cicada chirrs

David’s English
a cicada chirrs--
the pinwheel so utterly
red

semi naku ya tsuku-zuku aka[i] kazaguruma
せみなくやつくづく赤い風車
by Issa, 1819

David's comment
Shinji Ogawa notes that this image of a child's red toy "brings tears to our eyes," since in the summer of that year (1819) the poet's daughter, Sato, died. This haiku was composed during the Fourth Intercalary Month, 1819. Sato died in Sixth Month.

frost-killed grass

David English
frost-killed grass
"Gimme rice!"
a sparrow sings

shimogare ya kome kurero tote naku suzume
.霜がれや米くれろとて鳴雀
by Issa, 1816

sakuo comment.
This year Natsume, Seibi died.
He had been Issa’s big sponsor as well as good friend of haiku.
I think without Seibi Issa’s life would be changed.

to the wood fire

一茶1819年
ほたの火にせなか向けり最明寺
hota no hi ni senaka muke keri saimyo^ji


David’s English

turning my back
to the wood fire...
Saimyo Temple

Sakuo comment
hota is winter season word which means log.
Special part of wood, that is root dried well.
So the hota is well burn ,making warm the surrounding livings.

Sakuo renku

やっと着きたる今晩の宿
Yatsuto tukitaru konban no yado

at last arriving at
the inn tonight