Demise of the Autumn Willow

weeping willow fades
golden to butter yellow
a smear in the mud

© Kim M. Russell, 2016

Autumn Willow (photo © Paul Militaru, Photograph Portfolio)

My response to Carpe Diem Imagination With Paul Militaru #5 autumn willow

In the final ‘Imagination With Paul Militaru’ episode, Chèvrefeuille has found a wonderful photo in which autumn is beautifully portrayed and which reminded him of a waka by Saigyo:

alongside the path
fresh water flows, and
in the willow’s shade
just for a little while
would I take my ease..

© Saigyo (1118-1190)

He has also shared the haiku Basho wrote in response to this waka:

one patch of a rice field when it was planted I left the willow tree © Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)