we said goodbye

1790s

Issa Original
いつぞやがいとまごひ哉墓の露
itsuzoya ga itoma[go]i kana haka no tsuyu

David’s　English
just the other day
we said goodbye...
dewy grave

sakuo Renku
無情なる哉時の流れは
heartless is
the flow of the time

Basho and Neptune

Issa　Original　
住吉の灯また消ル秋の風
sumiyoshi no tomoshi mata kiyuru aki no kaze

David’s English
Sumiyoshi's lamps
die out again...
autumn wind

David's Comment
This is an early haiku written in the 1790s.
Sumiyoshi is a Shinto shrine in Osaka.

sakuo　Renku
芭蕉も参りし海の大神
once Basho called to
Sea god Neptunus

the large force of the wind

1970’s, year unknown

Issa Original
芦の穂の波に屯ス野分哉
ashi no ho [no] nami ni tamuro su nowaki kana

David’s　English
a barracks amid waves
of reeds gone to seed...
autumn gale

David's Comment
This is an early haiku written in the 1790s.
Tamuro is a camp, barracks, or quarters for soldiers; Kogo dai jiten (Shogakukan 1983)1027.

sakuo　Rennku
次々繰り出す風の大軍
marching out one after another
the large force of the wind

mountain lake

1792　30 years old ,
on his journy to Western Province.

Issa　Original
しづかさや湖水の底の雲のみね
shizukasa ya kosui no soko no kumo no mine

David’s English
stillness--
in the depths of the lake
billowing clouds

sakuo Renku
たどり着きたる山の湖
finally reaching
mountain lake

water turns boiled water

1792
30 years old, on his journey to Western Province.

Issa Original
日盛りや芦雀に川の音もなき
hizakari ya yoshikiri ni kawa no oto mo naki

David’s　English
high noon--
the reed thrush sings
to a silent river

sakuo　Renku
暑さのあまり水が湯になる
too much hot
water turns boiled water

Sun God

1790’s

Issa Original
もたいなや昼寝して聞田うへ唄
motaina ya hirune shite kiku taue uta

David’s English
ashamed
napping, hearing
the rice-planting song

sakuo Renku
お天道様に申し訳ない
I am sorry for Sun God

ask the swallow in the sky

1790’s

Issa Original
道とふも遠慮がましき田植哉
michi tou mo enryogamashiki taue kana

David’s English
even when I ask directions
they're so reserved...
rice planters

sakuo Renku
空の燕が道を教える
the swallows in sky
teach you way

dream of journy

1792

Issa Original
馬の屁に目覚て見れば飛ほたる
uma no he ni mezamete mireba tobu hotaru

David’s English
the horse's fart
wakes me to see...
fireflies flitting

sakuo Renku
夢の続きや旅の夜
dream continuing
on the journey’s night

ｍountain is fair !

1790's

Issa Original
川中へ蚤を飛ばする旦哉
kawa naka e nomi wo tobasuru ashita kana

David’s English
into the river
fleas are tossed...
daybreak

sakuo　Renku
蚤多けれど山は晴れたり
too much fleas but
mountain is fair

water rthief

1790s

Issa Original
五月雨夜の山田の人の声
satsuki ame yoru no yamada no hito no koe

David’s English
Fifth Month rain--
in a mountain field at night
voices

David Comment
This is an early haiku written in the 1790s. The "field" is a rice field. Evidently, farmers are working late, despite the rain.

sakuo Comment
It is the most important to supply the water to a rice field especially in early time of rice grass.
When rain is short, the struggle to keep water happens some times.
So the farmer patrols his rice field to watch water thief.

sakuo Renku
水泥棒に気をつけろ
take care for
water thief

Your countenance, uneasy!

1792　
30 years old, on the journey to Western Province.
Issa had come to Immigration gate where Samurai officers inspected
passengers for detecting criminals.
He weared priest robe.

Issa Original
通し給へ蚊蠅の如き僧一人
toshi tamae ka hae no gotoki so hitori

David’s English
let him pass
like a mosquito, a fly...
solitary priest

sakuo Renku
お前の面が少し気になる
your countenance
feel uneasy a little

Five layers pagoda

1792
30 years old, on the journy to Western Province.
in this summer staying in Kyoto.

Issa Original
塔ばかり見へて東寺は夏木立
to bakari miete toji wa natsu kodachi

David’s English
Toh Temple--
just its pagoda shows
over the summer trees

Comment
The haiku refers to Toji, a Buddhist temple in Kyoto.


sakuo’s Renku
日本一の五重の塔
five layers pagoda
it’s Number one in Japan

Solitary journey

1792　30 years old, on the journy to Western Province.

Issa Original
浜松や蝉によるべの浪の声　
hamamatsu ya semi ni yorube no nami no koe

David’s English
Hamamatsu beach--
helping out the cicadas
singing waves

sakuo Renku
蝉に友あり我一人旅
cicada has friends
my travel
without company

new wife busy !

1792 30 years old,
on the journy to Western Province.

Issa Original
梅の木の心しづかに青葉かな
ume no ki no kokoro shizuka ni aoba kana

David's English
the plum tree
with heart at peace...
leafing green

sakuo's Renku
花は終わりて嫁は忙し
blossom has ended
new wife busy

doesn't it rain?

1792　30 years old, on the journey to Western Province.

Issa Original
白雲の桜をくぐる外山哉　（春）

shira-gumo no sakura wo kuguru toyama kana

David’s English
creeping through white
cherry blossom clouds...
the mountain

sakuo Renku
次の宿まで雨は降らぬか
till next stop
doesn’t it rain ?

Graceful Kyoto

1792 age 30, on the trip to Western Province, he has been to Kyoto.
This haiku has the prescript, "Imperial Capital," i.e., Kyoto.

David's Comment
The phrase, "crossroads blossoms" (tsuji ga hana), is a euphemism for a light summer garment made of hemp: katabira. In an email message, Hiroshi Kobori explains that tsujiga-hana designs were in fashion from the mid-Muromachi era until the early Edo era; they were mostly dyed purple, red, and deep indigo..."bold and marvelous."

Issa Original
みやこ哉東西南北辻が花
miyako kana tôzainamboku tsuji ga hana

David's English
in Kyoto
east, west, south, north...
summer kimonos

sakuo Renku
江戸で見られぬ優雅溢れる
Grace is full
that’s not seen in
Edo

come back home early

Issa Original
畠打が焼石積る夕べかな
hata uchi ga yakeishi tsumeru yûbe kana

David’s English
plowing the field
till he hits volcanic rocks...
evening

sakuo Renku.
早く帰れよ牛が待ってる
go back home
the cow waiting

over Hell and Heaven

1793　age 31
On the journey to Western province,

Issa Original
命也焼く野の虫を拾ふ鳥
inochi nari yaku no no mushi wo hirou tori

David’s English
such is life--
the burning field's bugs
a feast for birds

sakuo Renku
地獄極楽、越えて生き
over Hell and Heaven
life exist

famous Pine tree in Onoe

1792 age 30.
Leaving from Edo to Kansai Province on March,
he arrived at Takasago where is famous shrine called “Onoue”
Many Poems and Dramas have been created about this Shrine.
The pine tree in this shrine has been traditional reputation.
We find it in Noho song
Issa well knew about it and made this haiku.

Issa Original
春風や尾上の松に音はあれど
haru kaze ya onoe no matsu ni ne wa aredo

David’s English
spring breeze—
only the pine on the ridge
whispers it

sakuo Comment
Onoe is not ( the rige) but the place name, proper noun.
The pine tree is in the shrine called Onoue no matu that appeared
in Noho song.
http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~onoe-jinja/onoematu.html

sakuo Renku
詩に詠まれし松に会えたり
could meet the pine tree
written in old poem

Floral Capital

Issa Original 1792, age 30.
行春の町やかさ売すだれ売
yuku haru no machi ya kasa uri sudare uri

David’s English
spring ends in the town--
umbrella-hat, bamboo blind
vendors

sakuo comment
Issa has started from Edo to Western province on the third month of 1792.
Via Toukaido, he has been to Kyoto and Osaka that are formal metropolis and the center of economy.
This haiku would be made in those cities.

sakuo Renku.
夏も近づく花の都に
summer is coming
to the floral Capital

uncertain and expectation

1792, Age 30
Third Month, 25th day, Issa sets off on a journey to Shikoku Island.

Issa Original
いつ逢ん身はしらぬひの遠がすみ
itsu awan mi wa shiranuhi no tôgasumi

David’s English
when will we meet again?
I'm off to will-o'-the-wisps
in the far mist

sakuo Renga
不安と期待旅始まりぬ
uncertain and expectation
my journey begins

regret still remains

Issa Original year unknown
行たいか雁伸上り伸上り
yukitai ka kari nobi-agari nobi-agari

David’s English
thinking of taking off
goose on tiptoe
on tiptoe

sakuo comment
The goose was Issa who was hesitating to retire the traditional sect that
had come from Bashou , the originator of haiku.
And Issa was thinking to participate to newly-risen sect that was sponsored by Mr. Natume who was a great moneylender as well as a great art sponsor.

sakuo Renga
未練は残る俳句本流
the main stream of haiku
remains still regrettable