winter sun -
my own shadow
blocks the way
by: Murakami Kijo
Murakami Kijo was a contemporary of Masaoka Shiki. Born into a samurai family in a time of social transformation in Japan, Kijo lost most of his hearing at the age of 18, which compromised his studies and professional career.
Widowed young and struggling financially throughout his life, Kijo worked as a scribe to sustain his family. Eventually, he started being regularly featured in the Hototogisu magazine (curated by Kyoshi at the time) and became a distinguished haikuist.
Join The Naviar Haiku Music Challenge
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: 24th January 2024