It's me sulking !!

one butterfly


David English
one butterfly
apart from the crowd...
are you sulking?

-Issa, 1823
61 years old. On February Kiku has got sick and died on May,
and third son died on December.

sakuo Japanese
蝶一羽　群れより離れ　拗ねてるか
tyou itiwa mure yori hanare suneteru ka

Issa Original
蝶一ッ仲間ぬけしてすねるかよ
chô hitotsu nakama nukeshite suneru ka yo

sakuo remark
To personalize is Issa’s favorite . He overlapped himself on the butterfly parting from the crowd.
Was he sad a little at that time?

Woman is great !

tagging along


David English
tagging along
for the meal...
the cat's girlfriend

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

sakuo Japanese
連れていく　食事の為に　猫の雌

Issa Original
連れて来て　飯を食する　女猫哉 一茶
tsurete kite meshi wo kuwasuru me neko kana

sakuo remark
Woman is great . Issa think so when he saw those cats,
And he overlapped his couple on the cats.

beyond the wall , cold Echigo

frost-killed grass


David English
frost-killed grass--
behind the wall
Echigo mountains

-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
霜枯れや　壁の後ろの　越後山
simogare ya kabe no usiro no etigo yama

Issa　Original
霜がれや 壁のうしろは 越後山 一茶
shimogare ya kabe no ushiro wa echigo yama
frost-killed grass--behind the wall
Echigo mountains

sakuo remark
Standing on Hokoku route toward the north, there are dry grass beside
the road , Kurohime-yama and Myoukou-yama stand like a great wall
over there , if we would be at Etigo ,it is at sea shore and much colder.

Mr issa , done good Job !

surprising the worker


David English
surprising the worker
in the field...
out-of-season blooms

-Issa, 1803
41 years old, living in Edo, in Honjyo, temple named Katuti-in.
visiting around Bousou, especially frequently visit to Akimoto, his good sponsor in Nagare-yama.
I think he has increased his power as one of haiku-ist.

sakuo Japanese
野の人も　驚ろきに　けり　外れ咲き
no no hito mo odoroki ni keri hazure saki

Issa　Original
畠人の思ひの外や帰り花 一茶
hata-bito no omoi no hoka ya kaeri-bana

David comment
"Out-of-season blossom" (kaeri-bana) is a winter seasonal expression.

sakuo remark
[hata-bito] is not Edo citizen but country man who live in Katusika area.
[ blossom] is Issa who is getting active after departure from Katusika sect.
Katusika sect has been surprised with Issa’s achievement in Haiku .

Longing for you !

with a finger


David English
writing with a finger
in the clear blue sky...
"autumn dusk"

-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
指で書く　澄みし青空　秋の暮れ
ubi de ka ku sumisi ao zora aki no kure

Issa　Original
青空に指で字をかく秋の暮
ao-zora ni yubi de ji wo kaku aki no kure

sakuo remark
After getting marriage he usually stays in Sinano on New Year, spring, and summer. And he comes to Edo from autumn to winter.
At this time he was traveling to Bousou. He has looked at autumn sky, longing for his home Village.He wishes to write a letter on the sky with thinking of his family.

Love is the best strong !

love-smitten


David Engish
love-smitten
my cat becomes
the neighbor's pet

-Issa, 1815
53 years old. On last year he has got the half of his father's asset
and married with Kiku.
September he went to Edo to publish his poem book. and being to Bosyu for visiting his haiku friends, coming back to his village on December.


sakuo Japanese
さかりつく　我が猫　近所の　人気者
sakari zuku waga neko kinjyono ninki mono

Issa Original
恋序 よ所の猫とは 成にけり 一茶
koi tsuide yoso no neko to wa nari ni keri

sakuo English
love side
my cat becomes
other’s cat

David Comment
Or: "the cat becomes..."Shinji Ogawa translates: koi tsuide ("as the consequence of the love affair"), yoso no neko ("other house's cat"), to wa ("it is indeed"), nari ni keri ("to have become"): "as the consequence of a love affair/ the cat becomes/ other house's pet."

sakuo remark
I can’t complain about it !

Go slowly !

First Month,second day


David English
First Month, second day
the laziness
begins

-Issa, 1821
59 years old. on January his second son died on his mother's back. On
April his wife got sick of gout. At Zenkou-ji, the biggest Temple of Jyoudo Buddhist, his haiku board was displayed. His effort has been admitted in the area of north Sinano province.

sakuo Japanese
退屈が　正月二日　始まりぬ

Issa Original
正月の二ッもなまけ始かな 一茶
shôgatsu no futatsu mo namake hajime kana

sakuo remark
Going through his children death and his sick, Issa reached at 59
years old. He felt that he is in stable resignation.
This is his old day’s emotion.

For Reference,
First Month haiku in 1821

ことしから丸儲ぞよ娑婆遊び
kotoshi kara marumôke zoyo shaba asobi
from this year
on clear profit, carousing
in this world

Cat think I am a Master

from straw basket


David English
from a straw basket
the cat's face...
by the hearth

-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
麦籠の　猫顔出すや　いろり哉
mugi kago no neko kao dasu ya irori kana

Issa Original
つぐらから猫が面出すいろり哉 一茶
tsugura kara neko ga tsura dasu irori

David comment
A portrait of warmth in wintertime. A tsugura is a container of woven straw used to keep things warm, which is exactly what the cat is doing inside it.

sakuo　remark
Issa walked in the hearth room. A cat in the basket glanced
at Issa as if the cat were a master of this house.

Hey Hey swing Big Hip !

don't dip your butt


David English
don't dip your butt
in that mud!
big butterfly

-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
その泥に　尻をつけるな　大蝶々
sono doro ni siri wo tukeru na ou choucho

Issa　Original
ぬかるみに尻もちつくなでかい蝶 一茶
nukarumi ni shiri mochitsuku na dekai chô

David comment
Issa's last phrase, dekai chô, is mysterious. Chô is written with the kanji for "butterfly," but I have not been able to track down an exact meaning for dekai.

Shinji Ogawa comes to my rescue, explaining that dekai is a colloquial word for ôkii ("big"). He notes, "An average Japanese can easily associate it with the preceding word shiri ("butt") to form a noun, dekai-shiri ("big butt"), which is suggestive of a feminine figure.
Adding to that, the word chô ("butterfly") also suggests femininity."I wonder if Issa might be playing with the homonym dekaichô: the exhibition of a holy image at a temple or shrine; Kogo dai jiten (Shogakukan 1983) 1121? If so, is he implying that the butterfly itself is a holy image, an embodiment of Buddha perhaps...or is this connection just a coincidence?

sakuo Comment
Issa watched a big butterfly that is an avatar of young sexual woman.
Can’t you see the young woman walk like a butterfly flutteringly?

Good ,your achievement !

The Lotus blossom


David English
"The lotus blossom
dragon rises"
people say

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

sakuo Japanese
蓮咲けば　竜躍り出る　人の言う
hasu sakeba tatu odorideru hito no iu

Issa　Original
蓮の花辰上りしと人のいふ 一茶
hasu [no] hana tatsu noborishi to hito no iu "

David comment
Or: "someone says." Is this mysterious haiku referring to a Japanese proverb? Or is someone comparing the lotus blossom, which rises out of water, to an aquatic dragon, iridescent and spiked with horns? Other possibilities?

sakuo remark
Congratulation for the blossom of your achievement!

Sad ! sad ! death of daughter

grass by the gate


David English
grass by the gate--
soon as it sprouts
it's plucked

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

sakuo Japanese
門の草　萌え出すやすぐ　抜かれたり
kado no kusa moe dasu ya sugu nukare tari

Issa　Original
門の草芽出すやいなやむしらるる 一茶
kado no kusa me dasu ya inaya mushiraruru

sakuo remark
Issa felt very sadly. His first daughter has died at the age of one year and 9 months.
Big disappointment and anger !!

Too noisy !

little eaves


David English
little eaves--
"It's smoky! smoky!"
sings the quail

-Issa, 1811
49 years old, he lost his last teeth. Next year he will return to
Kasihabara. He has got the upper class in the haikuist ranking of
Japan.

sakuo Japanese
小庇や　煙い煙いと　鶉鳴く
kobisasi ya kemui kemui to uzura naku

Issa　Original
小庇やけむいけむいとなく鶉
ko-bisashi ya kemui-kemui to naku uzura

David comment
The eaves are most likely on Issa's house. The quail complains about his chimney smoke.

sakuo　remark
Don't cry Pi,, Pi,, so much !

Look , woman begger singer !

Twelfth month singers


David English
Twelfth Month singers--their butts facing Sumida River

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

sakuo Japanese
節季候　尻面向ける　角田川
setuki zoro siri tura mukeru sumida-gawa

Issa Original
せき候の尻の先也角田川
sekizoro no shiri no saki nari sumida-gawa

Similar haiku of Twelfth Month singers

1818 鶺鴒の尻ではやすやせっき候
sekirei no shiri de hayasu ya se[k]kizoro

performing behind a waterfall...Twelfth Month singers

1818 えどの世は女もす也節き候
edo no yo wa onna mo su nari sekkizoro

Edo's world--women also are Twelfth Month singers
Edo is the old name for Tokyo. In this large and culturally progressive city, even women participate in an activity once reserved exclusively for men

sakuo remark
Issa was surprised to see women beggers singing near the Sumida river in Edo.
Look femal Beggers sing with her hip swinging !.

Let's try !

even the nightingale


David English
even the nightingale
has an apprentice...
sitting room

-Issa, 1824
62 years old, married second wife Uki on May, soon divorced on August. lost ability of speaking by paralysis. recovered and moved around on a carriage

sakuo Japanese
うぐいすも　弟子持ちたる　座敷かな
uguisu mo desiwo motitaru zasiki kana

Issa　Original
鶯も弟子を持たる座敷哉
uguisu mo deisho wo mochitaru zashiki kana

David comment
An older nightingale is training a younger "apprentice" (deishi) in the art of singing. In a "sitting room" (zashiki) Issa enjoys the lesson.

sakuo remark
That’s right !

Picky Issa, retired timely !

the hornet too


David English
the hornet too
knowing the eaves
returns

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

sakuo Japanese
熊蜂も　軒端を憶え　帰りけり
kumabachi mo nokiba wo oboe kaeri keri

Issa　Original
熊蜂も軒端を知って帰りけり 一茶
kumabachi mo nokiba wo shitte kaeri keri

David comment
Shinji Ogawa thinks that Issa may be punning with nokiba wo shitte, which can mean, "knowing the eaves" and "knowing when to retreat." Hence, the haiku has a double meaning: "even the hornet/ goes back/ knowing the eaves" and "even the hornet/ goes back/ knowing the time to retreat."If Shinji is right, this is an example of an untranslatable poem, if one expects a translation to resonate in the target language precisely in the way that the original text does

sakuo　remark
I am　picky Issa . Knowing the time to retreat,
I have retired from Edo. Take care, Man.

I wish to slide as like them !

at my gate


David English
at my gate
slipping so skillfully...
a Twelfth Month singer

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

sakuo Japanese
わが門を　上手く滑るや　節季候
waga kado wo umaku suberuya setuki-zoro

Issa　Original
門口や上手に滑る節季候
kado-guchi ya jyôzu ni suberu sekkizoro

Or: "at the gate." Issa doesn't specify that the gate is his, but this might be inferred. One of the troupe of singers has slipped on a patch of ice, becoming a sudden gymnast. 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 remark
Issa watched singing beggers who were pleasantly
sliding on the snow.
He would wish to slip as they do,

my son die so quickly

even the roof's moss


David English
even the roof's moss
blooms
then scatters

Issa, 1821
59 years old, his territory has expanded in Sinano. second son died after 90's days’ short life.

sakuo Japanese
苔でさえ　花咲きそして　散りにけり
koke de sae hanasaki sosite tirini keri

Issa Original season is summer
屋根の苔花迄咲いて落にけり
yane no koke hana made saite ochi ni keri

sakuo image
Issa has lost his son of 90 days’ short life, he thinks even
worthless moss can bloom before scattering.
Why my son so quickly die!

A lonesome and poor poet am I !!

thatched with


David English
thatched with
morning-glories
my little hut

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

sakuo Japanese
朝顔で　葺くや小さき　庵かな　
asagao de fuku ya tiisaki iori kana

Issa Original
朝顔の花で葺たる庵哉
asagao no hana de fukitaru iori kana

sakuo image
When he returned home after haiku trip on Autumn morning,
he found the scene of this haiku.
Elegant mood isn’t it. But it is a little sad!!.

hung down like a bat

from the arm


David English
from the arm
of the Deva Kings
bats dangle

-Issa, 1824
62 years old, married second wife Uki on May, soon divorced on August. lost ability of speaking by paralysis. recovered and moved around on a carriage.

sakuo Japanese
蝙蝠や　仁王の腕より　ぶる下がる
koumori ya niou no ude yori burusagaru

Issa　Original
かはほりや仁王の腕にぶら下り 一茶
kawahori ya niô no ude ni burasagari

Two fierce Deva Kings (niô) stand guard at a temple gate. In modern Japanese "bat" is pronounced, kômori. Issa pronounced it, kawahori.

sakuo Image
At this time he was not free because of paralysis, so he was visiting his friends with carriage. He should dangle the belt of the carriage just like the bat.

Peacefull, still and true happy !

moon shining


David English
moon shining
on the dinner tray...
plum blossoms

-Issa, 1815
53 years old. On last year he has got his father's asset and married with Kiku.
September he went to Edo to publish his poem book. and being to Bosyu for visiting his haiku friends, coming back to his village on December

sakuo Japanese
月は照る　お盆の上や　梅の花

Issa　Original
膳先へ月のさしけり梅の花
zen saki e tsuki no sashi keri ume [no] hana

Shinji Ogawa explains that a zen (dining tray) is about one foot by one foot with five-inch legs

sakuo remark
very peaceful mood in Spring.




　

Oh , Yes let's go to Edo !

the Katydid


David English
the katydid
has given his cage
the slip

-Issa, 1815
53 years old. On last year he has got his father's asset and married with Kiku.
September he went to Edo to publish his poem book. and being to Bosyu for
visiting his haiku friends. come back to his village on December

sakuo Japanese
キリギリス　籠を与えて　滑り哉
kirigirisu kaga wo ataeta suber ker

Issa　Original
きりぎりすまんまと籠を出たりけり
kirigirisu manma to kago wo detari keri

sakuo image
This year, he has stayed in his village with his wife whom he got
married on last April.
Passing through long honey moon, Issa would wish to go to Edo where luxury is booming. But his new wife did not wish his trip to Edo.
Any way he could start to Edo on September.
Katydid Issa said, let go to Edo!!

Give me half of father's asset !

scowling


David English
scowling
at the evening sky...
frog

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

sakuo Japanese
夕方の空をにらむや　蛙かな
yugata no sora wo niramu ya kaeru kana

Issa　Original
夕空をにらみつけたる蛙哉 一茶
yûzora wo nirami tsuketaru kawazu kana

sakuo image
The fog is Issa who is scowling toward west where is his home
village. Issa is looking for returning to the village , getting his father’s asset from his half brother.
He is gazing at the west.

Kiku didn't mind of his haiku

move aside


David English
move aside
cloud and fog!
lotuses are blooming

-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
雲と霧　どいておくれよ　蓮の咲く
kumo to kiri doite　okure yo　 hasuno saku


Issa Original
雲霧もそっちのけとや蓮の花
ummu mo sotchi noke to ya hasu no hana

similar type of haiku
蝶鳥もそっちのけとや蓮の花
chô tori mo sotchi noke to ya hasu [no] hana move aside

sakuo image
As my conclusion, the lotus didn’t mind cloud and fog,( or butterfly and bird)
That is Issa, haiku-poet always pay attention to the weather and the animals.
The lotus is his new wife “ Kiku “ who is gay and active
every day.

Spring and spring !

on the eaves


David English
on the eaves firewood and a cat...snow is melting!

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

Sakuo Japanese
軒の上　薪と猫いて　雪とける
noki no ue maki to neko ite yuki tokeru

Issa　original
小庇の薪と猫と雪解哉 　　一茶
kobisashi ni maki to neko to yukige kana

sakuo　image
At the beginning of spring,
The firewood became small volume. The cat is under sunshine. Everything has been looking for spring.
Of course, Issa too!!

blown to home village

blownto the window


David English
blown to the window
again
little butterfly

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

Sakuo Japanese
投げられる　窓に再び　小蝶かな
nage rareru mado ni futatabi kotyou kana

Issa Original
又窓へ吹もどさるる小てふ哉
mata mado e fuki-modosaruru ko chô kana

http://cat.xula.edu/issa/searchissa.php?haiku_id=166.03a

sakuo image
A little butterfly is Issa who has leaved from his native village
long before and has stayed in Edo. At this time he has struggled
with his father’s asset.
How often he has got back to Kashihabara.

Happy, happy !

plum in full bloom


David English
plum in full bloom--
a house without sake
can't be found

-Issa year unknown

Sakuo Japanese
梅満開　酒なき家は　見当たらず　
Ume mankai sake nai ie ha miatara zu

Issa Original
梅満り酒なき家はなき世也 　
ume miteri sake naki ie wa naki yo nari

David comment
Shinji Ogawa helped me to understand the syntax of this haiku. He offers his own translation:

Sakuo image
It was spring night. Issa stands in full of plum blooming.
The air is full with smell of the flowers.
The still sound of talking and singing are coming.
All happiness is filled in this world.

It is nice to look young Wife !

heat shimmers


David English
heat shimmers--
in the threshold crushing
hair lice

-Issa, 1815
53 years old. On last year he has got his father's asset and married with Kiku.
September he went to Edo to publish his poem book. and being to Bosyu for visiting his haiku friends. come back to his village on December.

Sakuo Japanese
陽炎や　軒ばで　つぶす　毛のしらみ

Issa　Original
陽炎や敷居でつぶす髪虱 一茶
kagerô ya shikii de tsubusu kami-jirami

Sakuo　remark
This haiku is about his young wife named Kiku,
who is innocently at crushing lice in sunny room.
Are you happy, Mr Issa ?