hailstones

Issa 一茶


arare chire kukurimakura wo ou kodomo

霰ちれ くくり枕を 負ふ子ども


David's English


fall, hailstones!

with pillow on his head

a child


by Issa, 1813

The child has invented a clever way to defy the weather.The pillow in question, kukurimakura, is stuffed with cotton or buckwheat chaff and tied at both ends; Kogo dai jiten (Shogakukan 1983) 491. The child is young and, most likely, poor, but nevertheless demonstrates his human birthright of creativity--to Issa's applause.
http://cat.xula.edu/issa/


sakuo haiga



Hurry back boy ! a baby on your back is cold.