LOCH HOURN

From Basho’s journeys

Pearls of haiku – and from mine?

Some digital photos

 

Fly quick, butterfly,

Now’s your opportunity

To be photographed

 

 

Too slow, butterfly,

But as least I can put you

Into my verses

You’re immortalised

In verse, yet you seem to show

That you couldn't care

No, black fly, I don’t

Want to have you in my verse:

I’m not Issa!

 
Dancing, butterfly,
With your lady; no wonder

I feel neglected

You zig and you zag

Till you make me feel dizzy;

Have you been drinking?

Launched over the bay

Of a loch, Amy Johnson

Of butterflies 

 

The tide is pushing

The water gently; a moment

I've my own island

Gull, are you following

The sea, your mistress into

Loch Hour's recesses?

 

 The sea refreshes

The dry seaweed that wilted

For this returning.

Crab has that water

Awakened you to dancing,

Bringing good tidings 

 

 

 

Some photographs from Loch Hourn in the West of Scotland

and a few verses written when there.

Basho and Issa are among the most famous writers of haiku;

I like the 5:7:5 formation but think only something written in Japanese is areal haiku.

Issa was particularly keen on insects,