Last week I thought about posting one of my favourite haiku for today’s Tuesday poem. It was written by sixteenth century Japanese poet, Mizuta Masahide, after watching his barn burn to the ground.
Barn’s burnt down
now I can see the moon
Then the devastating Japanese earthquake and tsunami struck. It seems too soon to be looking for the moon. While I was looking up Masahide, I came across another haiku, by Taigu Ryokan, whose poem ‘You Do Not Need Many Things’ I posted in January. He wrote it after his home had been burgled.
The thief left it behind:
the moon at my window
Photo by Toshihiro Oimatsu (Tokyo) via Wikimedia Commons
Deepest condolences to the people of Japan who have lost so much.
Janis Freegard's Weblog 
Beautiful, thank you
The Japanese earthquake and tidal wave is almost too big to comprehend. Thank you for your post, they were two truly beautiful haiku.
wonderful – sad – very sad
I’m here through Marty McCallum’s blog. It’s helpful to share our grief, if only we could do more.
janis, thank you so much for this posting, for several reasons. i have always loved the Masahide haiku, although i did not know the author; i loved the simple, critical message. and now this other, by Ryokan. it feels so right for these days, and really, for all our days.
all best wishes,
susan
Beautiful. I stumbled across your blog, happy to have found it. A lovely reminder to adore the moon. X