Winter Poetry for the New Year

For Badgered

I give the year-end party

In a good mood.

–– Matsuo Bashō

The first snow

That the young Hijiri-monk has

The color of the wooden box.

–– Matsuo Bashō

Deep Mid-Winter is the perfect season for haiku, those beautifully tight and rounded gems which originated in Japan, and here are some offerings for autumn days.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North, by Japanese poet, Matsuo Bashō, has been in my bookcase for several years, and every now and again, I’ll bring it out, read a few more of his wonderful haiku, and find myself inspired to write some of my own.  Bashō was born in 1694 and became a teacher, but loved to wander throughout Japan, far into the northern wilderness to gain inspiration for his writing. 

I understand that lust for walking constantly towards the horizon, although I also love wandering the lanes around my home and indeed, pottering around our mere half acre here at Rhos Hill, enjoying what we’ve created, dreaming my dreams, and planning the next garden jobs. 

When I turn to haiku, it’s often because I’m being influenced by the seasons, their turning and changing, because haiku are closely associated with linking humanity with nature. 

This is the season of Yule. The earliest mention of Yule is offered by the monk  Bede. In 725 A.D, Bede described the holidays of pagan Britons, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, noting that the old pagan calendar combined the Roman months of December and January into a single period called Giuli. He wrote, “The months of Giuli derive their name from the day when the Sun turns back [and begins] to increase.” It's possible we get our word 'jolly' from this early derivation.

Deep Mid-Winter can be thought of as the celebration in medieval Britain from the start of Advent through to the last day of Christmas, at Twelfth Night, on the 5th of January. 

As a pagan, I celebrate winter from the beginning of November - from  the 'bleak, wailing winds' of Samhain right through to the end of January, when roots and branches and seeds begin to stir under the still-cold soil. That time, Imbolc, is just weeks away now, and celebrates the last tussle of the Cailleach, that great Celtic hag and creator deity, known as the Veiled One or the Queen of Winter,  who determines the winter’s length and harshness.  In February Bridget, goddess  of early spring, is ready to spread her mantel across the bare earth, to re-green it, but the Cailleach still wants to fight her and keep winter going for a few more weeks. 

Here are some of my haiku thoughts:

This robin, trilling

Waits for temperate weather,

Knows of hard winter

              ****

The ash bucket's full.

Still warm from evening's fire.

Thank the fruit trees for their crop.

            ****

Rosa Rugosa,

The syrup tastes of summer,

Keeps our colds away.

             ****

                                       

Fairy mist, surging

last night from the vale below. 

Now, trees drip like rain.

    ****

Midnight silent chill. 

In the branches, an owl,

white from moonlight, watching.

         ****

On the horizon

First rays of the young sun

Cold winter, farewell.

Happy New Year to everyone!