azaleas...

Katsushika Hokusai - Cuckoo and Azaleas (Hototogisu, satsuki), 1834
from an untitled series known as Small Flowers.
It is held in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston


bitter cuckoo cries
azaleas wake in
sweet blood


NOTE
Long ago, the king of the ancient Shu Kingdom, Du Yu, transmigrated into a cuckoo after he was assassinated.
The bird always sang bitterly, and it did not stop until blood came out from its bill.
Each April, when the air is full of cuckoo cries, azaleas are in blossom like flames.
According to folklore, the cuckoo's blood dyes the azalea flower red.
MORE details on the azalea HERE


Linking to:
  National Haiku Writing Month - Facebook prompts - azaleas