The cormorant in the forest;
The cherry blossoms
Along the evening path.
by: Tan Taigi
Tan Taigi was a haiku poet of the Edo period. He was a wanderer for most of his life and admired by Yosa Buson for his ability to transcend his eclectic and unconventional lifestyle with sublime poetry.
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This haiku poem is part of the Naviar haiku music challenge, where artists are invited to make music in response to a weekly assigned haiku poem. Participation is free and there are no limitations in the songs’ length or genre.
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Interesting writing about a cormorant in the forest, as they are normally found by the ocean. Perhaps Taigi-san is referring to ‘ukai’ – the tradition of using these birds for boats fishing on lakes and rivers.
Hey Mats, I didn’t know about ‘ukai,’ but it could be. Thanks for the info. I often find them sunbathing by a river in a forest not far from where I live.