Variations on 'The short night--' - A haiku by Yosa Buson

Below are eleven Buson haiku beginning with the phrase 'The short night--' The short night-- on the hairy caterpillar beads of dew. The short night-- patrolmen washing in the river. The short night-- bubbles of crab froth among the river reeds. The short night-- a broom thrown away on the beach. The short night-- the Oi River has sunk two feet. The short night-- on the outskirts of the village a small shop opening. The short night-- broken, in the shallows, a crescent moon. The short night-- the peony has opened. The short night-- waves beating in, an abandoned fire. The short night-- near the pillow a screen turning silver. The short night-- shallow footprints on the beach at Yui. User Submitted "The short night--" Haiku Submit your own haiku beginning with the line "The short night--" and we'll post the best ones below! Just dash off an e-mail to: theshortnight@plagiarist.com The short night- a watery moon stands alone over the hill Maggie The short night-- just as I'm falling asleep my wife's waking up Larry Bole

Poet: Yosa Buson
Poem: Variations on 'The short night--'
Volume: The Essential Haiku
Year: Published/Written in 1994

Comment 1 of 1, added on July 25th, 2006 at 8:38 AM.

I find that in order to fully appreciate haiku that I must seek additional information about the words used. This collection, this method of combining images associated with "the short night" just works. It creates the feeling of a wide-angle camera panning over scenes. This method of combining makes one isolate one image, then think of another image--which leads to building or creating layers. It keeps the language simple, focused and "pure". When completed, one begins to see the small connected to the whole.
This is a great approach to implement as a writing assignment (personal or in a class).
I'm glad this sequence was posted in this manner.

dallas from United States

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