For centuries, Japanese haiku poets have been fascinated with the heron, and thatinterest has spread to haijin around the world. The heron is a large wading bird with along neck and long legs, and it family includes bitterns and egrets. I’ve always likedorig.
This year, the same heron appears on the cover of HSA’s journal, Frogpond,
as well as on the HSA newsletter. I decided to learn more about the image,and wondered why the Newsletter called it “sumi-e.” Here are my findings:sumi-e is the Japanese art of brush painting. Only black ink is used in sumi-eand four brush strokes are the basis for everything painted in sumi-e. The strokesare called the “Four Gentlemen” and correspond with the brush stroke used topaint four plants — the Bamboo Stroke, the Wild Orchid Stroke, the Chrysanthe-mum Stroke, and the Plum Branch Stroke.Stephen Addiss of the University of Richmond Department ofArt and History, painted the HSA’s heron sumi-e. You can seemore of his painting in this collection of haiga, which was featuredin Simply Haiku (March 2004). Prof. Addiss has edited or writtenmany books on Japanese art — find a list here. I’m pleased to haveone of them in my personal collection — Haiku Landscapes: In Sun,Wind, Rain, And Snow.Click here for a larger version of Stephen Addiss’ sumi-e heron.
update (Nov. 11, 2005): Ed Markowski, our most reliablesource of topical haiku (especially with Issa offline), has sharedthe following pair, along with an account of the sinking of theEdmund Fitzgerald, in a Comment:first time on the riveri fish the spotthe heron fishedsunseta sunfish thrashesin the heron’s beakYes, I’m on vacation this week, and am staying away from
the heavy stuff today (so far).lingering chillthe catkinserecttoadstool –sharing taleswith my sisterseafood restaurantguppies surroundthe lighthousefrom Upstate Dim Sum (2005/II)
November 10, 2005
this heron is adjourned
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david, thirty years ago today, the edmund fitzgerald sank 15 miles west of whitefish point michigan. the storm that took her down is still the most vicious to ever blow across the lakes. winds that night were hurricane force, with heavy snow and sleet. while the exact cause of the wreck was never determined, 30 foot waves were measured on lake superior that night. 29 men went down. what does this have to do with herons? they’re numerous on the shores of the greatest lake of all!
whitefish point
twenty-nine sunflowers
surround the lighthouse
sunset
a sunfish thrashes
in the heron’s beak
“whitefish point” – orig. published in cliffs (tk splake, ed.), as part of a haibun
Comment by ed markowski — November 10, 2005 @ 7:38 pm
david, thirty years ago today, the edmund fitzgerald sank 15 miles west of whitefish point michigan. the storm that took her down is still the most vicious to ever blow across the lakes. winds that night were hurricane force, with heavy snow and sleet. while the exact cause of the wreck was never determined, 30 foot waves were measured on lake superior that night. 29 men went down. what does this have to do with herons? they’re numerous on the shores of the greatest lake of all!
whitefish point
twenty-nine sunflowers
surround the lighthouse
sunset
a sunfish thrashes
in the heron’s beak
“whitefish point” – orig. published in cliffs (tk splake, ed.), as part of a haibun
Comment by ed markowski — November 10, 2005 @ 7:38 pm
when people think michigan, they think cars.
one would have to live here to fully grasp
the seafaring nature of this state. so many
friends and neighbors, sailors and merchant marines. this entire state functions on the movement of the lakes.
its pounding wakes me / its rhythm lulls me back / lake superior / divorced / i’ve lost
the need / to go fishing
Comment by ed markowski — November 10, 2005 @ 9:10 pm
when people think michigan, they think cars.
one would have to live here to fully grasp
the seafaring nature of this state. so many
friends and neighbors, sailors and merchant marines. this entire state functions on the movement of the lakes.
its pounding wakes me / its rhythm lulls me back / lake superior / divorced / i’ve lost
the need / to go fishing
Comment by ed markowski — November 10, 2005 @ 9:10 pm