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Tuesday, February 02, 2010

a year older

Issa 一茶1803 age 41 staying in Edo.

としとりに鶴も下たる畠哉

toshitori ni tsuru mo oritaru hatake kana

David’s English

also a year older
the crane flies down...
a field

The season word in this haiku, toshitori, ("growing old") relates to the year's ending; in the traditional Japanese system for counting age, everyone gains a year on New Year's Day. The crane, a symbol of longevity, has gained another year--as has Issa.

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

sakuo haiga

4 comments:

Gillena Cox said...

your note helped me to understand and thus appreciate more the juxtaposition in this haiga


much love
gillena

Devika Jyothi said...

Great additions, Sakuo san...especially liked summer kimono sash :)

and about women's hair -- thats information to me...i thought they lose hair when unhappy :)

wishes,
devika

Unknown said...

Gillena san,
I am glade to hear your deep understanding.
It's wonderful thing.

sakuo.

Unknown said...

Devika san,
Thank you for sharing.
Summer sash make us image wildly too.
It possibly happens over the world.

sakuo.