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Monday, May 31, 2010

sweet


Masajo真砂女 1969 age 64

白玉や愛す人にも嘘ついて
shiratama ya aisu hito nimo uso tsuite

sweet rice dumplings---
even to my love
a little white lie

This is one of my favorite haiku. I fibbed and knew it well. This happened
one day---the cute fib of a woman.

Seasonal word: sweet rice dumpling( summer )

Trans; Lee & Emiko
Note:Shiratama is a rice-flour dumpling chilled and served with brown
sugar syrup, a popular summer sweet. The whit of the shira( white)
tama( ball-shped thing) is very refreshing in the heat.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Iris


the long skinny snake's
Shinto shrine...
irises

hoso-nagai hebi no yashiro ya
kakitsubata

細長い蛇の社や杜若

by Issa, 1818

With a smile, Issa suggests that the shrine belongs to the snake.

Trans:David Lanoue

Friday, May 28, 2010

firefly in a cage

Masajo 真砂女 1976 age 70

蛍篭見られて悪き手紙も来ず

Lee & Emiko's English

firefly in a cage---
clandestine letters
come no more

Seasonal word: firefly ( summer)

Note: While Masajo stayed in her marriage, she recieved secret letters
from her lover. Now she is out of that marriage, there are no more such letters, nor such excitment.

sakuo haiga


Monday, May 24, 2010

100525northern rain


Issa, 1803 age 42

北時雨火をたく顔のきなくさき

cold northern rain--
the fire-starter's face
smells burnt

Tran by Dr.David

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

Sunday, May 23, 2010

deep plum rain


Masajo 真砂女 1976、 age70

梅雨ふかし見えざる糸を誰が引く

tsuyu fukashi miezaru ito wo dare ga hiku


Lee & Emikos English

deep plum rain---

this invisible string

who is pulling it?


seasonal word ( summer ) 

Sakuo haiga