Tags

, , ,

Another Haibun Monday arrives, poets! I am Frank Tassone, your host, and today, let’s get a little luny! Let’s celebrate the Moon!

Why? Well, October waits in the wings with two full moons! The Harvest moon, usually arriving in September, appears on October 1st—this Thursday. And on Halloween, the Blue moon is none other than the Hunter’s moon.

Photo by Alex Andrews on Pexels.com

Additionally, the Moon is a traditional Autumn kigo, those seasonal words so important to haiku. There are kigo for the Harvest Moon, as well as for the nights preceding and following it. Plus, the moon has inspired numerous poems from a legion of poets. Here are just a few:

The Moon

The moon has a face like the clock in the hall;
She shines on thieves on the garden wall,
On streets and fields and harbour quays,
And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.

The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse,
The howling dog by the door of the house,
The bat that lies in bed at noon,
All love to be out by the light of the moon.

But all of the things that belong to the day
Cuddle to sleep to be out of her way;
And flowers and children close their eyes
Till up in the morning the sun shall arise.

Robert Louis Stevenson – 1850-1894

Moth Moon

Moth Moon, a-flutter in the lilac tree,
With pollen of the white stars on thy wings,
Oh! would I shared thy flight, thy fantasy,
The aimless beauty of thy brightenings!
A worker, wed to Purpose and Things,
Earth-worn I turn from Day’s sufficiency.
One lethéd hour that duty never brings,
Oh! one dim hour to drift, Moth Moon, with thee!

Florence Ripley Mastin – 1886 – 1968

low over the hill

a red moon waxes …

the empty road ahead

Alan Summers

Haiku International #22 (Tokyo 1996)

Jou akete                          Please unlock the door
tsuki sashiireyo                 let the moon into
Ukimidou                          the Ukimidou on the lake  

Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

Today, let us write haibun in which we use the word “moon,” alluding to whatever context we find most meaningful. For those new to haibun, write a prose paragraph or two, followed by a haiku, in which you include a seasonal reference, and a complement of divergent images that provokes insight.

New to dVerse? Here’s what you do:

  • Write a haibun that uses the word “moon.”
  • Post it on your personal site/blog
  • Include a link back to dVerse in your post.
  • Copy your link onto the Mr. Linky
  • Remember to click the small checkbox about data protection.
  • Read and comment on some of your fellow poets’ work.
  • Like and leave a comment below if you choose to do so.
  • Have fun!