the chicken

小林　一茶　1822
.鶏のかき出したる茸かな
niwatori no kaki-ideshitaru kinoko kana

David’s　English
the chicken
scratches up
a mushroom

David’s comment
In Japanese as in English, this haiku reads as a simple declarative sentence that depicts, in simple terms, a simple scene. Is it too simple, too mundane to be considered poetry? Or is it poetry precisely because of its simplicity, because of Issa's patient attention to a here-and-now scene that others might overlook? The reader must decide.

visit http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

sakuo
At 1822, Issa age 60.
After 8 year’s marriage three babies had lost.
The fourth baby was week.
Having aftereffect of paralysis, he wished a strong baby as his heir,
For increase of love energy he has eagerly collected medical herb.

renku
薬草飲んでわが茸元気に
yakusou non de waga take genkini

drink medical herb
refresh my mushroom