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shadow and light<br />
introduction by antonella filippi<br />
只 居 ればおるとて 雪 の 降 にけり<br />
tada oreba oru tote yuki no furi ni keri<br />
just existing<br />
I exist -<br />
snow flitting down<br />
I think there are few haiku more intensely visual and related to the<br />
permeation of light and shadow, even without mentioning either.<br />
Shadow is the image of what is fleeting, changeable, hidden. It is the<br />
mystery of existence, the subtle essence of beings and things.<br />
Only with the position of the body perpendicular to the sun at zenith there is<br />
no shadow: this central, solstitial position, in which the soul no longer<br />
shades, is the hour of inner peace.<br />
The shadow is tied to what changes, which dies, but can continue to live in<br />
the light of memory:<br />
ちりて 後 おもかげにたつぼたん 哉<br />
chirite nochi omokage ni tatsu botan kana<br />
after lightning<br />
the tree's silhouette<br />
still there<br />
(jim kacian)<br />
even after falling<br />
the image stands<br />
of the peony flowers<br />
(Yosa Buson)
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