A series of micro-seasonal haiku, awakening to the ordinary
2nd Sekki: Rainwater (Feb. 19- March 5) – ‘Usui’
rain softens the soil (Feb. 19-23)
mist lingers in the morning (Feb. 24-28)
green grass grows, trees are budding (March 1-5)
Similar to the use of a ‘season word’ in haiku, each of the 72 micro-seasons (kō) provide a short phrase as a trellis around which to form a haiku. Above are the phrases for this particular micro-season and below are the inspired verses we have received.
Kō 4:
rust-red buds
blush at the ends of
a young maple’s limbs
FRANCES SCOTT
Iowa City, Iowa
Kō 5:
a note from my friend . . .
rainwater softens the soil
my heart also melts
IRENE APOSTOLERIS
Kō 6:
morning rainfall –
tiny green sprouts insisting
we begin again
SARAH GILL
Tulsa, Oklahoma
To submit haiku for our Kō series, visit our submissions page.
To read more about Kō, and to view the seasonal calendar, click here.
To explore a haiku workshop offered by Upaya Zen Center, click here.
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