Issa 一茶 1813 age 51
挑灯を親に持たせて春の雨
chou^chin wo oya ni motasete haru no ame
David’s English
letting her parent carry
the paper lantern...
spring rain
Or: "his parent."
sakuo renku
隣の村の嫁ぎ先まで
tonari no mura no totugi saki made
to her husband’s family
at the next village
Masajo 真砂女1961 Age 55
人恋し青き木の実を掌にぬくめ
hito koishi aoki konomi wo te ni nukume
Lee & Emiko’s English
longing for him
I warm a green acorn
in my hand
Seasonal word: acorn (autumn)
Issa 一茶 1810 age 48
幼子や掴々したり梅の花
osanago ya nigi nigi shitari ume no hana
David’s English
the child
clutches them tightly...
plum blossoms
Issa suggests that the love of Nature's beauty is part of the human soul, not taught or learned. He also reveals, in this haiku, a connection and affinity between innocent child and fresh spring blossoms. We see in this clutching child a future poet.
sakuo renga
Masajo 真砂女1961 Age 55
こほろぎや眼を見はれども闇は闇
ko-rogi ya me wo miharedomo yami ha yami
Lee & Emiko’s English
crickets---
my eyes wide open to darkness
nothing but darkness
Seasonal word: cricket(autumn)
Note: Masajo is looking for her lover who might come to visit in the dark. But she sees only the darkness.
Issa, 1822 age 60
木の門や朝から晩迄かん子鳥
ki no kado ya asa kara ban made kankodori
David’s English
tree at the gate--
morning to evening
a mountain cuckoo
sakuo renga
Till the time,
Masajo 真砂女1961 Age 55
秋風や知らぬ顔して行きし人
akikaze ya shiranu kao shite yukishi hito
Lee & Emiko’s English
autumn wind---
he pretends not to see me
as he passes
Seasonal word: autumn wind(autumn)
Masajo 真砂女1961 Age 55
ビールくむ抱かるゝことのなき人と
bi-ru kumu dakareru koto no naki hito to
Lee & Emiko’s English
a glass of beer---
I serve it to a man
I will never love
Seasonal word: beer(summer)
sakuo renga
