Special Edition - Finish the Story and Mizu No Oto Haiku Contest Entry - @bananafish

After reading and discussing @theironfelix’s entry for this week, thought it best to try a mash-up of these two exciting contests offered by @bananafish on a weekly basis:


And if this weren’t enough!!!

This fun loving community of contest writers would like to announce a new QITR saga starting on Steemit February 11th.

Get your ticket to the “Quest in the Realms” for a chance to win 30 Steem and 30 SBI.

For more information follow this link:
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Now for this week’s contest mash-up with @marcoriccardi leading the way on the prompts so it’s all about the haiku Jah mon . . .

Intro:

The story of Mr. Renhe Ren
by @marcoriccardi

It is said that Mr. Renhe Ren, of Daochu village, in the province of Quan Shijie, in his forty-second year of life, was seized by a great rage because of his long-standing enemy, who was constantly working to hinder and ruin any of his activities and projects. Faced with the umpteenth abuse, Mr. Renhe Ren felt that his harmony and self-control were going to be lost. He was no longer able to feel the noble sentiments worthy of a superior man.

Then he remembered the words of the wise man. "Sit down along the river bank and wait, sooner or later you will see the corpse of your enemy pass". So, he left the village of Daochu and went down to the river. He found a willow with a wide foliage that bent gently over the water, and sat down in his shadow, determined to wait until the wisdom of the ancestors had brought a solution to his problem.

He awaited for days and nights, meditating. Sun, rain, wind and fog alternated tormenting him, but neither the heat, nor the cold, nor the humidity, nor the insects distracted him from his waiting. Time passed, until one day in late autumn, the stream swollen for the rains brought a corpse to its feet, face down. Mr. Renhe Ren shook himself from his meditation and leaned towards the muddy water, his heart finally calm.

Great was his surprise when he saw…

My Entry:

And so begins the ancient Japanese poem about the Rōnin, Mister Renhe Ren:

Samurai honor –
A passing season for Ren,
broken river man.

Darker shade from tree,
shrouds Ren in timeless sadness.
Dead leaves in the sun –

Late fall forest fog –
Animals hide in the gray mist,
approaching danger.

Twilight time fading,
into the star filled black void.
Natures clock circle –

New river water –
Mister Renhe Ren walks in
sound of splashing feet.

Necromancer sees,
a ninja ghost still inside.
Cold autumn water –

The winter ninja –
Daochu village thieves of night,
stealing a souls light.

Mister Renhe Ren,
Master lost on snowy night.
Ninja blade warm blood –

Ninja cool water –
Mister Renhe Ren revenge,
warm winter healing.

Mister Renhe Ren,
restore honor to master.
Shame ninja pupil –

Defeat enemy –
Meditation state of Zen,
hit hidden killer.

Now return to where,
the circle began, time lost.
Daochu village home –

Akari Nakamoto, is from the province of Quan Shijie, where historians say this poem originates from. It dates back to the feudal period of Japan. Some notable critics compare it to The Song of Roland.

Mr. Nakamoto’s translation of this poem completed at the University of Tokyo remains the most circulated in the English language.

Although most know Mr. Nakamoto as a noted scholar and academic with his translations of ancient Japanese literature into the English language, most never get to see his soft side.

That’s why Mr. Nakamoto includes this fun haiku with a picture of his favorite cat.

Keep happiness near –
Cats never get thrown away,
when cleaning the house.

Image credit @marcoriccardi

Arigato,
Cyrus Emerson

Also, available from the Author:

Steemit Blog: Contests – new ebook with print edition on the way!
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Fear and Loathing in the State of Jefferson - ebook
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Lost Angel – Introduction with Ray Manzarek of The Doors
https://www.downpour.com/lost-angel?sp=249812

Red Roses - audiobook
https://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Red-Roses-Audiobook/B07F2LWHPN