Today I’m presenting Japanese Death Poems at dVerse Poets for Meeting the Bar, please join us: http://dversepoets.com/2015/09/24/jisei-japanese-death-poems/
Matsuo Basho
Wikipedia: Matsuo Bashō, 1644-1694, was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan. During his lifetime, Bashō was recognized for his works in the collaborative haikai no renga form; today, after centuries of commentary, he is recognized as the greatest master of haiku.
clouds silhouetted
against waning setting sun
winter’s sleep is near
*
singing temple bell
encircles the valley’s pond
resting place awaits
*
no need for despair
this shell has aged and withered
morning breaks again
celebrate my renewal
freedom is mine, farewell all
*
howling, sickly wolf
moonless path ends abruptly
heart heavy, cries die
*
I had a nice drive
the journey was full and wide
the outing complete
*
cherry blossoms drift
on the breeze scattering far
and near, I gather
memories to take with me
hands grasp only emptiness
*
wide awake I’ve been
for what seems like a moment
slumber beckons now
*
long, drawn-out journey
sharp mind in a withered shell
window framed my world
slowly now, life is ebbing
my path worn down by my dreams
*
coming and going
are inconsequential and
meaningless yet we
celebrate the one and mourn
the other, pure balderdash
*
mountain’s pinnacle
will soon be summitted, the
loon’s call through the mist
guides me to the unseen peak
only a few more paces
Bodhirose's Blog 
Mary
/ September 24, 2015My favorite is the third…no need for despair! Hope to feel that way at the end of life. Also enjoyed the idea of a nice drive…life is indeed a journey…and, ha, we all end up in the same destination eventually.
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015That’s right, Mary…no need for despair and how right you are, we all end up in the same destination. Thanks so much, Mary.
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Grace
/ September 24, 2015I love the bouquet of tanka and haiku ~ I would like to think of death as a another journey completed and certainly as mountain’s pinnacle to be climbed guided by the loon’s call ~
I really enjoyed this prompt Gayle ~ Thanks for being our guest blogger at D’verse ~
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015I like to think of death that way too, Grace. I’m so glad you approached me to guest host and that you enjoyed the prompt. I am honored and appreciate all that you do for dVerse.
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Glenn Buttkus
/ September 24, 2015A wonderful group of ten, five haiku & five tanka; perfect illustrations for your prompt. I’d never heard of this form, but found it fascinating. I did one each kanshi, tanka, & haiku. I wish now I ad been braver & doubled the amount; but it is good for me to sometimes be held down to shorter works–I tend to go long. I like your lines /I gather memories/to take with me/hands grasp only emptiness/.
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015Many thanks, Glenn. It does take some discipline to write these short forms. They’re more challenging than you might think, right? But you did an excellent job…really enjoyed your offerings. And you can always continue your practice of course.
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kanzensakura
/ September 24, 2015A lovely grouping. I wish I had linked more myself. I may come back and link a couple more to add to this interesting prompt. I had a nice drive…..excellent senryu! It says it all as our lives should be. All these are so different and yet, all have the same acceptance, joy, common sense feelings. A true joy to read.
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015Yes, link some others if you can, Toni. I love to read what people come up with. And thank you for your generous compliment. I like to think of death as a pretty simple transition. 🙂
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kanzensakura
/ September 24, 2015I do too. It really is simple.
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015Yes.
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Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
/ September 24, 2015A wonderful collection.. so many good thoughts about death, it’s simple, yet so very complicated. I love to look upon it as a journey.
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015Thanks so much, Bjorn. I like to look upon it as a continuation of one long journey and that we pass on effortlessly. A lot less fearful way of looking at it.
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Linda Kruschke
/ September 24, 2015These are all wonderful, each with its own personality. My favorite is the third one, because it seems to hold such hope. I also like the penultimate one (partly for giving me a reason to use the word penultimate in a comment), but also because it includes the word balderdash, which I like a lot. Peace, Linda
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015Thank you, Linda. I had to look up that word, I didn’t know what it meant! Ok, so now I know…it is a great word and I like “balderdash” too. 😉 Peace…
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Snow's Fissures and Fractures
/ September 24, 2015So many wonderful poems, it was joy reading them all. My favorite must be:
Cherry blossoms drift
on the breeze scattering far
and near, I gather
memories to take with me,
hands grasp only emptiness
I see so many different things in so few words, that is th true beauty of it.
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015Thanks so very much, I’m glad you enjoyed them.
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MarinaSofia
/ September 24, 2015What a variety of forms and sentiments you present here – I really enjoyed reading them and will come back to them tomorrow morning with a fresh eye (its my bedtime over here). Thank you for the prompt – I’d read these poems before but never thought of attempting one myself!
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015Thanks for that, Marina and have a good night’s sleep. See you tomorrow and I’m so glad you gave it a try…they’re fun, right?
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katiemiafrederick
/ September 24, 2015There is a GREAT Joy
Living Feeling
Living.. i
cannot
imagine
wanting
to go..:)
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015Maybe not wanting to go but we all have to go eventually. Better to look at it as a gentle passing into another realm perhaps than something to fear. Anyway, that’s the story I’m telling myself. 😉
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katiemiafrederick
/ September 24, 2015Smiles.. i never fear.. I live.. Or entertain death.. I’ll cross that bridge when i come to it as we all must..:)
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015Right! 🙂
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Victoria C. Slotto
/ September 24, 2015Gayle, I just love these. That sharp mind in the withered body–I’ve witnessed this so often. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and skills with us at the bar. I would love to see you join the team!!!
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015I know you must have seen a lot of that, Victoria. Death must surely be welcomed you would think. I am so intrigued by this form and so glad that you’re here to join in. Well, what would my role be if I joined up with such an impressive team? I’m a little taken aback! 🙂
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Sherry Blue Sky
/ September 24, 2015Very lovely writing. And a beautiful philosophy.
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015Thanks, Sherry. I knew you would appreciate this philosophy.
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Kathy Reed
/ September 24, 2015Nice variety here..I think yours are especially hopeful and easing…great tradition we need to adopt to add beauty to the so often gloom.
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015Thank you, Kathy, and I agree about adopting this tradition to ease our minds about death and dying.
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thotpurge
/ September 24, 2015I gather memories to take with me, hands grasp only emptiness… that’s beautiful.
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Bodhirose
/ September 24, 2015Thank you so very much. Gayle ~
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Mama Zen
/ September 24, 2015These are all marvelous!
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Bodhirose
/ September 25, 2015Many thanks, MZ!
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justjoyfulness
/ September 25, 2015Great prompt, Gayle. Enjoyed attempting death poems for the first time. Loved all of yours, especially the one where ‘hands grasp only emptiness’ – something we all tend to forget while accumulating all our possessions.
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Bodhirose
/ September 25, 2015Many thanks to you! They’re fun aren’t they? No, there’s nothing that we can take with us…try as we might. 🙂
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billgncs
/ September 25, 2015lovely – for me recently….
Acceptance of death
A strength to banish fear
Embrace the robin’s song
But I’m also reminded of the great Yogi Berra who at age 90 when asked by his wife where he wanted to be buried replied: “I don’t know, surprise me”
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Bodhirose
/ September 25, 2015It would be nice if we could adapt some of the ways of accepting the inevitable so our fear is lessened. One of my daughters was just telling me that she and her husband were reading some of his “isms.” That’s a good one! Thanks for coming by, Bill.
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Sue Dreamwalker
/ September 25, 2015Thank you Gayle for the history of this type of poetry, although I knew it was Japanese, I did not know the origins… Loved this verse
“Coming and going
are inconsequential and
meaningless yet we
celebrate the one and mourn
the other, pure balderdash” ,, 🙂
Wishing you a wonderful weekend my friend.. 🙂 Love Sue
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Bodhirose
/ September 25, 2015You’re very welcome, Sue, and I’m glad you stopped by to visit. I’m always happy to see you. 🙂 Enjoy your weekend too, Sue. Love and hugs…
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Anonymous
/ September 25, 2015Gosh, you are just so good. Loved the “wide awake” one.
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Bodhirose
/ September 25, 2015Thank you!
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Snakypoet (Rosemary Nissen-Wade)
/ September 25, 2015Wow, how productive! You must have covered every possible response to death. I particularly love the humour of the ‘nice drive’.
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Bodhirose
/ September 25, 2015Ha…yeah, I really got into it, Rosemary. They can be a little addicting. 🙂 Thanks for coming by!
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http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com
/ September 26, 2015Beautiful writing. Autumn isalready sad enough, without adding thoughts of death. I prefer the idea of cherry blossom….
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Bodhirose
/ September 26, 2015Thank you, Viv. I like those cherry blossoms too.
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Bryan Ens
/ September 26, 2015A wonderful collection here! The second last one gave me a chuckle with the “in your face” feel of that “balderdash” line. Thank you for a wonderful prompt too!!
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Bodhirose
/ September 26, 2015Thanks so much, Bryan, and I’m glad you enjoyed the prompt. It was fun to share with the group.
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Oliana
/ September 30, 2015What a lovely Jisei written with wisdom and resignation. I like especially you’ve had a nice drive. A full ride journey. We sense fulfillment. Very nicely done.
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Bodhirose
/ September 30, 2015I’m glad you liked my jisei, Oliana. It was fun to present it to the group and to write them. I appreciate your kind comment and compliment for me.
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Oliana
/ September 30, 2015I’ve written one even though it was passed due under my haiku blog Tournesoldansunjardin
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Bodhirose
/ September 30, 2015Oliana, if you provide the link to your poem, I would love to read it.
Gayle ~
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Oliana
/ September 30, 2015Here it is https://cheryllynnroberts.wordpress.com/2015/09/30/winter-calls-me-jisei-troiku-tanka/
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Bodhirose
/ May 21, 2018Well, they’re mine, Jane. And I can’t believe you would compare mine to Basho’s! What?! But thank you; I’m so grateful. I learned about these from a group on Facebook and then did a presentation on dVerse. I found them so intriguing to write and they just kind of flowed. I too liked the idea that some were humorous. I’m sorry to hear about that poor biker too. What a way to go…and I feel for the starving cougar also. It’s the way of wild things to kill for food be it human or other animals. Love, Gayle xo
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