[For Seniors] Haiku Selections for July: Ideas to Feel the Summer

Work experience in a hospital as a physical therapistNakamū
I worked as a physical therapist at a general hospital for about four years. I’ve supported a wide range of patients, from those needing emergency rehabilitation to those doing rehabilitation at home at a comfortable pace. As a writer, I’d be happy to share health-related information with many people. Thank you, and I look forward to working with you!

July is the season when the strong sunshine and the sound of cicadas make us truly feel that summer has arrived.

Composing haiku that capture the scenery and atmosphere unique to this time of year offers a rich moment to attune our hearts to the changing of nature.

Because haiku can express a sense of season and emotion in just a few words, they are a cultural form that many older adults also find approachable.

In this article, we have carefully selected haiku you can enjoy while savoring the seasonal feeling of July.

By all means, experience the charm of summer up close through haiku.

[For Seniors] Haiku Showcase for July: Ideas to Feel Summer (11–20)

Leaving the grave—smiling as I go; a visit to the grave.

Kōi Nagata was a haiku poet active from the Meiji through the Heisei eras, who composed verses based on a unique haiku philosophy guided by Zen thought.

He was also versed in calligraphy and painting, and is said to have pursued creative work energetically well into his late years, even past the age of ninety.

This poem expresses the feelings one has when visiting a grave, depicting what at first glance seems a curious act: “smiling when leaving the grave.” This is not laughter born of amusement or joy, but rather, perhaps, a gentle smile that appears when, having finished a heartfelt exchange or dialogue with the deceased, one says, “I’ll come again.” You can sense Kōi’s characteristic perspective: instead of casting the poem as something sad, he views the connection with the departed in a forward-looking light.

Raise the rankinglower

kojifumi