On Saturday I went to see a renku (linked verse) session, held at a subshrine of Kitano Tenmangu as an offering to the kami. This being Japan, and Shinto being Shinto, ritual was of the essence throughout. There was even … Read the rest
Category: Poetry (Page 4 of 5)
The convivial discussion group I belong to meets monthly and discusses Japanese poetry in translation. Recently we’ve been looking at the eighth-century collection of poetry called Manyoshu, first of the great imperial anthologies. There are 4516 poems in all, some … Read the rest
I’m back from a brief visit to the wonderful island of Shiraishi. I don’t know how many times I’ve been round the island, but I do know that each time I wander about I always find something new and intriguing. … Read the rest
In 2006 I spent four months on the island of Shiraishi in the Inland Sea and fell in love with it. I’ve often been back and I’m heading off there again tomorrow.
Following my sojourn on the island, I wrote … Read the rest
The haiku group I belong to published a small volume in 2007 entitled Seasons of the Gods on the theme of Shinto. It contained an afterword by Toji Kamata, who has described himself as a freelance Shinto priest. He’s written … Read the rest
World Poetry Movement Day Sept 24th
24/9 will be a worldwide day of poetry reading, honoring & celebrating life love peace justice; our human condition, our presence for needed change; our songs, our poems, our tears, our cries, our laughter.… Read the rest
In 2007 the Kyoto-based Hailstone Haiku Circle to which I belong published a volume of Shinto poems entitled Seasons of the Gods, co-edited by the group’s leader Stephen Gill with three others. Here is a selection.
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new year…… Read the rest