A Handsome Duck

red-faced and whiskered
dipping his beak water-deep
handsome Mandarin

Kim M. Russell, 21^st January 2019

My response to Carpe Diem #1589 mandarin ducks (oshidori)

Today is a reprise episode of ‘mandarin ducks’, which is a classical kigo for winter. We also have a few haiku with this kigo as examples:

 furu ike no oshidori ni yuki furu yuube kana

 at the old pond
snow falls on Mandarin ducks
in twilight

 Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

 oshidoriya ikeni otonaki kashino ame

 mandarin duck –
rain falls silently
from an oak

 © Yosa Buson (Tr. Chèvrefeuille)