Today in Carpe Diem the kigo is shincha (or first tea). I got a little inspired and wrote a haibun. It’s also inspired by an article I read recently that smells are directly connected to feelings and memory, much more than sound or vision.
Picture from Wikimedia Commmons
Yet another year had passed and with anticipation old widow Mori went down to the convenience store to buy the first shincha. To her tasting the first tea was much more important than the exalted celebration of the sakura. Her keen memory still recalled the smell of the first tea when he had asked her to marry, the day their daughter was born and the day he left her forever had all been to the fragrance of first tea. There was always a subtle variation in the taste of the shincha, and she hoped that this year’s crop would recall their first day in the old tea-house when she met her young lover and not his funeral. As the fragrance of this year’s crop filled her room she closed her eyes and sighed in contentment.
in whiff of first tea
her wrinkled hands recalls
dead husband’s touch
—
June 2, 2013
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I’ve finally googled to find the definition of haibun and I’m now even more in awe of your talent.
haibun are so great way to combine fiction and poetry for me.
Wow look at you go, quite the haibun show( which I had to look up too haha)
haibun is great to write
As a tea lover, I appreciate this very much! (Next time you need a tea picture, let me know.) 🙂
janet
Ah .. had you heard about first tea? I thought it was a wonderful word.
I hadn’t, so I enjoyed reading about it. Reminds me of the Beaujolais nouveau for wine. I’m sure Megan’s Japanese teacher knows about it.
janet
You are really good. Glad to “meet” you.
Glad to meet you… Hope to see your entries on the meme… first tea was a great one.
outstanding!
Thank you 🙂
Oh my…this is so beautifully written and poignant. J’adore.
Thank you 🙂
Nice touch! 🙂
Cup Holds No Tea
Thank you 🙂
from beginning to end, I was in awe…..fabulous
Thank you Joy 🙂
this haibun is so beautifully written…you created a loving widow’s moment. ♥
Thank you 🙂
Amazing! In one whiff of tea you created both a moment in time and the story of a life time! And so many levels of emotion. Masterful!
Thank you 🙂
my eyes first darted towards the haiku, and even on its own, it’s perfect! this haibun is magnificent, Björn, in awe
Exactly like I wrote it, first the haiku then the prose.
It’s amazing what hands can remember!
New Tea, Old Cup
I think so too… and associated with smell.
A beauty Bjorn, tea brings so much memories to me too, I enjoy every haiku shared on Carpe Diem and I am so glad that Carpe Diem is a joy to a growing group of haiku poets.
By the way … this episode was a haibun which I originally wrote in Dutch and have tried to translate. As I look at the reactions on this post I think I did right to translate it.
You certainly did – I love this combination and it fits so well with my interest in fiction
The aroma shall linger for long time. Beautiful.
Thank you 🙂
I enjoyed your haibun 🙂 Well penned. Must have a go at one.
I look forwards to that… have you checked out the Ligo Haibun challenge. http://yepirategunn.weebly.com/2/post/2013/05/ligo-haibun-challenge-3105-0606.html
Nice idea taking this prompt on to a haibun.
Bjorn, you have outdone yourself.
This is magnificent, and had me close to tears.
Cheers!
JzB
it is beautiful
all the memories dear to here
she will close her eyes with new tea
Oh, you just have no idea how much it touches me. Just like the smell of shincha, it reminds me so many beautiful (and light) moments. Green moments in Japan… Thank you.
Thank you, I’m glad that it touched you.,.. I know how smell can bring back all feelings… 🙂
I really love the poem with this. It pulls my heart.
You do this so well 🙂
Thank you.. haibun is really very rewarding to write.
So beautiful. haiku followed haibun seamlessly.