by Geri AndrewsPeople in Europe have had a close relationship with the Blackthorn tree (Prunus Spinosa) for thousands of years, and more than any other early spring flowering tree, it is embedded in stories of folklore. Its blossom, though brief, heralds the start of Spring – and what an impact it makes. It is stunningly beautiful The Blackthorn Here in these northern climes, The first warm rays of sunshine, Set in motion a bursting forth of life Awakened from its Winter slumber. The Blackthorn tree is one of the first to flower; The suddenness of this spectacle signals the change. Its dense, thicket-like habit tumbles with showers of snowy-white petals, Contrasting against the dark purply-black of its branches; Unique in that its leaves unfurl only after the blossom has dropped, While surrounding trees are still dressed in their brown winter tones. Step closer…..the gentle hum of bees feeding on sweet nectar, The perfume of its oh so subtle, lingering fragrance. Butterflies shimmer nearby, warming their wings. A little songbird trills out his territorial melody, Safe within its thorny embrace. The first sensation of sunshine on skin that has, for months, been bundled up under coats and scarves, Is irresistibly pleasant. Winter has retreated once more. In city parks, bodies sprawl on cool, damp grass, Angled like solar panels to absorb life-giving rays. The café is empty, People choosing to sit kerbside with their coffee To feel the warmth of the sun after so long. Car windows get turned down, music gets turned up. A new Spring begins again. The Blackthorn, with its cascade of joyous blossom announces this arrival. Often called the Mother of the Woods, For where it goes other trees may follow, In Autumn, when the first frosts descend, its fruit, the sloe, Can be gathered to make wintery preserves. And once its leaves have dropped back to the ground, Its gnarled and knotty wood can be fashioned into the shalaylee, The best walking-stick around. It’s a peaceful feeling just to sit and be with a tree,
Its nature and my nature go together, so beautifully. Its nature and my nature are one and the same, As we exchange each breath, over and over again.
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Matsuo Basho (1644-94) born in Edo (modern day Tokyo) Japan, is considered to be the great master of the Haiku. Haiku is a short, unrhyming poem of three lines and traditionally not more than 17 syllables. Dating back to as long ago as the 10th and 11th centuries, its form came into being as an introductory verse for the long poems of 100 verses or more that were read at poetry gatherings. It was always intended to be a complete statement in itself, whilst alluding to the poem that it preceded. These short poems came to be seen as an expression in their own right, a way of communicating a feeling, an experience, a way to evoke the atmosphere of what was being described. Central to this is the understanding in Japanese culture of what is called Ma (pronounced ‘maah’). Ma is awareness of the space, rather than paying attention only to the form of an object. Ma is filled with nothing, with emptiness, silence rather than sound, less rather than more, space rather than form. It is the pause in speech, the silence between notes in music, the blank space in painting. In this space is stillness, is peace. Haiku relies on the reader being able to feel and imagine what is being expressed with the minimum of words possible. It is what is not put into words, the feeling, that is important. Ma is more eloquent than words. There is a painterly quality, the poem happens now, in the present, and is focused on the simple beauty of nature, the changing of the seasons, sentiments experienced in the moment. The Narrow Road to the Interior, written by Basho around 1690, is widely held to be one of the masterpieces of Asian literature. It is a travelogue of a journey he made with a companion in his later years. Part fiction and part fact, the haiku are so expressive as to serve almost as illustrations of his feelings and observations within the story of the diary. He conveys an essential yet tender quality that charms the reader. Basho wrote many books, elevating the haiku from a genre that was uniquely Japanese to a level that was accessible for international appreciation. He is still the foremost poet first time readers of haiku come across, and his works have greatly influenced many writers of the 20th century. It is difficult to translate some of the subtleties within the original Japanese script as haiku are written in one line, without any punctuation. In English this doesn't work well, so minimal punctuation is sometimes needed. Not starting with a capital letter or ending with a full stop helps suggest the feeling of being in the continuity of a space, the Ma, neither beginning nor ending. words by Geri Andrews  graphic by Olivera Stevanic
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