Origins of Bamboo Night - a haiku poem

Origins of Bamboo Night - a haiku poem

A Story by Earl Schumacker
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Do snow flakes suffer after being captured or do they simply melt?

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Bamboo Night origins - Story behind the epic haiku poem “Bamboo Night”

It is a tribute poem to Matsuo Bashō.   In 1674, December 20th. The 354th. day of the year. It was a Thursday if I remember correctly; The epic haiku poem takes place in the solitude of the bamboo forest in Ueno Japan at precisely 2:35 am near where the Sumida and Ara Rivers meet in the dead of night and depths of Winter. A handful of twinkling stars fight their way through scattered gray clouds. A soft light breeze holds tiny snow flakes suspended, then lands them ever so gently on solid green bamboo shoots and related surfaces in absolute silence, in absolute cold, with no one around to witness the solemn event. There are no discernible sounds at all in the dark green forest.

A perfectly round moon stands up above totally remote, hovering, suspended in time, an inanimate gray white object almost bright, frozen on the distance, settles, shines down, just to the northwest of the regions coldest location. Some snow flakes land temporarily, shake in a frenzy on the soft wind, to hold on but are lifted again off the surface of the bamboo, drift away silently into oblivion. Certain flakes remain intact on the green, pretend to be green. By dawn they turn, in an ever so slower process, into a clear liquid, evaporate in the mist of morning. The conditions are verging on warmth but are still too cold to be called warm. The snow then begins to disappear forever, one tiny flake at a time. Some white remains but mostly green is seen at the dawn of day. Calm and silence can be soothing under the shimmering stars and tranquil frozen moon. Snow becomes a memory by high noon. By December 21st. evening, new snow comes forth from sleeping clouds, to repeat the cycle once more in Ueno forest.

Bamboo Night - Haiku


melting by star light

slow, tranquil, solemn moon cold

snow on bamboo white

© 2017 Earl Schumacker


Author's Note

Earl Schumacker
I realize Earl Schumacker is not really a Japanese name but use your imagination for the purpose of the story. He really didn't live in 1674 either, back in the time of Basho. The author begs your forgiveness. I doubt if there is a bamboo forest in Ueno. (I think it is an educational center in Japan.) but lets pretend just for fun.

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Added on April 6, 2017
Last Updated on April 6, 2017
Tags: winter, age, nature, snow, solitude, moon, bamboo

Author

Earl Schumacker
Earl Schumacker

Atlantic City, NJ



About
B.A. Degree in Literature and Language. I enjoy writing short stories, poetry, novels and keeping up with new scientific discoveries. I enjoy philosophy and Art appreciation. more..

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