Daily Haiku Appreciation 141: "The sound of withered ivy on the north side of the cathedral" by Mamoru Sano

Mamoru Sano's haiku does not look at the front of the solemn cathedral, but rather turns its gaze to the north side, where the light does not reach. The ivy clinging there has already withered and is losing its strength. The author perceives this state as a "sound." It is not a sound heard with the ears. By listening quietly, he demonstrates a perspective that senses the existence of weak and small things.

The sound of the withered ivy reflects the changes in nature and the passage of time itself. The location, the north side where light does not reach, symbolizes a gentle gaze toward things that are inconspicuous or forgotten.

The author is also known for his pilgrimage haiku and was deeply conscious of the flow of time and impermanence. That perspective is also directed toward the ivy on the north side of the cathedral, and by capturing the subtle changes in the withered plant, he creates a quiet sensibility and a poetic world.

Sensing the quiet time lurking behind a solemn scene and the voices of beings that have lost their strength. Through his powers of observation, Mamoru Sano quietly reveals the overlap between nature and human time.

From "Combined Haiku Saijiki, 5th Edition" (Kadokawa Shoten)