Week 47- “The Rainbow Hides Unseen”

November 20 – November 26 is the 47th week of the Gregorian calendar.  During this week, we have the Solar Term of Minor Snow (Nov 23 – Dec 06) and the micro-seasons of “The Daffodil Flowers (Nov. 18 – Nov 22) and “The Rainbow Hides Unseen” (Nov 23 -Nov 27).

The haiku selected for this week were written by Basho, Issa, Uejima Onitsura, Dakotsu, and Reichhold.

The 24 Solar Terms 

The 24 solar terms were created by farmers in ancient China  (206 BCE and 24 CE) to help guide their agricultural activities. Each solar term is 15 days long and is based on the climate around the city Xi’an, which was the capital of the Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE). (1)

This week we see First Winter‘s end (Nov 08 – Nov 22) and the beginning of Minor Snow (Nov 23 – Dec 06).  Minor Snow is the 20th Solar Term of the year and indicates the arrival of snow in northern parts of China.

Some activities that are associated with this season include:

  • Eating Soup: In traditional Chinese medicine, managing your “inner heat” will prevent health issues. The philosophy advocates consuming hot soups like cabbage and bean curd, spinach and bean curd, or mutton and radish soups as a way to balance internal heat accumulation, promoting overall well-being and addressing potential health concerns that may come with more time indoors.(2)
  • Preserving Pork: During this season, people begin to preserve pork products.  If you preserve your pork now, it will be ready to enjoy just in time for the Chinese Spring Festival.(2)
  • Pickling Vegetables: If you pickle your vegetables shortly after their harvest, you can enjoy them all winter long.(2)

The 72 Seasons

The 72-season calendar was established in 1685 by Japanese astronomer Shibukawa Shunkai.  Each season lasts for about 5 days and offers “a poetic journey through the Japanese year in which the land awakens and blooms with life and activity before returning to slumber.”(5)

This week we have the microseasons of “The Daffodil Flowers” (Nov. 18 – Nov 22) and “The Rainbow Hides Unseen” (Nov 23 -Nov 27). 

About the Daffodil

Daffodils are perennial plants that are part of the Amaryllidaceae family. They have six-petal flowers arranged around a trumpet-like center.  Daffodils are native to Europe and North Africa and were introduced to Japan during the Heian period (794–1185).  

The daffodil is typically thought of as a spring flower in many parts of the world. However, In Japan, between December and March, you can find daffodils blooming in the Fukui Prefecture near the  Sea of Japan, in Chiba southeast of Tokyo, and on Awaji-shima Island in Kobe Prefecture in western Japan. (4,5)

You can read more about the daffodil and the myth of Narcissus in last year’s post. 

Rainbows in Winter

To see a rainbow, a light source must be positioned behind you. That light must also hit water that is suspended in the air at a 42-degree angle. As we shift into winter and the days grow shorter, the sun is less intense and it lowers in the sky. As a result, the conditions needed for us to see a rainbow occur less frequently.  Therefore, interpreting “The Rainbow Hides Unseen” should be read as a poetic depiction of how seasons change, instead of a literal interpretation. 

You can read more about rainbows in last year’s post: “The Rainbow Hides Unseen”.

Astronomical Season

November 26, the last day of week 47, is 64 days past the autumn equinox (Sept 23, 2023) and 25 days until the winter solstice (December 21, 2023). This means we are still in astronomical autumn while we are in the winter season for both the Solar Terms and 72-season calendars. 

On November 26, the moon will be at 99% illuminated, and for those located in northern New England in the United States, we have just over 9 hours of daylight.  Sunrise on November 26 is at 6:59 am and sunset is at 4:13 pm.

Seasonal Haiku 

In The Five Hundred Essential Japanese Season Words as selected by Kenkichi Yamamoto, “narcissus”, “withered mums”, and “withered lotus” are all listed as potential plant kigo.  While “clear winter sky” is a potential Winter-Heavens kigo

In Jane Reichhold’s A Dictionary of Haiku, ”amaryllis” is listed as a Winter-Plant kigo.  The amaryllis is in the same family of plants as the daffodil. Reichhold also lists “low winter sun” as a relevant kigo for this season. 

Now with all this in mind, let’s read some haiku.

Basho

The winter sun – 
frozen on the horse,
my shadow. 
(translated by Makoto Ueda) 
The daffodils
and the white paper screen
reflecting one another’s colour. 
(translated by Makoto Ueda)

Issa

rented house--
the village's best spot
for basking in the winter sun
(translated by David G. Lanoue)
daffodils--
committed to bloom
till month's end
(translated by David G. Lanoue)

Uejima Onitsura 

A warm day,
But there’s a chill
In the winter sun
(translated by Nippon Gakujutsu Shinkokai)

Dakotsu 

the morning sun
brightly
rising above frosty woods
(retrieved from Rosenstock's Haiku Englightenment)

Reichhold

low-slanted sun
in the red amaryllis
turning on lights
low winter sun
walking the length
of the rock's shadow

Haiku Invitation

This week’s haiku invitation is to write a haiku or senryu referencing the low winter sun.

Share your haiku in the comments below, or post on your own page and link back to this post. I can’t wait to read what you write!  

Rebranding news!

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that I will probably be rebranding my website in the next couple of weeks. The happiness engineers at WordPress.com tell me that subscribers to the site will continue to get email notifications of new posts and all old content will still be available.

The reason for this change is twofold. The first reason is to have the domain name reflect the site’s focus on haiku. The second reason is to provide a space to share the work of the Hardwick Haiku Club. This club has been meeting in person for about a year now and I have so much material from that group that would be nice to share.

I have a couple of thoughts about domain names such as Haiku-Club.com, HardwickHaikuClub.com, HardwickHaiku.com, or something similar. If you have any great ideas for a name, feel free to share.

Thanks for your continued support and engagement in this project!

You can support this newsletter work by donating at “Buy Me a Coffee” or shopping at our bookstore.

Thank You!

About the Haiku

Basho’s haiku were retrieved from “Matsuo Bashō’s haiku poems in romanized Japanese with English translations” Editor: Gábor Terebess.  Issa’s haiku were retrieved from David G. Lanoue’s Haiku Guy.  Jane Reichhold’s haiku were retrieved from Dictionary of Haiku.  Uejima Onitsura ’s haiku was retrieved from The Classic Tradition of Haiku: An Anthology edited by Faubion Bowers. Dakotsu’s haiku was retrieved from Haiku Enlightenment by Gabriel Rosenstock

Reference

  1. “24 Solar Terms”; ChinaHighlights.com
  2. “24 Solar Terms: 7 things you may not know about Minor Snow”; ChinaDaily.com
  3. “Japan’s 72 Microseasons”; Nippon.com
  4. “Narcissus(plant)”; Wikipedia
  5. “Tokyo’s 4 Best Spots to Enjoy Winter’s Daffodils and Seasonal Flowers”; The Gate

122 thoughts on “Week 47- “The Rainbow Hides Unseen””

Add yours

  1. Thanks for the post Mark, enjoyable as always, and best of luck with the rebrand, I had one possible thought for a name ‘Hard-Wired-Haiku’ – 😊
    I’ll write my haiku soon all the best ❤️

    Reply

    1. These are pretty fantastic poems, Angel, so full of imagery and wonder. I didn’t realize you had written a poem about rainbows until after I submitted mine… I wish there were a way I could take mine down:/ Any way, hope you and fellow poets are enjoying the season!

      Reply

      3. Awww! That’s very lovely of you to say Ange…I tip my hat to your beautiful poems. The ”under winter’s sun” and “I stroll through the woods” are marvelous.

  4. kurabu hardwic’ku = club Hardwick poetry

    hardwic’ku kurabu = hardwic(k) haiku club

    kurabu = club in Japanese
    hai (by itself means ‘yes’)
    ‘ku has been seen and used as a short (American version) of haiku.
    ku = ward (which is an area, a slight streatch to ‘group or club’?)
    lowercase to the nod that there are no capital letters in Japanese)

    Here’s a haiku: “If you can’t pronounce / the word haiku, remember / big HIGH, little coo.” The word haiku is a shortened version of the Japanese phrase haikai no ku, which translates as “light verse.” Most haiku are simple poems, often about natural wonders.

    Reply

    2. Hi Jules, How fascinating is this! Thanks for breaking down the words and meanings for me. Now I am wondering about “‘ku-club”. OR even ‘ku-ku-club. Well, maybe not that last one.

      Reply
  5. Pingback: nd 11.24 …rainbow hides unseen… 1p Nat. Weekly 47 – Jules Pens Some Gems…

  6. Mark,

    Best on your group and rebranding… And good luck with the WP issues.

    I stayed on the surface; first one is here the other to at the title link;

    …rainbow hides unseen…

    youngsters blush
    at affectionate
    grandparents

    Elders’ romance sparks brightly even as their seasons appear to wane.

    © JP/Jules

    Reply

      1. I just had to step onto my front porch to see the mums… when I go to get the morning paper 🙂

        Though I’ve getting up an hour later… just so it might be warmer! This morning it was below freezing!! 🙂

    3. Hi Jules, Wonderful trio for this week. All three are great and you are getting some really positive comments on both “youngsters blush” and “withered mums”. Well done!

      Reply

      2. Thanks Jules! The more I look into it, it seems a little daunting. I am still going to do it and know that there will be hiccups along the way.

  7. Hi Mark: Hope you and all are well and having a lovely day! Thank-you for these gifts: This post is so exciting…I loved reading about the rainbow and daffodil, (blooming in Japan). I will be back with a haiku or two. (I don’t know why “Hardly Haiku” for a club’s name, keeps ringing in my head:)! lol

    Reply

  8. Here are my offerings:

    low winter sun
    stepping outside
    in the cold garden
    …
    sunlight slants low
    a smudge of daffodils peek
    out
    …
    low winter sunlight
    when will the rainbow
    come

    I love Issa’s two poems: the daffodils and the second, basking in the winter sun

    I was wondering if “Hardiness Haiku Club” might work for the domain’s name:)

    Reply

    1. I read Ange’s beautiful haiku about rainbows after I submitted the above poems. (I must say I like her poem better than mine:)

      Reply

    2. Madeleine,
      I really like your haiku, and the phrase “a smudge of daffodils” is awesome. I like the daffodils just starting to peek out. We often see the leaves of them poking through the snow (of course, normally it is late February or early March for us), but seeing them always brings a smile of hope. Sometimes around here we get “snow” bows, also called sun dogs appearing in the clouds this time of year. Nan

      Reply

      2. Nan, I love ‘snow” bows and sun dogs. What a wonderful sight to look forward to. I had never heard of these kind of clouds, before:)

    3. Hi Maddy, thanks so much for sharing these. I am enjoying the first one (“low winter sun”). Maybe it is because it seems to capture most of my day today. Lovely!

      Reply

    5. Our winter garden has blooming forsythia from when it was in the 70’s last week. No leaves… just flowers.

      I have daffodils – though they will not come out until spring, here. 🙂

      Reply

  9. * I’m sorry that I forgot “winter” in above poem:

    winter sunlight slants low
    a smudge of daffodils peek
    out

    Reply

  10. winter sun
    mosquito bites
    still not healed

    Incredible coincidence as I just wrote this last week! As I’m aging, I find healing is taking longer and longer so ‘winter sun’ can be taken figuratively as well.

    Reply

      1. Oh, ha, my poem was quite literal, and I completely failed to notice this comparison, Maddy. 😂

    2. Hi Eavonka, I do enjoy the layers of meaning that can be found in “winter sun”. Very creative. On a side note, I have seen a mosquito in months! It got to cold for them up here.

      Reply

    3. Hi Eavonka,
      Don’t know what happened to my comment from earlier (it said was sent), but I know what you mean about skin not healing as quickly or as well. I use so much more skin lotion than even before and it doesn’t seem to help (or if it does, I can’t imagine what my “winter sun” skin would like that without it). Love your ‘ku though.

      Reply

      1. Thanks so much, Nan. I’m glad you understand how horribly difficult healing has become and the effects this had on our poor aging skin. I use more body lotion that I ever thought possible now!

    5. Eavonka – I find healing takes longer too. A good soak in epsoms salt helps… I tripped over a small stool last week and I’ve got ‘rainbow’ colors on my leg! I’m good. ~Thanks!

      Reply

  12. Hi Mark,
    Haven’t read others’ suggestions, but if the format is to highlight the Hardwick Haiku Club and yet still allow those of us who post here online, how about something like Highlight-Hardwick-Haiku?

    low winter sun
    the cat sleeps
    on the register
    ~Nancy Brady, 2023

    withered mums
    slowly dying back
    –a chill wind
    ~Nancy Brady, 2023

    #offthecuffhaiku
    https://nbsmithblog.wordpress.com

    Reply

    2. Nan, these are wonderful poems. I love the comparison of “withered mums” to dying back. It’s so symbolic to the present season. When I read the cat sleeps on the register, it made me think of an old time pharmacy…from the early 1900’s. Was that an image you were referring to?

      Reply

      1. Hi Madeleine,
        Thanks for your positive responses to my haiku. We planted some mums last year and they browned (withered) and died back. I wasn’t sure they’d come back this year they looked so pitiful after dying back, but they did. I was so excited to see them bloom again this fall.
        As for the cat on the register, I never dreamed of an old time pharmacy register. I lived in the Dayton, Ohio, area for many years. It was the home of NCR (National Cash Registers), and I know exactly what kind of register that you are referring to. Actually, I was just thinking of the register vent on the floor. Cats realize quite quickly that when the furnace turns on, heat flows through the vents and they will sit or lay atop it. ~Nan

      2. Nan, I’ve never heard of the term “register”, as a heating vent, before. But, I like it…it sounds a lot more classy.

    3. Hi Nan, I also enjoy a good cat haiku and this one is wonderful. I am beginning to wonder if cats are better suited for haiku then dogs. I wonder if that is true.
      We keep our house a kind of cold in the winter and the cats have little electric heaters especially designed to go under cat beds. They definitely enjoy them when they come in from the snow!

      Reply

      1. Hi Mark,
        Cats will tell you that they more zen than dogs, that dogs are too excitable. For me, I’ve had cats almost all my life and understand them better than dogs. On the other hand, one of my favorite poems, written by David Lee Garrison, is called “And Dog Said.” I’ll put it in a word document and share it here.

        We often put the heating pad under the cat’s bed in the winter. The cat seems to enjoy it until he gets too warm and he hops down to the floor. All my cats have sat on the register vents went they hear the furnace turn on. Cats like their creature comforts.~Nan

      3. Here’s the poem I mentioned above:

        And Dog Said

        In the beginning
        God said to Dog,

        “Your name is mine
        in the mirror

        So I grant you
        the next creation.”

        And Dog said,
        “I would like someone

        to walk with me.”
        So God made Man

        with hardly any sense
        of smell and just two legs.

        And God said to Dog,
        “He has only a few words

        like COME and FETCH,
        and he knows little of the earth

        and its redolence, but let him
        totter along behind you and learn.”

        David Lee Garrison
        From Playing Back in the D.C. Metro

        H

      5. I’m glad you liked the poem, and that particular line. I like it, too, especially the word, redolence. David’s poetry is good, not just this one, but most of his poems are thoughtful and a bit humorous, slice of life. My husband and I went to a poetry reading of his (featured reader at a bookstore), and in the open mic portion, I read a recently written poem of mine. I mentioned that I was still trying to decide on the title (at that point it was Untitled) and he suggested the title it has today, One Hand. He’s not only a good poet, but a good guy.

      7. Nan, I love “And Dog Says”. I love that dogs are put on this earth to teach us. (I like the thought that cats are zen, too!:)

    5. I think I’d like to sleep on under a warm air vent! We keep our place at 68 day 66 night – I’ve gotten out my down comforter!!

      We had leaves still on our willow… until the strong winds of yesterday!!

      ~Remember seeing your teacher for the first time out of school? 😉

      Reply

      1. I wrap up in a blanket every night, and I’m under the cover when I do it. Our house’s temperature isn’t quite that low, but we do a setback every night.

        I remember standing on my aunt’s and uncle’s floor vent when we visited in the winter. It would blow up our skirts (we always wore dresses at the time), but it was warm. The house where I great had the vents on the wall near the floor…not as comfy.

        I guess I am slow tonight. I remember the first time I saw my first grade teacher working at a local department store during summer vacation. It was an odd feeling.

      2. I am a cat lover too…what’s not to love? lol!
        Although, I have been, since the past three years, adopted by a little dog named Riley, a jack russell, who thinks she’s a cat! She is quite a joy! 🙂

      3. …draping herself along the sofa’s edge like she’s a cat…have to watch her so she doesn’t fall.

  14. Pingback: 25.11.23 — Haiku – BenT
  16. Pingback: Naturalist Weekly: Micro-Season–The Rainbow Hides Unseen | nbsmithblog…random digressions and musings

    1. Hi Sunra, wonderful offering for this week! There is something in your verse that makes me want to go out and embrace winter. I like it!
      Thanks for your vote on the domain name. This is going to be a tough decision.

      Reply

  18. I am often one of the first to write a haiku in response to Mark’s weekly haiku prompt. But just got back from family Thanksgiving. So, I got to read all the wonderful responses. (I often read at least some the first day or two.) So, I say WOW to you all!! Such a diverse group and talented. And by the way, I too am a cat lover. We have a 15 year old Korat named Jinx. Anyway, here is my contribution:
    low winter sun
    glimpsed through the kitchen window
    chili on the stove
    Thanks to all of you, LaMon

    Reply

    4. Hi LaMon, I agree that we have a great group of talented poets here! It is always so much fun to read all the comments. I especially enjoy when another reader, like Eavonka did in response to your haiku, says something that makes me slow down and read the haiku again. It always opens up something new for me. Wonderful haiku for this week!

      Reply

      1. Mark, I absolutely agree. I too appreciate the comments that help me see elements I overlook in haiku. It’s too easy to peruse haiku without paying due attention to the three simple lines!

      2. I agree, LaMon, this is an awesome poem! The words pull us into the scene…Lovely that you spent Thanksgiving with your family! 🙂

    5. Hi LaMon, Would you be okay with me sharing this haiku on my Instagram page? If you are okay with that and you please let me know your Instagram name (if you have one) and I will tag you in it. Also how you would like your name to be written under the haiku. Thanks!

      Reply

      2. Hi LaMon, Thanks! I am looking to post this later this week. I’ll let you know so you can take a look. I think you can see IG posts without an IG account.

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  21. Madeleine,
    Every Jack Russell I’ve seen are a bit hyper, but it’s neat your dog acts like a cat. Our cat Flash used to act like a dog (fetching toys and returning them) while the dog we had at the time would only fetch once and then look at us like “you threw it, you go get it.”

    Dogs and cats really make our lives better, I think…as long as they don’t sick and puke on the floor, that is. 😉

    Reply

    1. A very sweet memory, Nan 🙂 Yes, they certainly do make our lives better! (Yeah, except for the draw backs:/ oh well!… lol)

      Reply

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