It's that time again--Happy New Year! As a haiku poet, I've been participating in an annual New Year's haiku postcard exchange, a Nengajo, for 6 years. I'm half-way through the zodiac!
I have to admit, this year's postcard was the hardest one yet to put together. I had a hard time wrapping my head around sheep as being an inspiration! I came up with a number of versions, all, except the one above, I rejected--mostly because the image was not high enough resolution to reproduce well in print. They reproduce fine online, so I'm able to share. (If I'm going to be honest, I really enjoyed the process of putting a ram's head on a human's body! I'm getting a bit better at doing things like that! I also admit, the ram-man is a little creepy!)
A few explanatory notes: "first" is a word (kigo) used to imply a new year without coming right out and saying it. Wool, yarn, knitting could be considered in the same way--as implying sheep without saying it. I didn't mention sheep or wool in the postcard above, so, I used a ram's head in the design, and the calm and dependable characteristics of a sheep are referenced in the haiku.
Here are a few of the "rejects." The first two use the knitting theme. This one would have been rejected on the basis of the sickly green coloration, even if it had been suitable for print! The photo is from a 1918 book the Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet. Somewhere along the line, I tinted it green. What was I thinking?
A variation on the green-lady haiku is used here:
This next one is completely different and implies a sheep that is willing to go against the accepted order of things. Not very sheep-like, but overall, not a bad haiga.
For prior years' Nengajo postings, click on the Nengajo label on the right-hand side of the page.
Nengajo postcards went on sale in Japan on October 30. Nengajo is a big deal in Japan. Here's a link to some free downloadable 2015 designs that are available online in case you want to initiate an online Nengajo with your friends.
I have postcards left over, if you'd like one sent to you, please email me privately with your address dDOTmayrATcomcastDOTnet. I'll send them while supply lasts.
Next year, 2016, is the year of the monkey--that should be fun. I hope to get my design ready a whole lot earlier than I did this time around--I didn't order my postcards until November 29! I wish I had taken more time with the printed version. The colors in the printed version didn't come out as I thought they would. I think the postcard looks better here on the blog. Ah, well...
Wishing everyone a poetry-filled 2015. Start off by visiting The Miss Rumphius Effect for the Round-Up.
Come back next Friday when I pick up on the Ku-dos to Emily project once again. (Click on the Ku-dos label on the right if you want some background on the project.)
That 'first snow' can be meaningful as the new year, Diane, and change for the new year, at least to me. I like it. I also enjoyed the 'unraveling' idea, and your sheep's 'blind eye', all behaviors of intent. On the other hand, perhaps I'm especially contemplative at the beginning of the year. Thanks for sharing all, and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteGlad they spoke to you, Linda! I sometimes wonder if my thoughts translate! Have a great 2015!
Deletenice cards, i like the first one best. Happy New Year
ReplyDeletewhen you visited earlier, i was still in the process of uploading my post for today, so please revisit if you want to add your post to todays Linky
Happy New Year ☆´,•*´¨★ Ձ๏15
much love...
I'll stop by!
DeleteMaybe I'm feeling rebellious, but I love the spirit in the last one! Some days I feel like turning a blind eye to the dog, so to speak!! These are such fun -- thanks for sharing your process and your different poems. I appreciate the time you invest!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keri! It may be time, but it's creative time, so it goes by in a flash and I love it!
DeleteYou always amaze, Diane! Thanks for the peek into your processes. I'm with Keri on this one - that sheep turning a blind eye most resonates with me. I LOVE that the sheep (perhaps with failing sight because of age) would likely turn its head toward the sound of a dog, but I more love the layer of meaning/attitude that comes with the euphemism! You go, old sheep. ;0) Love the graphics on that one too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing all, & happy creative new year!
Sometimes the warmth of the sun is all that matters!
DeleteI'll try to send some up there periodically as winter progresses...
DeleteYour efforts were well worth it, Diane. Love your ram-man in all his slightly creepy glory and the message really hits home for me. I also liked your knitting inspired haiku, though the green tinge, not so much, and your "blind eye" haiga, as a whole, is stunning. Happy new year!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle! It's not easy being green. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51BQfPeSK8k
DeleteOne of my favorites, Diane. :) Kermit sings it like it is.
DeleteHappy New Year, Diane! I like your rebellious sheep and your careful ram-man in particular. Please do send me a postcard. I will give you my address if you don't have it already.
ReplyDeleteI'll need your address, Tabatha. When I set up my new computer a few months ago, everything came back from the cloud except my emails and my address book. :-(
DeleteI have taken up crochet, so I can relate to unraveling mistakes. The thing about doing that, though, is you are freed somehow. Just move forward. You are so creative.
ReplyDeleteI used to crochet, but I'm a lefty and patterns left me scratching my head, so I gave it up. I hope you master it, Margaret!
DeleteI am a hopeless poet, but I do love reading about the process, and the intentionality of choice each step of he composing way.
ReplyDeleteI like reading about process, too. We all approach things so differently!
DeleteI always enjoy seeing what you come up with every year. I definitely like Mr. Ram-head better than the knitting ones, but my favorite is actually that old blind sheep ignoring the dog.
ReplyDeleteI like the sheep/dog one best, too, however, I found I've used that sun illustration many times in different projects and I thought that using that image for my postcard would have shown just how stale I've become!
DeleteIt's such fun seeing what you see! I think I like the sheep dog best, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dori. What I end up with, however, doesn't always come near to what I see!
DeleteBeautiful, all of them! My favorite is the sheep turning a blind eye. I'd like to be like that this year. ;)
ReplyDeleteEasier said than done! I hope your 2015 is full of warmth!
DeleteI've been spending a lot of time unravelling my latest knitting project (a pattern that's a little bit beyond me!) Love the haikus, especially the green lady.
ReplyDeleteThe green lady is so jaunty. I imagine that's a golf club on her shoulder.
DeleteThe knitter in me loves the green lady best, but I also like the idea of that old sheep ignoring the dog for a few more moments in the sun. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteDiane, I gravitate to the photo from a 1918 book the Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet and the haiku that you wrote. It is the epitome of a reflective person to think and act to bring about the next step. I'm sorry that the color tones did not work out for you but your ram man and haiku is a very interesting composition. I am fascinated by this project as with your historical pieces.
ReplyDelete