March is a time of renewal and transformation, making it my favourite month. (And not just because I happen to have a birthday during this time). This month heralds the arrival of spring with its promise of warmth and new beginnings. On March 1st, as I stepped outside, the sun felt a little warmer, and the sky was a shade bluer, signaling the end of winter’s icy grasp on my early mornings. Even the frozen car couldn’t dampen my spirits. I just chose to walk into my local town centre and the walk filled me with optimism and joy. Spring is synonymous with hope—an eternal, rejuvenating force that breathes life into everything it touches.
Embracing Spring Through Haiku
To honour this beautiful (and inarguably best) season, I’ve compiled a selection of five exquisite spring-themed haiku. As I prepare for my first public talk on Japan next month—coincidentally on National Haiku Day—I wanted to share this cherished element of Japanese culture with you. These haiku capture the essence of spring, offering a glimpse into the tradition that celebrates the beauty and transience of life.
Note for the purists: While these haiku have been translated from Japanese and may not strictly adhere to the 5-7-5 syllable pattern in English, they remain true to the spirit of Basho and Shiki. If these revered poets declare them haiku, then haiku they are!
Spring Breeze Blowing
This spring poem is one of the Haiku master Basho’s early works. In this work, Basho captures the essence of spring with a simple yet profound expression of joy and longing. It speaks to the heart of those who anticipate the rejuvenating arrival of spring.
This haiku resonates with the promise of renewal and the deep-seated desire for beauty and warmth after the starkness of winter. The imagery of laughter carried on the breeze hints at the joy that spring brings to all, as nature awakens and blossoms into colourful life. There is a sense of expectation, of longing for the delicate petals and vibrant blooms. This expectation mirrors my personal journey of embracing change and finding joy in the small, yet significant, transformations that life offers.
Basho’s work gently reminds us that spring is not just a season, but a state of mind, filled with hope and the delight of new beginnings
Cherry Blossoms Bloom
If my trips to Japan have taught me anything it is that, not only is Cherry Blossom viewing a vitally important passage into the season, but that everyone is conscious of how short the time they have with the blossom is.
The image of cherry blossoms blooming and their delicate petals dancing on the wind captures the transient beauty of life. This fleeting moment, where petals are suspended in the air, serves as a metaphor for the impermanence of all things—a concept deeply rooted in the Japanese aesthetic of mono no aware.
Basho’s work reflects the understanding that life, much like the cherry blossom season, is ephemeral; it is vibrant and full of beauty, yet inevitably brief. This haiku invites readers to savour and cherish each moment. We should acknowledge its impermanence, while finding joy in its existence.
Through this lens, Basho encourages us to embrace the present, to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us, and to reflect on our own journey through life’s transient seasons. This resonance with the fleeting nature of existence offers a gentle reminder to find beauty and meaning in the present, amidst the inevitable passage of time.
A Cloudy Day
In this haiku, the imagery of a cloudy day during the cherry blossom season intertwines with the sound of temple bells ringing in both Ueno and Asakusa. This juxtaposition serves as a powerful metaphor for the universality and timelessness of spring all over Japan.
Born near Ueno, in Iga Province, Basho bridges his personal roots with the broader cultural tapestry of Edo (now Tokyo), where Asakusa in located. These two places are separated by almost 300 miles, a great distance today, but one that would have taken many days to cover in the 17th century when Basho was writing.
The cherry blossom symbolises both the transient beauty and the enduring cycle of life. Basho’s haiku subtly suggests that regardless of one’s location, whether in the tranquil, familiar surroundings of Ueno or the bustling vibrancy of Asakusa, the arrival of cherry blossoms is a unifying event that transcends geographical boundaries.
It highlights the shared human experience of witnessing nature’s renewal, inviting our reflection on the beauty and fleeting nature of life itself. Through this lens, Basho’s work offers a gentle reminder to appreciate the fleeting moments of beauty that each spring brings, encouraging a deeper connection with the world and our own personal histories.
A Spring Night Whispers
Shiki’s haiku encapsulates the serene and expectant mood of spring nights.
In his work, a “spring night whispers,” he is invoking a sense of tranquil anticipation. The stars twinkle in the still sky, and are casting a gentle light over a world that is poised on the brink of change.
This haiku reflects the quiet beauty of nature, where the chill of the night air hints at the lingering presence of winter. Yet, as dawn approaches, the promise of the morning sun brings warmth and renewal. Shiki’s imagery paints a picture of nature breathing softly, embodying the delicate balance between the cold of the night and the warmth of the coming day.
His haiku invites the reader to savour these moments of stillness and to find comfort in the promise of transformation and new beginnings, much like the personal journeys we all undertake in our lives.
The cuckoo calls out
Being aware of Shiki’s tragically short life and his battle with Tuberculosis, and the fact that he possibly named himself Shiki after the cuckoo and the belief that the bird coughs up blood as it sings adds another layer of poignancy to his work.
In another of Shiki’s haiku, the call of the cuckoo bird heralds the arrival of spring, echoing through the lush green hills. This bird, often associated with the season in Japan, is a symbol of renewal and the joyful awakening of nature.
Shiki’s haiku captures the essence of this transformative time with simplicity. The sound of the cuckoo’s call is not just a signal of spring’s arrival but a reminder of life’s cyclical nature and the opportunities for rebirth and renewal that accompany it. As the hills resonate with the bird’s call, they become a metaphor for the heart’s response to the warmth and vibrancy of the new season. Shiki’s work invites readers to reflect on the enduring beauty found in these natural moments, encouraging them to embrace the joy and hope that spring brings, much like the personal renewal and growth experienced in one’s own journey through life.
Over to you
I hope I am always encouraging readers to improve and become the best version of themselves, and spring offers the best opportunity to do this. January and the official ‘new year’ are swamped by the winter cold and post-holiday blues. It is not the best time to make resolutions or major changes.
Spring has always been about starting anew and rejuvenation. It is the season to pack away the winter jumpers, and worries, and to start thinking afresh.
What will your spring project be? Is there one small task you can start today that will start you on a path to a better year? Reread you Bucket List (you have got a list, right!) and chose what you want your next adventure to be…