.
"Near the end of December 1924, Santoka, drunk and apparently intent on committing suicide, stood in the middle of some railroad tracks facing an oncoming train. The train screeched to a halt just in time, and Santoka was pulled out of the way. He was taken to a nearby Zen temple called Ho-on-ji. The head priest there, Gian Mochizuki Osho, did not reprimand or question Santoka; he didn’t even ask his name. The monk fed Santoka and told him he could stay at the temple as long as he wished.” (John Stevens, who translated Santoka's collection Mountain Tasting)
Poem by Santoka Taneda
Picture by Adam Cybulski
This haiku poem is part of the Naviar haiku music challenge, where artists are invited to make music in response to a weekly assigned haiku poem. Participation is free and there are no limitations in the songs’ length or genre.
You have seven days from the posting of this haiku to submit your track. For information on how to make a submission, visit the Naviar Haiku Music Challenge page.
Submission deadline: 13th June 2018
‘avenidas y flores y mujeres y un admirador’ :))