Have the baggers kids ?

they have kid maybe


David English
they have kids maybe bridge beggars calling fireflies

-Issa, 1811
49 years old, he lost his last teeth. Next year he will return toKasihabara. He has gotten the upper class in the haikuist ranking ofJapan.

sakuo Japanese
子を持つか　橋の乞食も　呼ぶ　蛍
ko wo motu ka hasi no kojiki mo yobu　hotaru　

Issa　Original
子ありてや橋の乞食もよぶ蛍
ko arite ya hashi no kojiki mo yobu hotaru

David Comment
Shinji Ogawa explains that the ya is not a cutting word in this haiku but rather "a particle to make a conjecture." The beggars "may" have children.

Issa site