TWWH Chapter 5 ABTHOLOGY

DUTCH HAIKU

Op zachte voeten
vol plannen en duisternis
poes in de kelder

On gentle feet
full of designs in darkness
puss in the cellar Footnote1

-Johanna Hell

Boven de wolken
op weg naar een herfstig huis
honderden mensen

Above the clouds
on the way to the autumnal house
hundreds of beings Footnote2

-Johanna Hell

Ongerepte sneeuw -
alles is nog mogelijik
op Nieuwjaarsmorgen.

Untouched as yet the snow -
anything may happen still
on New Year's morning.

-Adri van den Berg

Een vierkanje zon
ligt op versleten stoelen
in de wachtkamer.

A square of sunlight
resting on the worn-out seats
of the waiting room.

-Adri van den Berg

Vogels gaan slapen -
in halfschemer verliezen
mensen hun gezicht.

Birds now go to sleep -
in early twilight people
losing their faces.

-Gaby Bleijenbergh

Machtige grijzen
houden de zon gegijzeld
op de langste dag.

Mighty gray skies
keep the sun imprisoned
on the longest day.

-Gaby Bleijenbergh

Kalm glijdt het water
terug uit golven van zand -
nu wordt het gauw eb.

Water quietly glides
back from waves of shore-sand
tide will soon be out.

-Gaby Bleijenbergh

Door kale bomen
wandelt de bol-rode zon
een eind met ons mee.

Through naked trees
the round-red sun travels
a short distance with us.

-Hermy Blumenthal

Doodsklokken luiden
onder platgetreden sneeuw
een eerste crocus.

Deathbells are tolling
under the trampled snow
a crocus in bud.

-Hermy Blumenthal

trekkende vogels
in deze nacht is de lucht
vol geheimen

migrating birds
this night the sky is full
of mysteries.

-Johanna (Jenny) ten Broeke

De lijster broedt stil
het voorjaarsbos weerspiegelt
in haar dromend oog

The thrush brooding silently
the springwood reflects
in her dreaming eye.

-Silva Ley

J. van Aelst-Versteden

De steen met zijn naam
ligt ondergesneeuwd, ik schuif
de woorden open.

The stone with his name
lies covered with snow,
I shove the words open.

-Yha Frijlink

RAIN ON SLOPING ROOF
AS IF IT'LL NEVER STOP
OUR BED A WARM SHELL

-His Dirkse-Bresters

De shaapscheerder kwam:
het kale schaap staat blatend
naast zijn warme vacht. Footnote3

The sheepshearer came:
the bald sheep stnds bleating
beside it warm skin.

-Elsa Hey-de Herder

Het berijpte riet,
nog even roze bloeiend
in de avondzon.

The frosted reed,
briefly flowered pink
in the evening sun.

-Elsa Hey-de Herder

Koeien in de mist,
hun zwarte logge lijven
drijven traag voorbij.

Cows in the fog,
their heavy black bodies
are slowly floating past.

-Elsa Hey-de Herder

Boven op de berg
ving ik het lied van de wind
in mijn thermosfles.

Up in the mountains
I caught the tune of the wind
in my thermos bottle.

-Nanneke Huizinga

Op het vensterglas
draagt elke regendruppel
jemel en aarde.

On the window pane
is each and every raindrop
bearing heaven and earth.

-Nanneke Huizinga

A pencil on the street
I am too tired to return
and pick up the old thing

-Loeke Groenendal

New Year's Eve;
a tin rattles out of
the empty street.

-Gusta van Gulick

in seze vriesnacht
snijden zes kale takjes
de maan in stukjes

on a frost clear night
six bare branches cut
the moon into pieces

-Mieke de Jonghe

The only men
who ever touched her body
doctors - she loved them

-Nadia Nahmias-Radovici

Sunbeam
on my grandmother's portrait
her smiling eyes

-Nadia Nahmias-Radovici

een spin in haar web
de witte maan gevangen
tossen acht poten

-Lucette M.Oostenbroek Footnote4

Deze kerstmorgen
smetteloos wit van de rijp
ook het prikkeldraad.

This Christmans morning
spotless white by the hoar frost
also the barbed wire.

-Nelly Pels

a cat in the rain-
her only company:
a flea near her ear

-Nelly Pels Footnote5

Hi bukte zich diep
en toonde de kinderen
de pad in zijn hand.

He bowed at his knee
showing to his grandchildren
the toad in his hand.

-Hermina Rijnink-Jonckers Footnote6

With a little waiting
the foam in your glass
becomes beer again. Footnote7

-Wanda Reumer

Over a night
full of commotion and squabble
the moon silently rises.

-Pauline Regensburg-Burck

De jonge non leefde
om anderen te helpen,
nu sterft zij aan aids.

The young nun lived
to aid other people,
now she's dying of AIDS.

- Truus Soutendijk

Kinderen spelen
in lentetuinen, dichbij
een kerncentrale.

Children play
in spring gardens, near
a nuclear reactor.

- Truus Soutendijk

brug op logge poten
heeft diep en vierkant
wortal geshoten

bridge on heavy legs
heavy deep and square
has taken root

-Jette van Thor-Braun

Met vele bezems
vegen de kale bomen
de lage wolken.

With many brooms
the bare trees sweep the
low clouds.

-Clara Timmermans

Het is langer licht
in de namiddag klinken
nog kinderstemmen.

Between the lights
in the afternoon, children's voices
are still sounding.

-Lutha de Vries-van Heerde

Regen en regen
in onze verdronken tuin
groeit alleen een plas.

Raining and raining
in our inundated garden
only a pool is growing

-Lutha de Vries-van Heerde

maartse buien!
twee heren in de regen
handen aan de hoed

April showers!
two gentlemen in the rain
hands on their hats

-Thea Witteveen

Het meer bij maanlicht -
midden in al dat siver
een vissersbootje.

The lake by moonlight -
amidst the silvery waves
one fisherman's boat.

Op het lege strand
drie dametjes in het wit,
wuivend naar een schip.

On the lonesome beach
three little ladies in white,
waving to a ship.

-Helena Wolthers

dor blad in de wind
huppelt vrokijk over straat.
het heeft alles mee.

that withered leaf
is frisking in deserted streets.
it has a wind-fall.

-Caroline Zegerman,

GERMAN ANTHOLOGY

"My Path to Haiku"

My grandfather was a diplomat for ten years in Tokyo and my mother attended the Sacré-Coeur-Schule, where she became friends with a Japanese girl (Kikou Yamato) who later wrote novels in French and married the Swiss painter (Conrad Meili). The couple lived in Paris and journeyed in 1939 to Japan, where they were surprised by the war, and able to return only after its end. Conrad Meili learned about haiku and wrote haiku which were published in Japanese magazines. He told me of the art of haiku and I was fascinated. I was convinced that such short poems were in their form and spirit and evocative power especially suited for the German language. I knew already several translations into German, but none of them attempted to retain the seventeen syllable and I knew of no haiku written in German.

Therefore I tried it...

-Flandrina von Salis Footnote1

Halte den Sommer,
Oh Freund, eh er enblättert
Wie der rote Mohn!

Hold back the summer
Oh friend, before its petals fall
As the red poppy!

-Flandrina von Salis Footnote2

Vor des Blütenbaums
Wolkiger Schönheit is selbst
Die Liebe verstummt.

Before the blooming tree's
Cloud of beauty is even
Love wordless.

-Flandrina von Salis Footnote3

Einsamer Vogel
Am weinenden Herbsthimmel
- Schicksal des Menschen.

Lonely bird
Under the tearful autumn sky
- Fate of mankind.

-Flandrina von Salis Footnote4

Du, kleiner Glühwurm,
Allein, sahst meine Tränen
Um den Geliebten.

You, small firefly,
alone, see my tears
for the beloved.

-Flandrina von Salis Footnote5

Eis löst sich vom Bach-
klar aus der Tiefe leuchten
braungold die Steine.

Ice frees itself from the stream-
clear from the depths shines
brown-gold stones.

-Imma von Bodmershof Footnote6

Sturm poltert ums Dach
Eisregen schägt ans Fenster --
lautlos wächst der Tag.

Storm thrashes on the roof
freezing rain hits the window
without a sound day wakes.

-Imma von Bodmershof Footnote7

Finkenruf taglang
im kahlen Kirschbaum-plötzlich
steht er in Blüten.

For days the finch calls
in a bare cherry tree-suddenly
he stands midst flowers.

-Imma von Bodmershof Footnote8

Nur wie ein Tropfen
scheint mir der Teich vor dem Haus
seit ich das Meer sah.

Only like a drop
the pond before the house seems to me
since I saw the sea.

-Imma von Bodmershof Footnote9

Gräber im Nebel
leere Nester. Die Schwalben
kreisen im Süden.

Graves in fog
empty nests. The swallows
circle in the south.

-Imma von Bodmershof Footnote10

Helle Kristalle schimmern
ein Straìenkehrer
fegt sie als Schlamm fort.

Bright crystals glimmer
a streetcleaner
sweeps them as slush away.

-Imma von Bodmershof Footnote11

Fremdes Mondenlicht
scheint grell auf die Sonnenuhr-
wer deutet die Zeit?

Strange moonlight
shines harsh upon the sundial-
who tells the time?

-Imma von Bodmershof Footnote12

was changed to:

Fremdes Mondenlicht
auf der alten Sonnenuhr.
Wo gilt diese Zeit?

Strange moonlight
on the old sundial.
Where is this time correct?

-Imma von Bodmershof Footnote13

Schatten. Der Kater
im Sonnenfleck leckt das Gold
von seinen Pfoten.

Shadow. The cat
in a spot of sun licks the gold
from his paws.

-Imma von Bodmershof Footnote14

Dieses Entenpaar!
Es zersägt mit seiner Spur
die Fichtenwipfel.

This pair of ducks
It saws off with his tracks
the fir tree tip Footnote15.

-Margret Buerschaper

Übervoll der Krug:
Forsythienflammen lodern
vor der Wand aus Holz.

Overflowing the pitcher
Flames of forsythia smolder
before the wooden wall. Footnote16

-Margret Buerschaper

Im Wasserspiegel
verzieht der Mond sein Gesicht-
ein Fisch tauchte auf.

A mirror of water
The moon distorts his face
as a fish leaps. Footnote17

-Margret Buerschaper

Darkness fell early --
a few leaves on the river
drifting through the moon.

-Sabine Sommerkamp Footnote18

auf kahlem acker
die verrostete egge--
weiìglitzernd bereift

on a bare field
the rusted harrow--
frosted glittering white

-Ilse Hensel Footnote19

neuer arbeitsraum --
himmel und tannenspitzen
im fenstergeviert

new workroom --
heaven and the tops of pines
in the window squared

-Ilse Hensel Footnote20

Lange Baumschatten
laufen den Hügel hinauf.
Die Dämmrung schleicht nach.

Long tree shadows
run up the hill.
Dusk sneaks up behind.

-Ingrid Grunsky Footnote21

Den Kahn ans Ufer
gezogen und umgekippt --
schon dicht der Nebel.

The canoe on shore
pulled up and dumped over --
the fog is already thick.

-Ilse von Heywolff-Kullmann Footnote22

Auf der Eingangstür
sitzt ein Froshkind und wartet
geduldig auf Mücken.

At the front door
a frog-child sits and waits
patiently for a mosquito.

-Saskia Ishikawa-Franke Footnote23

Ein weiìer Falter
schaukelt im Juniregen
aus Bambuszweigen.

A white butterfly
swings in June rain
on a bamboo branch.

-Saskia Ishikawa-Franke Footnote24

Ein Band Gerissen --
eine Freiheit mehr. Schmerzlos
fallen die Blätter ...

A tie torn away
one freedom more.
Painlessly fall leaves.

-Lia Frank Footnote25

Sieh, in der Lücke,
die der gestürzte Baum riì,
blüht jetxt der Flieder.

See, in the space
torn by the fallen tree,
now lilac blooms.

-Marianne Junghans Footnote26

Die Ackerwinde
umschlingt mit ihren Blüten
auch den Stacheldraht.

Vines in the field
winds with its flowers
also the barbed wire.

-Marianne Junghans Footnote27

Der Grasteppich wächst --
Tausend Blüten sind bereit
Sich zu verschenken.

The grass-carpet grows --
a thousand flowers are ready
to give themselves.

-Lili Keller-Strittmatter

Kastanienzweige
breiten grüne Fächer bis
hinau zum Dachfirst.

Castania branches
spread a green fan
up to the eaves.

-Gerda Adelheid Kirmse Footnote28

Weinfest im Städtchen.
Auf dem Rasen verstreut die
Blätter des Ahorns.

Wine fest in a village.
Spread out over the lawns
leaves of maple.

-Gerda Adelheid Kirmse Footnote29

PFINGSTEN: HOCH ÜBER

DIE KIRCHTURMSPITZE HINWEG

SCHWINGT SICH DIE TAUBE.

WHITSUM: HIGH OVER

THE TIP OF THE CHURCH TOWER

PIGEONS SWING THEMSELVES.

-Hildegard Loth Footnote30

Footnote1

Flandrina von Salis. Quoted from the article "Mohnblüten und Wahrenehmungen" by Carl Heinz Kurz, Vierteljahresschift der Deutschen Haiku-Gesellschaft IV:4, February 1991. Tr. Jane Reichhold.

Footnote2

Flandrina von Salis. Mohnblüten: Abendländische Haiku [Poppies: Oriental Haiku]. Illustrated with woodcuts from Conrad Meili. 97 haiku on 64 pages published by the "Vereinigung Oltner Bücherfreunde", Summer 1955 in Basel, Switzerland. From the article "Mohnblüten und Wahrenehmungen" by Carl Heinz Kurz, Vierteljahresschift der Deutschen Haiku-Gesellschaft IV:4, February 1991. Tr. Jane Reichhold.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Imma von Bodmershof. Löwenzahn. Matsuyama, Japan:Verlag Itadori-Hakkosho, 1978. Tr. Jane Reichhold.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Imma von Bodmershof. Sonnenuhr. Stifterbibliothek Salzburg/Neugebauer Press, Bad Goisern, Austria, 1970. Tr. Jane Reichhold.

Footnote13

Imma von Bodmershof. Löwenzahn. Matsuyama, Japan:Verlag Itadori-Hakkosho, 1978. Tr. Jane Reichhold.

Footnote14

Imma von Bodmershof. Sonnenuhr. Stifterbibliothek Salzburg/Neugebauer Press, Bad Goisern, Austria, 1970. Tr. Jane Reichhold.

Footnote15

Margret Buerschaper, Vierteljahresschrift der Deutschen Haiku-Gesellschaft, II:4, December, 1989. Tr. Jane Reichhold.

Footnote16

Ibid.

Footnote17

Margret Buerschaper, from the renga with Sigurd Bolay on page 27 of Spuren im Moor, Protokoll einer Lesung, Im Graphikum, 1989. Tr. Jane Reichhold.

Footnote18

From a personal letter dated 7/11/'82 from Sabine Sommerkamp to Jane Reichhold.

Footnote19

Ilse Hensel. The Haiku Handbook. Written by William J. Higgenson with Penny Harter. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1985.

Footnote20

Ilse Hensel. From the renga "In the Clearing Overlaps" from Tigers in a Tea Cup. Jane Reichhold. Gualala, Ca:AHA Books, 1988. Tr. Jane Reichhold.

Footnote21

Ingrid Grunsky. From Bio-Bibliographie der Mitclieder der Deutschen Haiku-Gesellschaft. Margaret Buerschaper und Dr. Tadao Araki, editors. Frankfurt am Main: 1990. Tr. Jane Reichhold.

Ibid., pp. 86.

Ibid., pp. 88.

Ibid.

Ibid., pp. 54.

Ibid., pp. 98.

Ibid.