MITSUAKI KOJIMA

Peony
Olympian torch
for Beijing

The sacred flame of the Olympic Games is making its way along a treacherous path to China this summer. With trepidation organizers hope to use it to ignite a huge fireball of celebration at the opening ceremony. Belonging to the buttercup family, at this time of year peonies boast luxuriant large round red flowers that resemble the Olympic flame. The plant is named after Paeon, the fabled Greek physician of the gods. Satoru Kanematsu received an award for a Japanese version of this haiku from the 17th gathering of the Japan-China Friendship Peony Haikuists on April 12.

Secret yawn
afternoon meeting
white dogwood

"Dogwood"
in good penmanship
shade flowers

Doc Sunday says he attended a long dull meeting at a hospital in Hiroshima. He tried hard to stifle a yawn, but couldn't keep himself from admiring the dogwood trees in full bloom outside. Kiyoshi Fukuzawa admired the handwriting of a colleague in Tokyo.

Quick steps in spring rain
maiko raised the hem
of her kimono

Takasegawa
flows through the midst
blossoming cherry

Sosuke Kanda has been reading books about the maiko professional entertainers in Kyoto's Gion district. He notes this year is the 1,000th anniversary of "The Tale of Genji." The Takasegawa river flows through his hometown of Kyoto.

Long spring day
sweet scent of lilac
school laneway

Kiyomi Maemura took her time walking home from her first class at Kagoshima University.

Spring clouds part
nothing can compensate
loss of her ring

Spring splendor
my friend's mammogram
negative

Shirley Cahayom was pleased to see rain clouds spread and float away permitting the sun to splendidly shine through, but she sympathized with her friends. In the next poem by J.D. Heskin, the reader is left with an image of the upcoming season in mind's eye.

Enjoying the spring
although from time to time
summer comes to mind

The next issues of the Asahi Haikuist Network appear May 16 and May 30. Readers are encouraged to submit haiku on postcards about vacation travel to David McMurray at the International University of Kagoshima, Sakanoue 8-34-1 Kagoshima 891-0197, Japan or email to <mcmurray@fka.att.ne.jp>.

Want to try composing haiku ?

Back numbers

Readers are invited to submit haiku to David McMurray at the International University of Kagoshima, Sakanoue 8-34-1, Kagoshima, 891-0197 or e-mail to <mcmurray@fka.att.ne.jp>. . One haiku will be highlighted in the May 2 newsprint issue of the Asahi Haikuist and runners up will be featured in the Asahi Haikuist Network and From the Notebook at <www.asahi.com/english/haiku>.