(c) all rights reserved · flora · oriental octet · poetry

#Haikai Challenge #139: fragrant breeze (kunpuu) — Spring’s Fragrant Array

msjadeli
hyacinth, flower, spring garden, spring flowers, spring, pink ...
hyacinth and violets

Spring’s Fragrant Array

 

Rosemary pushes
Against lake breeze from the west
As it gathers friends.

Violets, lilies, lilac;
Hyacinth dance with humus.

Earthworms inhale to
Celebrate in their blindness
Spring’s fragrant array.

 

Today’s offering is an Oriental Octet. An Oriental Octet is an invented verse form that appears to emulate the syllabic pattern of the tanka and haiku. It was created by James R. Gray who requests the theme of the poem be nature. Characteristics also include an octastich (a poem in 8 lines), syllabic, 5-7-5-7-7-5-7-5 syllables per line, and unrhymed.

Frank J. Tassone is the host of Haikai Challenge.  Frank says:
This week, write the haikai poem of your choice (haiku, senryu, haibun, tanka, haiga, renga, etc.) that alludes to a fragrant breeze (kunpuu).

Published by msjadeli

mother, gardener, retired government worker, observer, reader, learner, bicyclist, woman who runs with the wolves, lover of music!

31 thoughts on “#Haikai Challenge #139: fragrant breeze (kunpuu) — Spring’s Fragrant Array”

    1. Glad you enjoyed it, Bernie. I have a big rosemary plant that I put out in summer and bring in for winter. I rub the needles every time I open the slider.

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  2. I knew this form as (named) a renga. I think your Oriental Octet is lovely.
    Most of my hyacinths are gone. But I did get some for Mother’s Day so I get to enjoy them a while longer.

    I actually did my haikai today (moments ago) just because it fit with what I was already going to post – I just had to add some verses 😉

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      1. My neighbor had to wait (or did anyway wait) six years for her lilac cutting to have flowers – and it had shoots/babies this year… that she said I could have. So maybe I’ll have to wait a few years for flowers too? I tried lavender once but maybe it didn’t make it…

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        1. There is a huge tree of it that was here when I moved in 9 years ago that needed serious pruning (1/3 every year for 3 years) to bring it back to life. It blooms fully now and it has some babies underneath that could (will?) be dug up. I have bought 2 dwarf Korean lilacs since then, one from a box store and one from a couple that have their own greenhouse. Both were doing ok but not so hot where they were, so I dug both up this spring and planted them in the new bed where they have good soil and full sun. One of those 2 had a baby so now there are 3 in the new bed. One is about to have its first real bloom (from the couple) and the other two probably not for awhile. Have you planted the babies your neighbor gave you? Not sure I ever tried to grow lavender but it’s time to start 🙂

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          1. I tried lavender from a box store… it didn’t make it. But I have about 1/2 dozen ‘baby’ lilacs that I dug up and move. I’ve got some by the side of my house – so they are going to have to be kept at a reasonable size as to not be overwhelming.

            I had something – maybe juniper in front of my lower windows (split level)… that I pulled out because they were blocking the windows. I’ve seen some in the neighborhood that have morphed into trees taller than the houses they were planted in front of. Some holly bushes, I’ve seen grown into huge trees too.

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  10. Pingback: #Haikai Challenge #140 (5/21/20): summer meadow (natsuno) / Memorial Day #haiku #senryu #haibun #tanka #haiga #renga – Frank J. Tassone

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