Farewell Kiss

dawn sky
why does the sickle moon
still hang over the cherry blossoms

***

interrupting
the bulbul’s dirge
one love-struck toad
I
***

farewell kiss
on dawn’s glowing cheek
a dark smudge

Linked to Carpe Diem Haiku Kai, where Basho’s journey to the Deep North (Oku no Hosomichi) continues. Marvelling at the beauty of the town’s name, Basho worships at the shrine in Komatsu, where he observes the fleeting nature of glory in the incongruity of a cricket chirping inside an intricately patterned ancient battle helmet.

Previous posts in this series are HERE