a little more than two weeks before the contest ends. please submit your handwritten haiku notes!

happily the list of entries is getting longer
to spare readers the trouble of scrolling down the page and searching for new stuff they missed last round, i open up new journal for the latest addition:

Old San Juan by =bekkia
夏の月紋章記す句帳かな
_{natsu no tsuki monshou shirusu kuchou kana}
summer moon-
sealed with a signet
the haiku memo.

the presentation of this haiku with its leather strap, cast shadow and sigil reminds me of an old pirate's diary with some forgotten passwords that leads to a hidden treasure.

Virgins by =bekkia
句帳閉じひぃふぅみぃよ夏木立
_{kuchou toji hii fuu mii yo natu kodachi}
closed haiku memo,
one... two... three...
summer woods.

ginkou is an activity organised by a group of haijin where they carry their notebooks and pens out to a scenic place just to find inspiration for writing haiku.
both the english haiku featured in the picture and the japanese version written for the image bring to life the happy and refreshing moments experienced in the nature.

Haiku memo 2 by ~siragiku
句帳手に恋する人と日傘かな
_{kuchoute ni koi suru hito to higasa kana}
hands on my haiku memo,
with my love who holds
a parasol.

what about writing haiku outdoor with a loved one beside you? while your hands are full with your notebook and pen, she will hold a parasol over you to shelter you from the summer sun.
sweet.

Haiku Field Journal by `jade-pandora
夏句帳柔肌縛る赤き縄
_{natu kuchou yawahada shibaru akaki nawa}
summer haiku notes-
dressing the supple skin
with a scarlet cord

the image is evocative: the smooth surface of the notebook in skintone accentuates the brilliance of the red cord that guides your eyes down to the poetry book 'manyoushuu' which is filled with romantic and erotic tanka.

Lapine Haiku - Visual by ~Rosethorn225
棘の薔薇語りの人になる句帳
_{toge no bara katari no hito ni naru kuchou}
the rose with thorns
becomes a talking soul
via a haiku memo.

the haiku featured in the photo is written in an unfamiliar language called 'Lapine' which originated from a fantasy story named 'Watership Down'. the story told of a small group of anthropomorphised rabbits, though living in their natural environment, possessed their own culture, language, proverbs, poetry, and mythology.
just as the rabbits talked, the rose speaks. that is the one element of marvel/wonder which is apparent in both the haiku and visual.

10 Visual Haikus by ~Rosethorn225
不可思議な夜の句帳や薔薇の棘
_{fukashigi na yoru no kuchou ya bara no toge}
a bizarre night
with a thorny rose-
ah, the haiku memo!

we are reminded of the idiosyncrasy of the poet through the record of a haiku memo.
bara, the rose, is a summer kigo.

Haiku notebooks... by ~TimeFlies
携帯の光る句帳や五月闇
_{keitai no hikaru kuchou ya satsuki yami}
the mobile
haiku memo gleams-
a murky month of may.

satsuki is a special name for the 5th lunar month, literally 'a moon that shines brightly'. the combination of satsuki with gloom (yami) is full of oxymoronic interest.
incidentally, chris' haiku method is a demonstration of coexistence of technology and tradition, matching the polar effect of the haiku written by siragiku sensei.
and, i hope my readers go 'mmmm....' when reading my translated version.

Ghosts Haiku by =Anavah
温風や言の葉描く句帳にも
_{onpuu ya koto no ha egaku kuchou nimo}
cordial wind-
leaves in haiku memo
as portrait of words.

japanese language refers to 'words' as kotoba, literally 'spoken leaves'. i have yet to check into the origin of such a reference but it is really something very graphic, turning invisible words of mouth into tangible pages or 'leaves' of a book.
it is a 'ghost' materialized.

Tea House Haiku Journal by `jade-pandora
雪月花句帳に筆で梅雨の夜
_{setsu getsu ka kuchou ni fude de tsuyu no yoru}
snow, moon and blossoms
in penned memorandum-
a long drizzling night.

snow, moon and blossoms in classical japanese literature are the icons of the seasons. in chinese literature, however, we have an additional 'wind' for summer which is missing from the list. hence the 'long drizzle', a marked characteristic of summer, fills up the gap.
how intriguing indeed, that a humble notebook can keep all the seasons within its bound!

the previous 6 entries and the 3 sample haiku memo, together with haiku written for them by ~siragiku and translation/commentary by me, are here in an earlier journal.

>>>>>>>>>>>>..........<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

(contest details copied and paste for new comers )

a call to all haijin!!

please dig into your treasury of handwritten haiku.
take a photo of any handwritten copy of your own haiku and post them under 'visual poetry'.

i would love to see raw entry that portrays that moment, your style and speaks out your emotions.

make this into a contest? why not! yes, i'll be giving out a gift art to the winner of this haiku memo visual poetry contest.
more prizes:
journal features by =Iscariot-Priest, and =Lit-Twitter
3 months' sub from *HaikuKitty
a hard copy of "snow in singapore" from ~KorpiHunaja
3 months' sub from `MSJames
journal feature by ~TimeFlies

if you like to donate a prize, you are most welcome to drop me a note.
when there are more prizes we can open up more places in the contest for participants to win.
prizes, please come rolling in!

if you are taking part in this contest, please submit your photo to the visual poetry section and note me. you can submit up to three entries, although, if more places are introduced to the contest, only one of your entries could win.

deadline: latest entry submitted to me in a dA note will be accepted before singapore standard time 00:00 july 1st, 2009. (UTC +8:00)

here's an additional incentive to participate:
~siragiku sensei is writing a haiku for every entry submitted in support of this contest!

the haiku are all in his journal entry here: [link]

the panel of judges:



i hope more people will participate. please help me spread the word. thank you very much!

~*~*~*~*~

haiku translation index

my default account where i post my visual art

my art projects:
project Resonance
project Rendevous
The Law for the Wolves
the 5th season
Journey
project KARUTA 2007
KARUTA cards available for sale
Ink Fragrance
Snow in Singapore