After three winters
And two thousand miles by foot,
Basho is back home.

By the lonely creek,
Under the banana tree,
He sits down and weeps,

Disillusioned, old.
Tears find paths in deep furrows.
Night frogs are croaking.

His peonies withered,
The starlings’ nest abandoned,
Basho’s eyes downcast.

“What did you expect to find,
That would be different, old fool?
Eternal Light in Nikki?
In the sacred temples, Peace?

“Did you hope for Truth to dawn
At the foot of Mount Fuji?
In Sado, Serenity?
Enlightenment in Gassan?”

Basho strokes his balding head,
Vaguely sensing a presence-
The Enlightened One’s spirit-
His mind merging with Basho’s.

“Like a donkey with carrots
Dangling, barely out of reach,
You kept trudging, believing
That next step would bring you … what?

“Surrender your attachments
To temples and holy shrines.
Search, instead, what’s most precious:
The priceless Pearl deep within.

“Give your soul and feet some rest
On a different pilgrimage:
A wordless, pathless journey
To the Heart within your heart.

“Knowledge, shy as a sparrow,
Is hiding behind your thoughts.
If you chase it, it’s nowhere,
By Grace and stillness it’s yours.

“The truth that will set you free:
You are Eternal Spirit,
United with all of Life,
Your heredity is Love.”

The night is over,
The horizon penciled out,
Promising sunrise.

Morning birds chirping,
Sky turning lavender blue.
Basho´s smile is back.

The Buddha’s voice now fading,
Just a whisper in the wind,
“You shall certainly find It
If you seek with all your heart.”

Basho hesitates,
”Master, I’ll try my best, but…
…I’m only a man”

***

Bees with tiny wings,
Oversized, heavy bodies.
Who taught them to fly?

    5 1 vote
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    Voice-Team
    Voice-Team(@voice-team)
    Admin
    1 year ago

    A story told in poetry of Basho’s pilgrimage home, with deft use of haiku and tanaga. The conversation with the Buddha is beautiful, challenging, and wise. The ending is superb. 

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    1 year ago

    Your poetic story is totally mesmerizing, Christer. And I learned something in every paragraph of it. Especially the ending really inspired my whole being and mind. Well written.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Christer Norrlof
    1 year ago

    You’re welcome, Christer.

    Allan Neil
    Allan Neil(@allan-neil)
    1 year ago

    You certainly hit the heart and soul of the subject there, Christer, and the final haiku is masterful.

    Margarida Brei
    Margarida Brei(@margarida-brei)
    1 year ago

    Well done, Christer in your narrative poetry.

    Greene M Wills
    Greene M Wills(@greene-m-wills)
    1 year ago

    Sometimes less is more, just like your haiku … Truly inspired!

    Last edited 1 year ago by Greene M Wills
    Linda Rock
    Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
    1 year ago

    I agree with Allan, Christer, you’ve truly captured the prompt, so eloquently and poetically. I absolutely loved it!

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    1 year ago

    This is an incredible story, Christer – one of your best. Not only did you capture the spirit and story of Basho, but also so many of your lines are in the 5-7-5 three-line format that we associate with haiku. Beautifully written and crafted. I especially love the very last haiku. Excellent writing!

    Susan Dawson
    Susan Dawson(@susan-dawson)
    Reply to  Christer Norrlof
    1 year ago

    Not fair. What’s wrong with Mount Susan? OK, not quite the same ring. There was a part of your poem that made me imagine people from war-torn countries returning home after their wanders and what they would find.

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    Reply to  Christer Norrlof
    1 year ago

    You two are hilarious. I will take these flippant references to sacred mountains – of which I am foremost of course – as the ditherings of humans. Basho and I live on a higher plane. Colorado mountains? Ha! A few years old compared to my ancient origins. ?

    Susan Dawson
    Susan Dawson(@susan-dawson)
    Reply to  Fuji
    1 year ago

    I didn’t know I had a mountain

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    Reply to  Susan Dawson
    1 year ago

    I also didn’t know there was a Mount Susan until Christer told us! I love the fact that we can explore profound topics, write about spiritual awakenings and also have fun in the process. I have to say Christer’s research for this story was incredibly extensive. We all learn from each other in these stories.

    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    1 year ago

    Great Haiku story Christer. I have to say that I love your bee picture too. I wish I could take shots like that. It’s stunning.

    Sandra James
    Sandra James(@sandra-james)
    1 year ago

    I certainly didn’t expect haiku when I clicked on your entry, Christer. A wonderful surprise and each one a gem, with the final one finishing the sequence perfectly. Well done!

    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    1 year ago

    Congratulations Christer on your top spot with your poetic haiku story ?

    Linda Rock
    Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
    1 year ago

    Congratulations on winning the Grand Prize, Christer. A wonderful take on the prompt.

    Sandra James
    Sandra James(@sandra-james)
    1 year ago

    Congratulations, Christer! A wonderful use of the prompt and a well deserved win.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    1 year ago

    A big congratulations, Christer. I am happy for your win. Cheers!

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Christer Norrlof
    1 year ago

    You are welcome, Christer.

    Juma
    Juma(@juma)
    1 year ago

    Christer, I was so happy to see that you won this contest. Your story was beautiful and wise and incredibly well-written. It seems that your writing is reaching new heights! Congratulations.

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    7 months ago

    Wow – one of my favorite stories in all these years, brought to my attention once again. Thank you, Christer, for taking the time and doing the research to write this beautiful masterpiece, and for giving such importance to the spiritual journey in your own life and in your writing. As I said before, the final haiku is perfect. Even though I’ve read this story a dozen times at least, today’s reading… Read more »

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    6 months ago

    Wow – I am pleased to read back your story, Christer. It brings me so much enjoyment to read a great masterpiece from you. The one that leaves a lesson and stays in my mind. And this paragraph hooked me for the second time around, “Give your soul and feet some rest On a different pilgrimage: A wordless, pathless journey To the Heart within your heart.” It hits and speaks down to… Read more »

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Christer Norrlof
    6 months ago

    You’re welcome, Christer. And thank you for sending your countless blessings. God bless you always.

    Last edited 6 months ago by Lotchie Carmelo

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