A series of micro-seasonal haiku, awakening to the ordinary
8th Sekki: Lesser Ripening (May 21-June 5) – ‘Shōman’
silkworms feast on mulberry leaves (May 21-25)
safflowers blooming (May 26-30)
wheat is harvested (May 31-June 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 22:
the safflower sprouts
burst out in flaming color
thanking summer sun
MADISON WILLIAMS
Charlottesville, VA
Kō 23:
empty bowl—
wheat stubble
at dusk
ELLIOT DIAMOND
Philadelphia, PA
Kō 24:
Young moths-to-be
transform plain leaves into
nature at its gentlest
JOSEPH PALMER
South Carolina
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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