Sumo Puppies at dinner…..
Over at dversepoets pub, Bjorn is challenging poets to write a sport themed haibun. I’ll bite, as I have a fascination with this ancient Japanese sport.
Lady Nyo
Sumo Wrestling
I love Sumo wrestling. Or at least I think I do. Perhaps it is the only sport where I don’t feel like I have to hold in my stomach sitting there. Watching those mountains of flesh-men grapple with each other makes my heart beat hard. There is such history around this sport, and such a deep tradition. The fact that they gorge themselves with a purpose makes my heart sing. How wonderful that you can eat and eat without any concern for weight or fashion!
And, did you know that those belts they wear can cost a million yen? Or so I have read. I have also read that Sumo Wrestlers are some of the most humble and gentle of men. Here, have another bowl of rice.
Mountains of flesh pound
A ring of sandy earth
Cunning and strength vie.
Jane Kohut-Bartels
Copyrighted, 2017
Tags: d'versepoets pub, Haibun, sport, Sumo Wrestlers
Lady Nyo's Weblog 
June 12, 2017 at 11:27 pm
Very interesting. I have to admit, I haven’t thought about sumo wrestling in over 20 years. Your haiku was very clear and vivid. Great poem!
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June 13, 2017 at 12:12 am
Love the Haiku.
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June 13, 2017 at 12:27 am
Thank you!
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June 13, 2017 at 12:28 am
Thank you!
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June 13, 2017 at 2:46 am
Love your asides of food and flesh envy, and the wonderful haiku.
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June 13, 2017 at 2:58 am
Thank you, Sarah. This one was more fun than usual. And faster, too here. LOL!
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June 13, 2017 at 4:13 am
The whole system around sumo-wrestling is fascinating. A lot of strength also behind that weight. Sometimes it feels like a dance ritual.
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June 13, 2017 at 4:53 am
Apart from this unique sport not meant for many this line steals my attention: “How wonderful that you can eat and eat without any concern for weight or fashion!” 🙂
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June 13, 2017 at 5:34 am
A sport I know nothing about -apart from the obvious. I think you probably need some understanding to appreciate any sport.
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June 13, 2017 at 11:50 am
LOVE this take on the prompt. And yes….when you watch Sumo, you see there really is no violence to this sport. I can understand how these men are gentle giants. And oh….the photo of the puppies for the post is great. The photo combined with Sumo reminds me of how pudgy puppies’ bellies are 🙂 Makes me smile.
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June 13, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Hi Lillian! So glad you could read this. It was fun to write. And yes, no real violence to Sumo. Except probably heart attacks …..The puppies photo I had for a long time and couldn’t find a sumo photo in my documents…but it fit. LOL! Thank you, Lillian. So much has changed at dverse, I don’t recognize it anymore.
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June 13, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Yep, Sarah SW…;probably. Thanks for reading this.
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June 13, 2017 at 12:01 pm
LOL! Thanks Sumana Roy for reading….
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June 13, 2017 at 12:02 pm
Well, the steps in sumo are really very much choreographed. You are right….like dancing.
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June 13, 2017 at 1:33 pm
That was a nice picture of those plump puppies trying to get to the food. I liked the phrase “Cunning and strength vie” in the haiku as if they are in competition with each other rather than working together.
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June 13, 2017 at 2:50 pm
I dunno, Frank. Are they working together? Only the Shadow knows. Thanks for reading, friend. Thunder storms here and since last week my computer was fried by one….I will look at your site later.
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June 13, 2017 at 11:43 pm
Not a sport I’ve ever watched (or at least I don’t remember). I think it underlines the importance of accepting our bodies as they are, though I doubt that much weight could add much to the lifespan.
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June 14, 2017 at 12:42 am
Hi Victoria! Yes, I agree. I don’t think Sumo men (and apparently…now women) get to an ancient age. And yes, we fight our bodies all our lives….and in losing weight, it doesn’t seem to stay gone….and we agonize so much about it all….I think we need to find a happy medium. I know that I will never be the willowy girl I once was…..and I have to really work at keeping the sumo pounds away. Recently bought an upright exercise bike and it has made a difference: not so much in weight, but for a long time I had a lot of back problems….and now? they have disappeared…to be replaced with a very sore butt. (that seat!) LOL! Thank you, Victoria, for reading and caring to send a comment.
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June 14, 2017 at 2:40 am
It was wondering to read about the sumo sport and the culture around it. Gotta get one of those bells!
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