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Monday, August 21, 2006

one hand pets the dog

一茶
草餅や片手は犬を撫ながら
kusamochi ya katate wa inu wo nade nagara
by Issa, 1824

David’s translation & comment
eating herb cake
while one hand
pets the dog

The word "eating" doesn't appear in Issa's original, but this action can be inferred.
http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

sakuo Renku
1824, Issa is 62 years old. On May he married. After three months he divorce.
Preface;
Cake is symbol of appetite. What stands for the dog that lives together in his home. The dog is female, straightly symbol of sexual desire.

食気も色気も春なればこそ
syoku mo iroke mo haru nareba koso

eating and loving bloom
now is the spring
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