in a cloudbrust

小林　一茶　1819
夕立や樹下石上の小役人
yu^dachi ya juka sekijo^ no ko yakunin

David‘ｓ　English
in a cloudburst
under a tree, looking miserable
a minor official
Shinji Ogawa explains that the phrase, juka sekijo^, which literally means to sleep or dwell under a tree and on a rock, figuratively denotes "being a monk practicing austerities." Here, he says, Issa uses the phrase to mean "poor," or "petty." It seems to me, however, that the minor official is literally standing under a tree to avoid the rain, a visual image that provides Issa with this opportunity for word-play. My dilemma as a translator, then, is to decide whether I should: (1) mention the literal level of being under a tree and on a rock but lose the figurative meaning of practicing austerities; or (2) translate the figurative meaning (Shinji suggests the middle phrase, "how miserable") but lose the literal image of the official crouching under a tree. My compromise: I keep the tree but lose the rock, adding Shinji's "miserable."
To visit http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

Sakuo renku　
濡れずに済みて　仏の顔に
nirezu ni sumi te hotoke no kao ni

without getting wet
becomes Buddha face