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Cherry Blossom season is a cultural icon in Japan. The vibrant beauty of one of the earliest bloomers, Cherry trees boldly announce Spring with a plethora of beauty that intoxicates vernal aspirants. Good afternoon, poets. Frank Tassone here, your host for Haibun Monday, where we blend haiku and prose poetry to create the form Basho made famous. Today, let’s embrace this Spring: let’s talk about first [cherry] blossoms (hatsu hana)!
This year’s unusual weather has led to some exceptional Cherry blossom developments. Washington DC’s Cherry Blossom Watch reports that the Cherry trees of the capital’s tidal basin reached peak bloom on March 17th! The forecast in Japan, however, indicates that the peak bloom is expected next weekend. Here in my Long Island Sound corner of New York’s Backyard, some Cherry trees have begun to bud; perhaps the first bloom may arrive by Easter (next week).
I certainly can’t wait, and I’m not alone. During the Heian court era in ancient Japan, the Cherry Blossom season was an annual inauguration of Spring. Some of the finest Waka (today’s tanka) commemorated the iconic blossom. Today, bloom watchers flock to locales noted for Cherry tree groves; blossom festivals in such places have become common.
Cherry Blossoms continue to inspire haijin:
Cherry Blossoms
Spring has come. The cherry trees are puffed out in pink pride, their blossoms trembling in the breeze over the laughter of the happy family below, enjoying hanami, the older ones with their saké and the younger ones squealing for sweets.
Even as the blossoms swell to fullness, the trees lose their grip on the petals, which, one by one and then in clouds, pirouette to the ground, where they lie in scented carpets. Beneath one of these trees, a child with a toy truck scoops a bed of blossoms as he sings a tune about wheels going round and round.
He switches off the video. One of those happy drinkers has passed away. It was so many springs ago he lost that yellow truck. Now he knows why the older ones laughed when they drank, and why, perhaps, they drank.
The pink blossoms are back, and it is hanami once again. It won’t be long—before the aging trees lose their grip.
my late mother’s birthday
cherry blossoms
choke the streamRobert Witmer
Tokyo, Japan Drifting SandsMichael Dylan Welch
Jabbering
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.making it new
another poem
about cherry blossoms
Today, let’s celebrate the arrival of spring ourselves. Write a haibun that alludes to the first [cherry] blossoms (hatsu hana).
New to haibun? The form consists of one to a few paragraphs of prose—usually written in the present tense—that evoke an experience and are often non-fictional/autobiographical. They may be preceded or followed by one or more haiku—nature-based, using a seasonal image—that complement without directly repeating what the prose stated.
New to dVerse? Here is what you do:
- Write a haibun that alludes to the first [cherry] blossoms (hatsu hana).
- 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!
kim881 said:
Good evening all, and thanks for hosting, Frank. I can’t wait for our cherry to blossom. I would love a slice of cherry pie, please, and a hot chocolate – it’s still chilly here!
Frank J. Tassone said:
One long-awaited slice of cherry pie and a hot chocolate (with optional sherry) for you, Kim! Happy to see you made it!
kim881 said:
Thanks Frank!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hello all, it still feels like some time before the cherry trees will bloom… normally it’s about mid april, but if you ever visit Stockholm at that time they are easy to find in the middle of the town.
Frank J. Tassone said:
I’m still waiting for the Cherry tree next door! 🤣
Frank J. Tassone said:
Good afternoon poets! The Pub is open!
Rob Kistner said:
Thank you for hosting Frank. 🙂✌🏼
Frank J. Tassone said:
Pleaure’s all mine, Rob. Glad to see you!
rog said:
good evening Frank
good evening all
the cherry blossom always raises my spirits it is a sign of warmer weather to come.
rog
Frank J. Tassone said:
Glad you made it, Rog!
Melissa Lemay said:
Hi everyone! Happy spring!🌸🌞
Frank J. Tassone said:
Happy Spring to you, too, Melissa!
Frank J. Tassone said:
Gillena, if you read this, I can’t comment on your blog. Your gorgeous haibun warms my heart!
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Cris said:
Thanks for hosting, Frank. I’ll have my cherry pie with a tall glass of iced tea – it’s in the 80s here this week!
Frank J. Tassone said:
Hi Cris,
Coming right up!
nonsmokingladybug said:
They are so beautiful. It made me smile.
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zipferlake said:
Thanks for tendering, Frank.
Great prompt, can’t wait for the cherry trees to blossom.
pvcann said:
There’s something about cherry blossom that inspires, many thanks for this prompt Frank.
jazzytower said:
Hi Frank, thanks for hosting! Hello everyone!
Pat
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D. Avery @shiftnshake said:
Hello, and thank you for the prompt. I’m in though a day late.
I love cherry blossoms and get them as a spring kigo, but I’m not there yet. We got 18 inches of snow Saturday, though it is melting fast.
Sadje said:
Here’s mine
https://wp.me/paf3ao-iRn
thanks
thesimlux said:
Absolutely stunning the color and full blossoms!