insect chirp

Issa 　一茶

夜鳴虫汝母あり父ありや

yo naku mushi nanji haha ari chichi ari ya

David's　English

insects chirp in the night-- 

what of your mothers? 

your fathers?

by Issa, 1821

According to Shinji Ogawa, Issa is asking the insects a question in this haiku: "Do you have mothers and fathers?" Perhaps Issa is thinking of his own motherless and fatherless existence. http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

sakuo haiga