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***ANNOUNCEMENT***
Call for Poetry Submissions: Krisis: Poetry at the Crossroads // Be a part of an upcoming dVerse anthology in celebration of our 15th anniversary! DEADLINE JUNE 30, 2025! Hurry!!! Find more information here!

Searing heat grips the Northeastern United States. Meanwhile, Australia has temperatures in the mid-40s (F). Two days after, the Longest (Shortest) day of the year, and respective seasons make their presence known. Frank Tassone here, your host for another Haibun Monday, where we blend prose and haiku to craft that hybrid form Basho himself pioneered. Today, let’s talk Summer OR Winter.

North of the Equator, the Summer solstice passed. Here in New York’s backyard, temperatures have run north of ninety degrees Fahrenheit. & the humidity sticks like a second skin! Meanwhile, south of the Equator, the Winter solstice occurred. Temperatures ranged from the 60s (F) in Argentina to the 20s (F) in parts of Antarctica on June 22nd.

It’s either beach or fireside weather, depending on which side of the Equator you find yourself.

Behold how some haijin witnessed to both seasons:

行な行なみなうそよびぞはつ蛍
(yuku na yuku na mina uso yobi zo hatsu-botaru)

Don’t go! Don’t go!
All their calls are lies
First firefly

By Kobayashi Issa | Translation by David G. Lanoue

五月雨や色紙へぎたる壁の跡
(samidare ya shikishi hegitaru kabe no ato)

Long summer rains—
poetry cards peeled off,
traces on the wall

By Matsuo Basho | Translation by Jeff Robbins and Sakata Shoko

紫陽花の雨に浅黄に月に青し
(ajisai no ame ni asagi ni tsuki ni aoshi)

hydrangeas
pale blue in the rain
blue in the moonlight

By Masaoka Shiki | Translation by Lucien Stryk

Courtesy of Tokyo Weekender

Winter solitude—
In a world of one color
The sound of wind.

Basho

Tethered horse;
Snow
In both stirrups.

Buson

Here,
I’m here—
The snow falling

Issa

Courtesy of Japan Powered

Let’s join in the celebration of Summer OR Winter! Write a haibun that alludes to this hottest or coldest of seasons.

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 Summer OR Winter.
  • 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!