Swing high

Image: NHK: Word of season; Swing

These are haiku. Every week, NHK holds 2 or 3 haiku sessions. Of course, the language used is Japanese.
Take a little look at the haiku here. They are all in one line which has 17 syllables. So, one misconception of haiku is it should be in 3 lines with 5-7-5 design. Not necessary.

The word of season of above haiku is swing. How come? You may wonder. Why swing becomes a season word. Swing is an outdoor activity. Most outdoor activity is done in spring or summer. In this case swing is a spring season word, maybe because in Japan the weather in summer is too hot/humid to play in the park.

I don't have time to translate those haiku up there. I have to finish some writing right now, so I'm desperate for time.

Here is my own version of swing.

Clouds all around her
watering heaven's garden
my mom swinging high.

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Night frog lullaby

I was doing some editing right into the night. Outside, in the breezy summer night, I can heard the night frog calling. There is some kind of rhythm to the call. Then, I remember another call. A call to sing.

Night frog lullaby
Kanashi koto* in blue
the moon chorus too.

*kanashi koto: something sad.

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Oleander sky

*Pink Oleander

This is Oleander. This flowery shrubs run all around the military bases in Okinawa together with the barb wires. After every barb wires that protect the people and property on the bases, they put up this shrub.

So, you think the American military intends to make Okinawa scene pretty?
Think again. Not that innocent!

The leaves of this angelic flower is poisonous. The white liquid that flows from the leaf contains an allergic substance that irritate the skin.

So, now it is clear why this innocent shrubs with beautiful flowers goes around the military bases.

Stand guard, tall and strong
catching breeze running the sky
Oleander blockade.

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*image from google

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Sabun Yen3,500

Sabun

Masa menulis ini, mengikut pertukaran mata yen/ringgit, harga sabun ini RM129.00

Semalam masa di dewan mandi, seorang mak cik menghulurkan sabun ini. Saya selalu picit bahu mak cik. Sesi picit memicit bermula bila saya rasa kesian mendengar dia kata bahu sakit-sakit buat kerja (mak cik kerja di kedai daging). Jadi saya picitlah, saja nak tolong legakan masalah. Tapi, seterusnya setiap minggu dia demand. Bila nampak saya saja, dia minta picitkan bahu. Kadang-kadang menunggu saya datang lagi. Lama-kelamaan, bukan dia saja. Ceritera dah berpusing. Sekarang ada dua tiga orang mak cik menunggu saya datang.
Jadi agaknya terasa demand sangat, semalam salah seorang beri saya sabun ini.

Saya ambil saja, terima kasihlah...tapi dalam hati berkata, "janganlah pula sabun ini mengandungi tepu minyak dari mergastua yang menyondol muncung itu".
Jaga-jaga di sini ramai yang guna sabun menyondol muncung. Saya guna Lux, punyalah murah (3 hanya 100 yen saja-Made in Maresia) tapi yang penting halal.
Dah terima sabun itu, seorang lagi kawan mak cik kata, kau guna sabun itu untuk muka saja.
Apa pula? Kalau guna badan tak boleh?
Eh!!! Jangan guna untuk badan, Mahal!!!!
Mahal?
Ye, Mahal...sekeping Yen 3,500!!!

Terfikir sendiri.
Alamak...tak suka.
Kenapa beri saya yang mahal begitu.
Saya tak suka termakan budi.
Biarlah saya picit sukarela...tak beri hadiah pun tak apa. Tak mahu termakan budi.
Saya buat kerja harapkan pahala (kalau dapatlah) di akhirah nanti.
Engkau mana tahu itu semua. Yang engkau beri itu semua engkau tuntut di dunia.
Engkau ingin saya picitkan selalu lepas engkau berikan sabun mahal itu, betul tak?
Jadi selepas ini kalau saya tak mahu picit lagi, macam mana?
Sabun itu.....???

Ini saya kata dalam hati saja.

Apalah...Jepun! Jepun!

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Bunga-bunga Basho

credit google: hanabatake


草いろいろ　　おのおの花の　手柄かな
Matsuo Bashou

Berkata bunga-bunga di padang itu.

Bunga Kosmos: Aku merah berkuntum, itu kejayaanku.
Bunga Dahlia: Aku kuning mengembang, itu kejayaanku.
Bunga Semalu: Aku bak kapas tapi tajam, itu kejayaanku.

Setiap bunga yang mengorak kelopak, kejayaan kuntuman itu hak mereka.

Kecantikan itu hak mereka, kejayaan itu hak mereka.

Kalau ingin sama cantik dan sama berjaya, usahalah memupuk baja di taman diri.

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