Pheasants Start to Call
Poem For the Micro-Season— Pheasants Start to Call (雉始雊) kiji hajimete naku January 15–20
In the dense brown grasses,
Thatched above the snow,
At dawn and dusk,
The pheasants start to speak their minds,
In their harsh two-note crows,
From coats of fluffed copper feathers,
White scarves around the neck,
Commenting on the cold and
Reminiscing about the passing autumn bounty.
Wondering as we all do
Just when
Spring will spring forth.
*******
From October of 2023- October 2024 I wrote poems based on the seventy-two micro-seasons of the traditional Japanese calendar. They were originally published in Scribe on Medium by Thomas Gaudex, editor.
The poem above belongs to shōkan (小寒)- The Season of Lesser Cold, the fifth of six winter seasons. Pheasants Begin to Call is the last of three micro-seasons of shōkan.
Most of these poems were written during the five day season of the calendar year. They were inspired both by the season title and by my experiences. I hope you enjoy the variety, and take time to celebrate each season with me!
Natalie
About the Creator
Natalie Wilkinson
Writing. Woven and Printed Textile Design. Architectural Drafting. Learning Japanese. Gardening. Two poems are featured in a new print anthology-POETICS: Grain available at Bainbridge Island Press.
IG: @maisonette _textiles
Enjoyed the story? Support the Creator.
Subscribe for free to receive all their stories in your feed. You could also become a paid subscriber, letting them know you appreciate their work.
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.