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Monday, March 09, 2009

insect chirp

Issa  一茶

夜鳴虫汝母あり父ありや
yo naku mushi nanji haha ari chichi ari ya

David's English
insects chirp in the night-- 
what of your mothers? 
your fathers?

by Issa, 1821
According to Shinji Ogawa, Issa is asking the insects a question in this haiku: "Do you have mothers and fathers?" Perhaps Issa is thinking of his own motherless and fatherless existence. http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

sakuo haiga



2 comments:

Gillena Cox said...

nice one

much love
gillena

Unknown said...

Gillena san,

Getting your comment, I am delighted!
Thank you very much.

sakuo.