All is Spring, me too !

parent sparrows



David English
parent sparrows
baby sparrows...
a happy mountain

-Issa, 1812

Sakuo Japanese
親つばめ　子燕山も　幸せよ
Oya suzume ko suzume yama mo siawase yo

Issa Original
親雀 子雀 山もいさむぞよ 一茶
oya suzume ko suzume yama mo isamu zo yo

Comment
Literally, Issa says that the mountain is in "high spirits," "emboldened," or "inspired."

Sakuo remark
Sparrows and mountain are all inspired in fine spring day.

Begger Issa will go to New sect !

the Twelfth Month singers


David English
the Twelfth Month singers
don't turn around and look...
Sumida River

-Issa, 1806
44 years old. Lived in Edo

sakuo Japanese
節気ぞろ　振り向きもせず　隅田川
Settuki zoro fur imuki mo sezu sumida-gawa

Isaa Original
節季候の見むきもせぬや角田川
sekizoro no mimuki mose nu ya sumida-gawa

David Comment
Sekizoro refers to a Twelfth Month custom in which strolling singers wandered from town to town, singing festive celebration songs; Kiyose (Tokyo: Kakugawa Shoten, 1984) 348. Shinji Ogawa adds, "They covered their mouths like ladies in the Arab countries. They usually consisted of three or four persons with some types of musical instruments

sakuo image
Sumida-gawa flows through the Katusika district. Issa has belonged to the same named haiku sect.
Now is year end and New year will come soon, like Kisetu zoro, I will leave from the old sect and will go to new sponcer.

Mr Toad, you are Great !

fifth month rain


David English
fifth month rain--taking his seat on a rock toad

-Issa, 1818
56 years old, stay in Sinano. first daughter was born on May.

sakuo Japanese
五月雨や　岩に座つた　蝦蟇
samidare ya iwa ni suwatta hikigaeru

Issa　Original
五月雨や石に坐を組む引がえる
samidare ya ishi ni za wo kumu hikigaeru

sakuo remark
[za wo kumu] is [ siting down to do Zazen, for getting stablity of mind] Issa always feel toad as being phiｌosophical existance.
" Mr toad you are great "

It's me, the first one!

the first one through


David English
the first one throug his the swallow...hoop of reeds

-Issa, 1814
52 years old, On February the settlement of father's asset has been decided, he got his share. On April he marred with Kiku. On August went to Edo for preparation of retirement.

sakuo Japanese
一番は　つばくろ　なるぞ　茅の輪かな
itiban ha tubakuro naru zo ti no wa kana

Issa　Original
一番に乙鳥のくぐるちのわ哉
ichiban ni tsubame no kuguru chinowa kana

David　Comment
This haiku refers to a hoop made out of miscanthus reed, used for a summer purification ritual. If one passes through it, one is protected from infectious diseases. See Maruyama Kazuhiko, Issa haiku shû (Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1990; rpt. 1993) 214, note 1116. In this case, the swallow flies through first.

sakuo　remark
At this time , Issa has climbed up at the top of happiness.
Issa thought that I must to be the first one
who pass through the hoop of reeds,
for escaping from many kind of disease,
because I have gain happiness after long effort

The swallow is embodiment of himself.
God save me !!

Don't work too much !

don't get hoarse


David English
don't get hoarse katydid! tomorrow is autumn too

-Issa year unknown.

sakuo Japanese
かすれるな　声　きりぎりす　明日も秋
kasureru na koe kirigirisu asu mo aki

Issa Original
きりぎりす声をからすな翌も秋
kirigirisu koe wo karasu na asu mo aki

sakuo remark
I remind Toyota's press and PR presentation on this May. They announced the best final accounts in their history. Toyota is Japanese
automoble manufacturer.
There comes this ironical haiku of Issa.

Peacefull moment !

nightingale


David English
nightingale--in a floating world nook　ripened barley

-Issa, 1810
48 years old, live in Edo,On April Dear Kakyou [ female haiku friend in Futtu ]died.
Without knowing of this happening , on May he returned to home village for the negotiation of father's asset. Soon come back to Edo. On June he went to Futtu for visiting Kakyou's grave.

sakuo Japanese
鶯や　浮世の小部屋　熟れし麦
uguisu ya ukiyo no kobeya uresi mugi

Issa　Original
鶯やうき世の隅も麦の秋 一茶
uguisu ya ukiyo no sumi mo mugi no aki

Comment
Mugi is a generic term that refers to several grains:
wheat, barley, oats, and rye.
Issa uses "floating world" (ukiyo) in the old Buddhist sense:
the world is temporary and imperfect.

sakuo Image
Issa is traveling. He comes to small mountain village.
There is barley field that is very rich.He heared
nightingale singing.
It was peacefull scene.

Good by to all

titmice split


David English
the titmice split to the left and right...Yashima Island

-Issa year unknown

sakuo Japanese
左　右　がらの　飛び立つ　屋島かな
hidari migi gara no　tobi tatu yasima kana

Issa Original
山雀も左右へ別るる八島哉
yamagara mo sau e wakaruru yashima kana

sakuo　image
Issa stand on a boart, looking many little islands.
Small birds suddenly fly up to the air.
I think it is a farwell poem, Issa would like to say
good by to the scene.

Powerfull Bush Clover !!

down and dirty


David English
down and dirty just as is...bush clover blooms

-Issa, 1807
55 years old. married at 52 years old with Kiku, next year he get first son but soon died. From January to June stayed in Edo, and returned to Kashiwabara.

sakuo Japanese
落ちよごれ　丁度そのまま　萩咲きぬ
oti yogore tyoudo sono mama hagisaki nu

Issa Original
きたないといふまま萩の咲にけり　
kitanai to iu mama hagi no saki ni keri

Checking kigo of Bush Clover and similar haikus.
After all those haiku's characters are as follow.
They are symbol of autumn and the mide of autumn.
They are combined with deer , dog ,cat and kitten.
The flowers are used for sleeping, hiding, covering and blocking .

sakuo　remark
what kind of real mean is hidden in this haiku ? There is nothing .This haiku only describe mid-autumn and power of survival of bush clover.

Don't mind, I did it !

rain splashing


David English
rain splashing
the morning-glories...
my pillow

-Issa, 1818
56 years old, stay in Sinano. first daughter was born on May.

Issa 　Original
朝顔をざぶとぬらして枕哉 一茶
asagao wo zabu to nurashite makura kana

David comment
Much is left for the reader's imagination in this haiku. "Rain" is not literally mentioned but is implied. Also, the word, "pillow" (makura), suggests the poet's posture: he lies indoors with head on pillow, seeing or thinking about the morning-glories outside in the rain.

sakuo's Drama
I think [zabu to] is not rain ,because [zabu to] means a lot of water that would be a bucket of water.
It was hot in summer morning. Issa waked up early and watched the morning-glories weakened, so he back to the bed and said to his wife "Kiku"
Why didn't you give water to the flowers. Hearing it Kiku
hurried to get up and splashed water to the morning-glories ,
that had been deformed with a lot of water.
Without a word she got into bed.
And husband Issa made this haiku.
He　has　room in his heart at this time.

sakuo English
splashing water
on the morning-gloriesback
to the pillow

Nobody like Me !

field by my hut


David English
field by my hut--
no thank-you offering
for the scarecrow

-Issa, 1813
５１ years old, On January the thirteen memorial party of his father's death , the negotiation of father's asset has finished. Many times he visited haiku friend in North Sinano. On June and July he was ill in bed for blotch .

sakuo Japanese
我畠や　助け断る　案山子哉
waga hata ya tasuke kotowaru kagasi kana

Issa　Original
庵の畠かがし納もなかりけり
io no hata kagashi osame mo nakari keri

David comment
Literally, Issa doesn't identify the hut or scarecrow as his, but this seems to be the implication.Shinji Ogawa explains that kagashi osame "is a ceremony to show appreciation for the scarecrow's efforts by offering some food and sake on the Tenth Day of Tenth Month of the lunar calendar." This ceremony, he adds, was "observed especially in Issa's province of Shinano, present-day Nagano Prefecture."

sakuo remark
After long struggle with his brother's family, Issa has got father's asset.But his neighbours were all his brother's side. Scarecrow's offering for the harvest was not in his field,that means nobody celebrated his success on the asset negotiation.

Pity turtles, Me too !

in the long day


David English
in the long day they eat, they don't eat pond turtles

-Issa, 1812
50 years old, lived in Edo, leaving out on November tohis home village for dwelling eternally there.It needs more two year to getting his share of father's asset

sakuo Japanese
長き日を　食うや食わずや　池の亀
nagaki hi wo kuu ya kuwazu ya ike no kame

Issa Original
永の日を喰やくわずや池の亀
naga no hi wo kû ya kuwazu ya ike no kame

David comment
In a prescript for this haiku, Issa writes that he visited a pond at Shinobu, where he watched the turtles begging for handouts. It must be painful for them, he mused, to live so long in this "world of suffering";According to Jean Cholley, Issa sees himself in the hungry turtles;

colour sectionalism ！

white versus yellow


David English
white versus yellow--the butterflies wrestle too

-Issa, 1820
58 years old, on October second son born. fall over and was smitten by palsy ,but lightly. wrote haiku literatures.

sakuo Japanese
白と黄　　蝶も同じく　掴み合い
siro to ki tyou mo onajiku tukami ai

Issa Original
白黄色　蝶も組合　したりけり
shiro kiiro chô mo kumiai shitari keri

David Comment
Kumiai in modern Japanese means to form an association,
but in earlier times it meant to wrestle; see Kogo dai jiten
(Shogakukan 1983) 520. Issa's satirical message seems clear:
the butterflies fighting enemies of different color are
behaving in a sadly human fashion.

sakuo remark
Colour can express deferent sect on various human activities.
And man fight among each colours.
In present time , we put " tokku" at front of " kumiai" ,,,,then
combined "tokkumiai" means to wrestle.

gentle as O-take san !

baby sparrow


David English
baby sparrowis O-Take Buddhaat the sink

-Issa, 1817
55 years old. married at 52 years old with Kiku, next year he get first son but soon died. From January to June stayed in Edo, and returned to Kashiwabara.

sakuo Japanese
小雀や　お竹佛の　台所に
ko suzume ya otake butu no daidoko ni

Issa Original
雀子やお竹如来の流し元 一茶
suzumego ya otake nyorai no nagashimoto

Comment
R.H. Blyth explains that "O-Take Buddha" refers to a servant who was legendary for being frugal, never throwing away a single grain of rice. The baby sparrow at the sink is eating crumbs, much like its namesake. See Haiku (Tokyo: Hokuseido, 1949-1952; rpt. 1981-1982/reset paperback edition) 2.523.

sakuo image
Issa is so gentle that he look a little sparrow as like O-take san with warm his eyes.

baby or young girl ?

chin on hands


David English
chin on handsa face like Kannon'sin willow shade

-Issa, 1820
58 years old, on October second son born. fall over and was smitten by palsy ,but lightly. wrote haiku literatures.

sakuo Japanese
顎に手を　観音顔　や　柳陰
ago ni te wo kannon kao ya yanagi kage

Issa　Original
頬杖は観音顔や柳かげ 一茶
hohozue wa kannon kao ya yanagi kage

Comment
Kannon is the Buddhist goddess of mercy.

sakuo remark
At this time Issa himself was attacked by several disease. And He lost his wife and children in this term.
Who is Kannon like face ? Is it his children ? Or his wife, Or some one in his imagination?
I suppose it is not baby but young girl that is suggested by willow.
Who is she ??

How sad Issa was !

it's a dewdrop world


David English
it's a dewdrop worldsurely it is...yes... but...

-Issa, 1817
55 years old. married at 52 years old with Kiku, next year he get first son but soon died. From January to June stayed in Edo, and returned to Kashiwabara.

sakuo Japanese
露の世や　さはさりながら　さりながら
tuyu no yo ya saha sari nagara sari nagara

Issa　Original
露の世は　得心ながら　さりながら
tsuyu no yo wa tokushin nagara sari nagara

Comment
This haiku was written on the one-year anniversary of the death of Issa's firstborn child, the boy Sentarô. It has a one-word prescript: "Grieving." According to Buddhist teaching, life is as fleeting as a dewdrop and so one should not grow attached to the things of this world. Issa's response

sakuo comment
How sad Issa was !!
David san translation is good haiku that make me feel just like JapaneseIssa's original.

Thanks, entrusting man !

guard my hut's key


David English
guard my hut's key pine tree!going moon gazing

-Issa, 1819
57 years old. wrote [ oraga haru-- my spring ]. On June first daughter died.

sakuo Japanese
庵の鍵　守る松の木　月を見る
iho no kagi mamoru matu no ki tuki wo miru

Issa　Original
庵のかぎ松にあづけて月見哉
io no kagi matsu ni azukete tsukimi kana

sakuo image
Issa entrust all management of his estate to his uncle of his mother's side.The uncle was so reliable that Issa could enjoy his haiku touring to Shinano and Edo. Perhaps Issa made this haiku on his travel, thanking to his uncle and hiswife ,Kiku.

This world is sever ! Toad !

morning cold


David English
morning cold--the toad too has eyeswide as saucers

-Issa, 1805
43 years old , vivid activity at Edo with Seibi who was rich and famous amateur haikuist at that time.

sakuo Japanese
朝寒や　蛙目をむく　皿のよう
asa samu ya kaeru mewo muku sara no you

Issa Original
朝寒や蟾も眼を皿にして
asa samu ya hiki mo manako wo sara ni shite

Comment
In modern pronunciation, the opening phrase is asazamu; Issa would have pronounced it, asa samu. "Eyes like saucers" (manako wo sara ni shite) is a Japanese expression for eyes opened wide with surprise.

sakuo remark
Toad , a countryman, Mr Issa !
This morning cold.This is Sever World !!

Please give me ! half of Asset

spring rain


David English
spring rain--showing a sake cup calling foxes

-Issa, 1810
48 years old, live in Edo,On April Dear Kakyou [ female haiku friend in Futtu ] ,with whom Issa had pleasant kukai meeting on March of last year, died.Without knowing of this happening , on May he returned to home village for the negotiation of father's asset. Soon come back to Edo. On June he went to Futtu for visiting Kakyou's grave.

sakuo Japanese
春雨や　杯見せて　きっね呼ぶ
haru same ya sakazuki mise te kitune yobu

Issa　Original
春雨や盃見せて狐よぶ
harusame ya sakazuki misete kitsune yobu

Comment
In Japanese folklore the fox is a powerful spirit. Here, someone has set out an offering of sake and is calling for a "lucky" fox.

sakuo image
This is scene of Inari Shrine (Fox shrine). I suppose that Issa has prayed his Lucky to the Fox God,asking good success on his negotiation of his father's asset.

If eating the blossoms, I am hungry

blossoms piled high--


David English
blossoms piled high--a blizzard in the dog's bowl

-Issa, 1808
46 years old. Last year end returned to home village for father's asset negotiation. On June in Kashihabara again, attended to Grand mother's 33 th Buddha ceremony.On November Having settled the negotiation with his half brother. On December , returned to Edo, his residence has been occupied by others unknown.

sakuo Japanese
花びらの　積もるや吹雪　犬の椀
hanabira no tumoru ya fubuki inu no wan

Issa Original
山盛の花の吹雪や犬の椀
yamamori no hana no fubuki ya inu no wan

sakuo remark
This scene is great beauty but dog can not eat the blossom.The Dog is hungry in the blizzard of flower.Issa were watching it, he is also hungry, feel so sad !

Katsushika,,, my disfavour !

in Katsushika


David English
in Katsushikalike old times, unchanged...Doll Festival

-Issa, 1804
42 years old, live in Edo, getting new haiku friends in Natume's group.And Nakamura and other haiku friend had come to Edo from Kasihabara, his home village.

sakuo Japanese
葛飾や　昔変らぬ　雛祭り
katusika ya mukashi kawaranu hinamaturi

Issa　Original
かつしかや昔のままの雛哉
katusika ya mukashi no mama no hiina kana

Sakuo Comment
I have watched two of the similar haiku related to Katushika
made in 1804.

かつしかやどこに住でも時鳥
katsushika ya doko ni sunde mo hototogisu
you even live herein Katsushika!cuckoo　　　　　　　　　　1804

かつしかや遠く降っても秋の雨
katsushika ya tôku futte mo aki no ame
in Katsushikafalling in the distance...autumn rain　　　　　　　　1804

They have all same tone that express Issa's disfavour to this district　of　Katsushika .I think Katushika is not the name of place but the sect's nameof haiku. At this time he has been moving from Katsushika-sect to Natume group. The former was traditional but too conservative.Issa had trouble with this sect .

Longing for my home !

pleasant rushing


David English
pheasant rushing on the mountain, missing his darling wife

-Issa, 1812
50 years old, lived in Edo, leaving out on November tohis home village for dwelling eternally there.It needs more two year to getting his share of father's asset

sakuo Japanese
雉駆ける　山を恋いしき　いとし妻
kiji kakeru yama wo koisiki itosi tuma

Issa Original
走る雉山や恋しき妻ほしき
hasiru kiji yama ya koishiki tuma hoshiki

He was pheasant like. He was going over the age of 50.
He has been longing to return to his home village.

Hug Sato !

giving her dolls


David English
giving her dollsa good talking-to...the child

-Issa, 1822
60 years old, On March the third son born, On August injured by slipping on the road, wrote the books of haiku.

sakuo Japanese
ひなやれば　話し掛けてる　子供かな
hina yare ba hanasi kakeru ya kodomo kana

Issa Original
雛達に話し　しかける子ども哉
hina-tachi ni hanasi shikakeru kodomo kana

Comment
This haiku refers to the Doll Festival, the third day of Third Month.

sakuo remark
The child is his Sato. How cute did Issa feel her !

watching the river


David English
watching the river through window of trees...spring rain falls

-Issa, 1804
42 years old, live in Edo, getting new haiku friends of Natume's group.And Nakamura and other haiku friend had come to Edo from Kasihabara, his home village.

sakuo Japanese
川眺がむ　木々の窓から　春の雨
kwa nagamu kigi no mado kara haru no ame

Issa Original
川見ゆる木の間の窓や春の雨
kawa miyuru ko no ma no mado ya haru no ame

sakuo image
Issa has been staying at Nagare-yama where his rich sponsor ,Akimoto lived. He always become easy during stay at there.The river flowed with full of water in Spring rain.Issa saw the scene through the mansion's window that made it more painterly .

If alive, 11, 7, and 5 years old

at the shrine


David English
at the shrine children sumo wrestlers...autumn wind

-Issa, 1827
65 years old. On June big fire attacked his village, his house was burned. He went arround his pupils with word blindness by paralysis .On August, his haiku board was displayed at Kan-non-Ji, Temple.
On September the roof was reformed. On 8th November he died.

sakuo Japanese
みやしろ　で　子供の相撲　秋の風
miyasiro de kodomo no sumou akino kaze

sakuo image
His three sons , if they had been alive ,　they would be each at 11, 7, 5 years old. He must have reminded them , looking children Sumo.

Issa Original
神前に子供相撲や　秋の風 一茶
shin zen ni kodomo sumou ya akino kaze

Hot day, hot day after ill !

at my hut


David English
at my huteven the grass this summerlost weight

-Issa, 1816
54 years old, 2 year before, after getting father's asset, married with Kiku.On April first son born, soon died.
On July at Naganuma, he become ill. On Octber went to Edo,
shaved his head hair. He went around Bousyu district for
the greeting of farewell. as well as he published memorial book as retirement.

sakuo Jpanese
わが庵に　夏草さえも　軽きかな
waga iho ni natukusa sae mo karuki kana

Issa　Original
我庵は草も夏痩したりけり
waga iho wa kusa mo natuyase shitari keri

sakuo image
The grass lost weight as well as me too. On July he was ill
at Naganuma. So he has painfull time in this summer hot days.

Issa site