It's me, the first one!

the first one through


David English
the first one throug his the swallow...hoop of reeds

-Issa, 1814
52 years old, On February the settlement of father's asset has been decided, he got his share. On April he marred with Kiku. On August went to Edo for preparation of retirement.

sakuo Japanese
一番は　つばくろ　なるぞ　茅の輪かな
itiban ha tubakuro naru zo ti no wa kana

Issa　Original
一番に乙鳥のくぐるちのわ哉
ichiban ni tsubame no kuguru chinowa kana

David　Comment
This haiku refers to a hoop made out of miscanthus reed, used for a summer purification ritual. If one passes through it, one is protected from infectious diseases. See Maruyama Kazuhiko, Issa haiku shû (Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1990; rpt. 1993) 214, note 1116. In this case, the swallow flies through first.

sakuo　remark
At this time , Issa has climbed up at the top of happiness.
Issa thought that I must to be the first one
who pass through the hoop of reeds,
for escaping from many kind of disease,
because I have gain happiness after long effort

The swallow is embodiment of himself.
God save me !!