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Wednesday, February 28, 2007

a kimono for a sail


一茶
.帷を帆にして走る小舟かなkatabira wo ho ni shite hashiru kobune kana

David‘s English
a kimono for a sail
rushing along...
little boat

The light summer garment in question is made of hemp: katabira. In this archive, I translate both katabira and awase as "summer kimono." However, in the present haiku I call it simply, "a kimono," because it the English translation seems simpler and cleaner, I think, if we leave out the word, "summer."

1812, Age 50
Eleventh Month, 14th day, he leaves Edo. Same month, 24th day, he returns to live in his native village of Kashiwabara.

sakuo renku-1
頬に夏風大川の土手
hoho ni natsu-kaze ookawa no dote

summer window to cheek
on the bank of Sumida River

Sunday, February 25, 2007

cats love

David’s English
with a voice
like a temple bell...
the lover cat

一茶
つりがねのやうな声して猫の恋
tsuri-gane no yo^na koe shite neko no koe

1814,
Age 52Fourth Month, 11th day, he marries Kiku ("Chrysanthemum": age 28).

sakuo renku
一晩続く恋の戯れ
hitoban tsuduku koi no tawamure

through all night
love affairs

Elvis Presley Love me tender
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnlgZQMCQFU

Friday, February 23, 2007

thin legs!!



David’s English
thin legs--
while cooling myself appraised
by a horsefly

一茶
痩脛や涼めば虻に見込まるる
yase-zune ya suzumeba abu ni mikomaruru

by Issa, 1808
age 46, living in Edo.

sakuo renku
涼しき川の遊び舟かな
suzushiki kawa no asobi-bune kana

on the cool river
pleasure boat

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

All is Ace Card


David’s English
at the little gambling shack
the swallow
prattles

一茶
乙鳥や小屋のばくちをべちゃくちゃと
tsubakura ya ko ya [no] bakuchi wo becha-kucha to

by Issa, 1812

sakuo renku
手札は総てエースとなりぬ
tefuda ha subete e-su to narinu

my cards all
became ace cards

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Tuesday, February 20, 2007

staring at the man


David’s English
staring at the man
burning leaves...
stone Buddha

一茶
紅葉たく人をじろじろ仏哉
momiji taku hito wo jiro-jiro hotoke kana

by Issa, 1811
age 49, staying in Edo, getting reputation from haiku society.
Last year, Negotiations over his inheritance take place.

sakuo renku
酒温めて仏と飲まん
sake atatame te hotoke to no man

make rice wine hot
drink with Buddha

Friday, February 16, 2007

Horse Hotel

David’s English
the cricket
makes his bedroom...
horse dung

一茶
こおろぎの寝所にしたる馬ふん哉
ko^rogi no nedoko ni shitaru bafun kana

by Issa, 1815
age 51, married on last year. Happy!

sakuo renku
馬のホテルで今晩よき夢
uma no hoteru de konban yoki yume

in the horse’s Hotel
sweet dream tonight

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Miss Plum


David’s English
the nightingale aims
and arrives...
my fence

一茶
鶯のあてにして来る垣ね哉
uguisu no ate ni shite kuru kakine kana

by Issa, 1806

"My" is not stated in the haiku but might be inferred.

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sakuo renku
お梅覗きに若衆集まる若者

to peep Miss Plum
the young visiting

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Servant Holiday


David’s English
Servants' Holiday--
the great festival shrine
passes by

一茶
薮入の大輿の通りけり
yabuiri no o^ omikoshi no to^ri keri

by Issa, 1813
Age 51Second Month, he is living in Kashiwabara in a rented house. In autumn, his inheritance dispute finally settled, he moves into his family home.

After New Year's (First Month, 16th Day), servants in the cities were given time off to return to their native villages and families. The festival shrine is a huge, decorated palanquin昔の)輿(こし), 駕籠. In Issa zenshu^ two readings for the character, "palanquin," are given: norimono and omikoshi (Nagano: Shinano Mainichi Shimbunsha, 1976-79, 1.36; 3.215).

sakuo renku
橋は溢れる祭りの如し
hashi ha afureru mature no gotoshi

bridges are overflowed
as like Festival.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

dog lunch


David’s English
"The dog took your lunch!"
the reed thrush
tattles

sakuo’s English
the dog took lunch
isn’t it over act

一茶
昼飯を犬がとるとや行々し
hirumeshi wo inu[ga]toru toya gyo^gyo^shi

by Issa, 1825
63 years old. last year married with second wife after three months he divorced.

sakuo renku
Issa was lazy by nature. Since his divorce on last year, no one takes care for him

忘れられてる私の昼飯
wasure rareteru watasi no hirumeshi

It is forgotten
my lunch

Friday, February 09, 2007

growing weary


David’s English
growing weary
of the diet...
my new summer robe

一茶
腹のへる工夫尽てや更衣
hara no heru kufu^ tsukite ya koromogae

by Issa, 1815
Age 53, last year he married with 28 aged Kiku. These days, he was economically and mentally
most stable among lifetimes.

sakuo renku
腹にお肉の晒し巻きたり

on stomack
wearing meat clothe

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Glove forgotten


David’s English
my province--
the children also make
snow Buddhas

一茶
我国や子どもも作る雪仏
waga kuni ya kodomo mo tsukuru yuki-botoke

by Issa, 1814

sakuo renku
忘れた手袋仏預かる
wasureta tebukuro hotoke azukaru

Glove forgotten
Buddha take care of

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Baby's voice


David’s English
growing old--
these eyes no good
for flea chasing

一茶
としよりも蚤を追ふ目はかすまぬか
toshiyori mo nomi wo ou me wa kasumanu ka

by Issa, 1822
Age 60, on third month his third son is born. He has lost three children already.
Next year his wife will die.

sakuo renku
耳に赤子の声の浸みけり

Baby’s voice penetrating
to my ears

Friday, February 02, 2007

sweet dishes


David’ English
the smell of piss
wafting too...
chrysanthemums

一茶
小便の香も通ひけり菊の花
sho^ben no ka mo kayoi keri kiku no hana

by Issa, 1814, Age 52
Fourth Month, 11th day, he marries Kiku ("Chrysanthemum": age 28).
Eight month he departed to Edo.
Twelfth month he returned to home village.

sakuo renku
ご馳走四月江戸へ旅立つ
gotisou yotuki edo he tabidatu

sweet dishes four months
start on trip to Edo