Connecting to nature through poetry and prose
In June, the Northern Hemisphere transitions from spring to summer, marked by blossoming nature and specific seasonal observations. Birds play a key role in haiku, often serving as seasonal indicators or kigo, enriching the poetic experience.
September 16 - September 22 is the 38th week of 2024. This week, we are in the meteorological season of fall but remain in astronomical summer until the autumnal equinox on Sunday at 8:43 am. At this time, we are also in the Solar Term of White Dew (Sep 08 - Sept 21) and the micro-seasons of “Wagtails Sing” (Sep 13 - Sep 17) and “Swallows Leave” (Sep 18 - Sep 22). Basho, Issa, Buson, and Reichhold wrote the poems selected for this week.
May 27 - June 02 is the 21st week of 2024. This week, we are in the Solar Term of Grain Buds (May 20 - June 04), and the micro-seasons of “Safflowers Bloom” (May 26 -May 30) and “Wheat Ripens and is Harvested” (May 31 - June 05). Basho, Issa, Buson, Reichhold, and Kerouac wrote the poems selected for this week.
The 20th week of 2024 falls within the Solar Term of Beginning of Summer and micro-seasons of “Worms Surface” and “Bamboo Shoots Sprout”. This week is associated with traditions related to health and the consumption of seasonal foods like bamboo shoots. It's also a time for writing haiku or senryu referencing sprouts.
April 08 to April 14 is the fifteenth week of 2024. This week, we are in the Solar Term of Clear and Bright (Apr 4 - Apr 19). This week also contains the micro-seasons of “Swallows Return” (Apr 05 - Apr 09) and “Wild Geese Fly North” (Apr 10 - Apr 14). Basho, Issa, Buson, and Noyes wrote the poems selected for this week.
April 01 to April 07 is the fourteenth week of 2024. This week, we end the Solar Term of Spring Equinox (Mar 20- Apr 3) and enter the Solar Term of Clear and Bright (Apr 4 - Apr 19). During this week, we also have the micro-seasons of “Distant Thunder” (Mar 31 - Apr 4) and “Swallows Return” (Apr 05 - Apr 09). Basho, Issa, Buson, Mizerit, Reichhold, and Kerouac wrote the poems selected for this week.
February 12 to February 18 is the seventh week of 2024 in the Gregorian calendar. During this week, we complete the Solar Term of the Beginning of Spring (Feb 04 - Feb 18), while the micro-seasons for this week are “Bush warblers start singing in the mountains” (Feb 9 - Feb 13) and “Fish Emerge From The Ice” (Feb 14 - Feb 18). The haiku selected for this week are written by Basho, Issa, Reichhold, Sogi, Kerouac, and Kenko.
January 29 - February 04 is the fifth week of 2024 in the Gregorian calendar. During this week, we complete the Solar Term of Major Cold (Jan 20 - Feb 04), and have the micro-seasons of “The Mountain Stream Freezes Over” (Jan 25 - Jan 29) and “The Chicken Lays Her First Eggs” (Jan 30 - Feb 04). This week also marks the beginning of National Haiku Writing Month. The haiku selected for this week are written by Basho, Issa, Buson, Shiki, Haritsu, Kerouac, and Kyoshi.
January 08 - January 14 is the second week of 2024 in the Gregorian calendar. The Solar Term for this week is Minor Cold (Jan 05 - Jan 19). The micro-seasons for this week are “The Water Dropwort Flourishes (Jan 06 - Jan 10) and “The Springwater Holds Warmth (Jan 11 - Jan 15). The haiku selected for this week are written by Basho, Issa, Buson, and Reichhold
December 18 - December 24 is the 51st week of the Gregorian calendar. During this week, we complete the Solar Term of Major Snow (Dec 07 - Dec 21) and enter the Solar Term of Winter Solstice (Dec 21 - Jan 05). The micro-seasons for this week are “The Salmon Gather to Spawn” (Dec 17 - Dec 21), and “The Common Self-Heal Sprout” (Dec. 22 -Dec 26). The haiku selected for this week are written by Basho, Issa, Buson, Hakyo, and Reichhold.
December 11 - December 17 is the 50th week of the Gregorian calendar. This week, we are in the Solar Term of Major Snow (Dec 07 - Dec 21), and the micro-seasons of “The Sky is Cold, Winter Comes” (Dec 07 - Dec 13), and “The Bear Retreats to its Den” (Dec. 12 -Dec 16). The haiku selected for this week were written by Basho, Issa, Buson, Reichhold, and Kerouac.
December 04 - December 10 is the 49th week of the Gregorian calendar. During this week, we complete the Solar Term of Minor Snow (Nov 23 - Dec 06) and enter into the Solar Term of Major Snow (Dec 07 - Dec 21). The micro-seasons in this week are “The Tachibana First Turns Yellow” (Dec 02 - Dec 06) and “The Sky is Cold, Winter Comes” (Dec 07 - Dec 13). The haiku selected for this week are written by Basho, Issa, Reichhold, Shiki, Kyoshi
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