Master of the Housebook [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
It’s Spring at last, haijin! At least for now. The last nor’easter of the season came and went. The last snow slowly melts away. And we write on.
Congratulations to last week’s contributors:
Haikai Challenge Participants
| 1. Jane Dougherty 2. Ken Gierke / rivrvlogr 3. Reena Saxena 4. Jules 5. Pat R |
6. Pat R (2) 7. Jules #2 8. Xenia Tran 9. Linda Lee Lyberg 10. Xenia Tran (2) |
11. Janice (Ontheland) 12. Merril D. Smith 13. Vivian Zems 14. Revived Writer 15. Jane Dougherty |
Powered by… Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets.
Now, to the challenge ahead.
This week, Christians throughout the world (Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox in particular)celebrate Holy Week. These are a Christian’s high holy days, and it’s no accident that it coincides with both the advent of spring and the Jewish holy days known as passover. Full moons after vernal equinoxes, a transition from snow to rain, cold to warmth: Holy week at its heart celebrates transformation. The Chrysalis begins to crack. It will open up a week from tomorrow, during Easter. But that’s getting ahead of ourselves.
Because before Easter comes the three-day festival known as the Paschal Triduum. The celebrations of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday commemorate the passion, death and the anticipated ressurection of Christ. They are the heart of Holy Week. They are the crucible of transformation within the Chrysalis.
By Advance at Dutch Wikipedia (painting from Matthias Grunewald) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Therefore, as unconventional a kigo it may be, this week, write the haikai of you choice that alludes the Triduum. You may use the word itself, any of its component celebrations or a relevent analogy to what the triduum symbolizes: transformation.
As always:
Here’s how the challenge works:
1. write the haikai poem of your choice.
2. post the link of your post to Mister Linky.
3. pingback by posting the link to the challenge on your site.
4. read and comment on other contributors’ posts.
Enjoy the coming days and warmth of Spring, Haijin. For those celebrating Holy Week and the Triduum, may the blessings of the season be with you!
Frank J. Tassone 
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