Connecting to nature through poetry and prose
February 19 to February 25 is the eighth week of 2024 in the Gregorian calendar. During this week, we begin the Solar Term of Rain Water (Feb 19 - Mar 04). The micro-seasons for this week are “Rain Moistens the Soil” (Feb 19 - Feb 23) and “Mist Starts to Linger” (Feb 24 - Feb 28). The poems selected for this week are written by Basho, Issa, Reichhold, and Teasdale.
January 01 - January 07 is the first week of 2024 in the Gregorian calendar. The Solar Terms included in this week are Winter Solstice (Dec 21 - Jan 05) and Minor Cold (Jan 05 - Jan 19). The micro-seasons for this week are “Beneath the Snow the Wheat Sprouts” (Jan 01 - Jan 05) and “The Water Dropwort Flourishes (Jan 06 - Jan 10). The haiku selected for this week are written by Bahso, Issa, Buson, Reichhold, Kerouac, and Toshio.
September 28 - October 02 is the micro-season of “Hibernating Creatures Close Their Doors”. This is the second micro-season of the mini-season of Autumn Equinox. To celebrate this season, we will learn about hibernation and other similar winter survival strategies. Then we will read seasonal haiku by Basho, Issa, and Buson
We have entered the micro-season of “Thunder Lowers Its Voice”. This is the first micro-season of the season of Autumn Equinox. To celebrate this season, we will talk about the equinox, discuss how thunder and lightning are created, and then read haiku by Basho, Issa, Reichhold, and Kerouac.
We have entered the micro-season of “The Frost Stops the Rice Grows .” To celebrate this season we will learn about how to prepare a paddy for seedlings and then read seasonal haiku by Basho, Issa, Buson, and Reichhold.
We have entered the micro-season of “Haze First Covers the Sky”. This is the second micro-season of the mini-season Rain Water. To celebrate this season, we will learn about haze and read seasonal haiku from Basho, Buson, Issa, and Shiki.
We have entered the micro-season of “The Earthworms Rise”, which is the second micro-season of the mini-season of First Summer. To honor this season we will be looking at the taxonomy of earthworms and reading poetry for Carl Dennis, Issa, Buson, and Basho.
We have entered the micro-season of “The Tree Peony Flowers”. To honor this season we are investigating the “King of Flowers”, and reading poetry by Qian Qi, Emperor Yang, Buson, Issa, and Basho.
We have entered the micro-season of “The First Rainbow Appears”. This is the third micro-season of the mini-season of Clear and Bright. In today’s post, we are looking at how rainbows are formed, the types of rainbows, and some poetry by Dickinson, Issa, and Takahama Kyoshi
January is typically the coldest time of the year and today we look at the poetry of Helen Hunt Jackson, William Carlos Williams, Basho, Issa, and Shiki as they explore the impact of the winter winds.
As we near the end of October, we welcome the mini season of Frost Descent. At this time, we reflect on the impermanent nature of all things.
The 72 seasons ask us to slow down. If we think about everything in micro-seasons, the beauty of everyday life opens up. Each block of time brings its own magic, and likewise, its own poetry to the world.
SeasonWords.com 