Here's my proper post for Carpe Diem Haiku Kai's prompt - ants! It's rather long, I commented as I went along reading the post until I came to the part where I discovered I was to write a six lined renga ... so this post contains an auto renga reply to the proverbs .. and a few haiku ... then I wrote the renga.
The prompt looks upon the industrious aspects of the ants ... scurrying along getting ready for autumn or well just living :
[...] "Go to the ants, you sluggard, see their ways and become wise". (Proverbs 6: 6) [...]The second verse isn't quite right ...
or what to say about this verse (also from Proverbs):
[...] "(Ants) which having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest." (Proverbs: 30: 29) [...]
Auto-renga
queen in the throne room
soldiers at the gateway
workers gathering
soldiers at the gateway
workers gathering
all for the love of their queen
the mind and heart of their world
preparing the young
from the moment they're born
soldier or worker
from the moment they're born
soldier or worker
queen in her throne room decides
her subject's life and function
© G.s.k. '14
More like a biology lesson I suppose ...
Haiku
along the beech tree
the ants scramble creating
a new winter home
the ants scramble creating
a new winter home
under the picnic table
forgotten sandwhich
covered in red ants
forgotten sandwhich
covered in red ants
little ant labours
the crumb far bigger than she
she scurries homeward
the crumb far bigger than she
she scurries homeward
© G.s.k. '14
Let's read som classical haiku:
yudachi ni hashirikudaru ya take no ari
an evening shower:
the ants are running down
the bamboos
© Joso
ari nagasu hodo no oame to nari ni kiri
it became a rain
heavy enough
to wash the ants away
© Kuson
yakue naki ari no sumika ya satsukiame
nowhere to go;
the dwellings of ants
in the summer rain
© Gyodai
haari tobu ya fuji no susano no kore yori
winged ants fly
from a small house
at the foot of Mount Fuji
© Buson
an evening shower:
the ants are running down
the bamboos
© Joso
ari nagasu hodo no oame to nari ni kiri
it became a rain
heavy enough
to wash the ants away
© Kuson
yakue naki ari no sumika ya satsukiame
nowhere to go;
the dwellings of ants
in the summer rain
© Gyodai
haari tobu ya fuji no susano no kore yori
winged ants fly
from a small house
at the foot of Mount Fuji
© Buson
From these I will choose a haiku to do the post ... for the post is to write a six line renga based on one of the haiku given above!
(For example) I will start my six (6) linked renga with the haiku by Joso:
an evening shower:
the ants are running down
the bamboos
(In renga this starting verse is called "hokku")
as the day ends in the west
the last sunbeams disappear
the cool summer night -
I have restless dreams next to you
the one I love
nightmares torturing me
attacked by mosquitos
the first sunbeams
cherishing my naked body
blankets have fallen
awakened by rustling bamboo
a new day rises for the ants
(In renga this closing verse is called ägeku")
© Chèvrefeuille
Renga
winged ants fly
from a small house
at the foot of Mount Fuji
© Buson
from a small house
at the foot of Mount Fuji
© Buson
young adventurers fly
the woods awaiting them
the woods awaiting them
a new queen
meets with her courtiers
creating a new nest
meets with her courtiers
creating a new nest
feverishly working
creating throne and nursery
creating throne and nursery
rain gently falling
the ants are safe and dry
inside their spring home
the ants are safe and dry
inside their spring home
a new city - born today
at the foot of Mount Fuji
at the foot of Mount Fuji
© G.s.k. '14
Thanks for sharing this with us ... the take on ant was beautiful :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed Amrit ... all you ever wanted to know about the ant nest ;-)
DeleteWow! A ton of labor here! But you 'done good'!
ReplyDeleteThe new city at the foot of Mt. Fuji is wonderful -- and I've always marveled at those ants struggling mightily with their gargantuan burdens. Great images ....
Thanks ... I wrote it as I was reading it ... so it got a little out of hand (she said blushing) but I am so glad you appreciated it!
DeleteWhat a lovely renga...the first haiku is so touching...I knew you would tell a lovely story. I wish I could write like that:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Cheryl ... I'm glad you enjoyed the post. I want to thank you for your wonderful compliment about how I write ... it's funny I often think the same thing when I read your work!
DeleteAwesome and well composed beauty Georgia.
ReplyDelete