The poem
Below are eleven Buson haiku beginning with the phrase 'The short night--'
The short night-- on the hairy caterpillar beads of dew.
The short night-- patrolmen washing in the river.
The short night-- bubbles of crab froth among the river reeds.
The short night-- a broom thrown away on the beach.
The short night-- the Oi River has sunk two feet.
The short night-- on the outskirts of the village a small shop opening.
The short night-- broken, in the shallows, a crescent moon.
The short night-- the peony has opened.
The short night-- waves beating in, an abandoned fire.
The short night-- near the pillow a screen turning silver.
The short night-- shallow footprints on the beach at Yui.
User Submitted "The short night--" Haiku
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The short night- a watery moon stands alone over the hill
Maggie
The short night-- just as I'm falling asleep my wife's waking up
Larry Bole
I find that in order to fully appreciate haiku that I must seek additional information about the words used. This collection, this method of combining images associated with "the short night" just works. It creates the feeling of a wide-angle camera panning over scenes. This method of combining makes one isolate one image, then think of another image--which leads to building or creating layers. It keeps the language simple, focused and "pure". When completed, one begins to see the small connected to the whole.
This is a great approach to implement as a writing assignment (personal or in a class).
I'm glad this sequence was posted in this manner.