No matter how far I go, Santoka's words
No matter how far I go, Santoka's words
A traveler of words walking alone
Taneda Santoka was a pioneer of "free verse haiku," which is not bound by the fixed 5-7-5 format.
"I, who can't do anything, am walking."
It feels as though his entire life and poetry is contained in this one line.
Santoka was born in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1882. He grew up in a family that ran a sake brewery, but from an early age he faced uncertainty in his life, including his mother's suicide and the collapse of the family business. He dropped out of university and gave himself over to wandering and drinking, before eventually embarking on the path of Zen and traveling around the country as a mendicant monk.
His haiku break from established forms and even use seasonal words freely. His poems, which combine scenery and emotion, quietly penetrate the reader's heart. Rather than haiku, they give the impression of being a direct record of the voice of the heart.
Seasons and emotions in Santoka's haiku
・No matter how far I go, the mountains are blue. ・The rain is falling behind me. ・Even when I cough, I'm alone.
These poems have a unique lingering effect, as if the scenery and emotion are blended together. For example, "Blue Mountain" is not simply a description of nature, but seems to contain the loneliness and tenacity of the poet as he continues to walk. "Drizzle" seems to symbolize the emotions that fall on people's backs as the seasons change.
Santoka's poem resonates deeply with the traditional colors and seasonal words that are featured in the WABISUKE blog. "Shigure" refers to the cold rain that falls from late autumn to early winter, and if expressed in color, it would suit deep colors such as dull gray, gray-blue, or wet feather green. "Blue mountains" could be expressed in celadon, blue-blue, or a hazy pale blue that hangs over the mountains.
Santoka's freedom resonates today
Santoka's haiku also resonate with modern-day loneliness and freedom. Away from the hustle and bustle of social media, they offer a sense of tranquility that makes us reexamine the meaning of simply "walking." His haiku are neither assertive nor embellished, but simply reflect an attitude of observing things "as they are."
The poem "Even when I cough, I am alone" is often quoted as a symbol of loneliness, but there is not only sadness in it, but also a quiet affirmation. Even though it seems unconnected to anyone, it is connected to the wind, the air, and the road. This feeling resides in Santoka's poem.
His haiku are sure to resonate with WABISUKE's readership - parents and children, as well as young readers overseas. For example, "No matter how far I go, the mountains are always blue" conveys the feeling that even when faced with difficulties and challenges in life, all we can do is take one step at a time. It's a universal emotion that resonates in all situations, such as exams, work, child-rearing, and creative writing.
Walking with Santoka: A space for words
Santoka's haiku have a lot of space. Words are stripped away, and he simply depicts what "is." The emotions and memories of each reader can enter into that space.
We also place great importance on this "white space" in the WABISUKE blog. We create a space where readers can overlap their own feelings with traditional colors, seasonal words, illustrations, and text. I think this is somehow connected to what Santoka's haiku aimed for.
summary
Santoka's haiku embodies a profound solitude and serenity within its unconventional freedom. His words transcend time and resonate with us today.
On the WABISUKE blog, we hope to bring a quiet resonance to the hearts of our readers by introducing the words of these poets along with seasonal words, colors, and illustrations.
Why not take another look at the meaning of "walking," "feeling," and "accepting space" through Santoka's poems?