action film of spring

David’s English
through heat shimmers
the murmuring
rain

一茶
.陽炎にさらさら雨のかかりけり
kagero^ ni sara-sara ame no kakari keri

by Issa, 1807

sakuo renku
太陽と雲の春の活劇
taiyou to kumo no haru no katsugeki

the sun and cloud
the action film of spring

single New Year

David’s English
cheering the year's
first sky...
even sparrows!

一茶
.初空をはやしこそすれ雀迄
hatsu-zora wo hayashi koso sure suzume made

by Issa, 1817
At the end of before year , leaving his wife at home village,
being ill in bed, he stayed over at Sairin-temple.
On new years day he visited his best friend in Hongyou-temple.

sakuo renku
心は寒き一人正月
kokoro ha samuki hitori syougatu

heart is cold
single New Year

great perspective

David’s English
the distant mountain
reflected in his eyes...
dragonfly

一茶
.遠山が目玉にうつるとんぼ哉
to^yama ga medama ni utsuru tonbo kana

by Issa, 1820

sakuo renku
とんぼ見る
一茶を又見る
遠近法
tonbo miru itsusa mata miru enkinhou

looking dragon
Issa whom I see
in perspective

pilgrimage's child

David’s English
duckweed--
rescuing a fish scooped up
with a little sedge hat

一茶
.浮草や魚すくふたる小菅笠
ukikusa ya uo sukuutaru ko suge-gasa

by Issa　year unknown.

？？reasoning
1, duckweed is floating weed that has no settled place.
2, a fish scooping is childish play.
3, little sedge hat should be wore by child, because of being little.

!! Jumping
1, no settled place is beggar who is similar to pilgrimage.
2 a little sedge hat is pilgrimage’s child.
3, not adult but child could scoop fish with hat.

sakuo renku
遍路の子供
魚に夢中

pilgrimage’s child
forgetting himself with fish

Old and Youth !!

David’s English
where piss dribbles,
dribbles down...
irises

一茶
.小便のたらたら下や杜若
sho^ben no tara-tara dare ya kakitsubata

by Issa,
1818, Age 56 Fifth Month, 4th day, a daughter, Sato, is born. On 1814, age 54 married.

sakuo renku
oito wakasa no natu no kyouen
老いと若さの　夏の競演

Old and youth
Summer contest

To visit http://cat.xula.edu/issa/where piss dribbles,

red dog and Irises

By Issa,1813, Age 51
Second Month, he is living in Kashiwabara in a rented house. In autumn, his inheritance dispute finally settled, he moves into his family home.
This ku conveys the peace mood on May. He has been in really peaceful mind.

sakuo.

Noble Heike and octopus

Basho　Original
蛸壺やはかなき夢を夏の月
tako tubo ya hakanaki yume wo natu no tuki

an octopus pot ---
inside, a short-lived dream
under the summer moon

By Basho 1688, 45 years old, read this ku at Suma of Seto nai kai (inland sea) where noble Heike and his family die jumping to the sea. Basho was reminding the fact.


sakuo renku
Heike mo tako mo onaji yume miru
平家も蛸も同じ夢見る

Noble Heike and octopus
dream same dream.

Basho's Haiku

[Everyday Issa] has been not delivered from Dr.David, so today I pick up Basho sensei.

Basho original 1684
道のべの　むくげは馬に　くわれけり
miti nobe no mukuge wa uma ni kuware keri

English translated by Barnhill
http://www.modernhaiku.org/bookreviews/Barnhill
roadside rose of
sharon devoured
by my horse

sakuo renku
花は見送る旅立ちの朝

the flower look after
departure morning

a kimono for a sail

一茶
.帷を帆にして走る小舟かなkatabira wo ho ni shite hashiru kobune kana

David‘ｓ English
a kimono for a sail

rushing along...

little boat

The light summer garment in question is made of hemp: katabira. In this archive, I translate both katabira and awase as "summer kimono." However, in the present haiku I call it simply, "a kimono," because it the English translation seems simpler and cleaner, I think, if we leave out the word, "summer."

1812, Age 50

Eleventh Month, 14th day, he leaves Edo. Same month, 24th day, he returns to live in his native village of Kashiwabara.

sakuo renku－１
頬に夏風大川の土手
hoho ni natsu-kaze ookawa no dote

summer window to cheek
on the bank of Sumida River

cats love

David’s English
with a voice
like a temple bell...
the lover cat

一茶
つりがねのやうな声して猫の恋
tsuri-gane no yo^na koe shite neko no koe

1814,
Age 52Fourth Month, 11th day, he marries Kiku ("Chrysanthemum": age 28).

sakuo renku
一晩続く恋の戯れ
hitoban tsuduku koi no tawamure

through all night
love affairs

Elvis Presley Love me tender
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnlgZQMCQFU

thin legs!!

David’s English
thin legs--
while cooling myself appraised
by a horsefly

一茶
痩脛や涼めば虻に見込まるる
yase-zune ya suzumeba abu ni mikomaruru

by Issa, 1808
age 46, living in Edo.

sakuo renku
涼しき川の遊び舟かな
suzushiki kawa no asobi-bune kana

on the cool river
pleasure boat

All is Ace Card

David’s English
at the little gambling shack
the swallow
prattles

一茶
乙鳥や小屋のばくちをべちゃくちゃと
tsubakura ya ko ya [no] bakuchi wo becha-kucha to

by Issa, 1812

sakuo renku
手札は総てエースとなりぬ
tefuda ha subete e-su to narinu

my cards all
became ace cards

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staring at the man

David’s English
staring at the man
burning leaves...
stone Buddha

一茶
紅葉たく人をじろじろ仏哉
momiji taku hito wo jiro-jiro hotoke kana

by Issa, 1811

age 49, staying in Edo, getting reputation from haiku society.
Last year, Negotiations over his inheritance take place.

sakuo renku
酒温めて仏と飲まん
sake atatame te hotoke to no man

make rice wine hot
drink with Buddha

Horse Hotel

David’s English
the cricket
makes his bedroom...
horse dung

一茶
こおろぎの寝所にしたる馬ふん哉
ko^rogi no nedoko ni shitaru bafun kana

by Issa, 1815
age 51, married on last year. Happy!

sakuo renku
馬のホテルで今晩よき夢
uma no hoteru de konban yoki yume

in the horse’s Hotel
sweet dream tonight

Miss Plum

David’s English
the nightingale aims
and arrives...
my fence

一茶
鶯のあてにして来る垣ね哉
uguisu no ate ni shite kuru kakine kana

by Issa, 1806

"My" is not stated in the haiku but might be inferred.

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sakuo renku
お梅覗きに若衆集まる若者

to peep Miss Plum
the young visiting

Servant Holiday

David’s English
Servants' Holiday--
the great festival shrine
passes by

一茶
薮入の大輿の通りけり
yabuiri no o^ omikoshi no to^ri keri

by Issa, 1813
Age 51Second Month, he is living in Kashiwabara in a rented house. In autumn, his inheritance dispute finally settled, he moves into his family home.

After New Year's (First Month, 16th Day), servants in the cities were given time off to return to their native villages and families. The festival shrine is a huge, decorated palanquin昔の）輿（こし）, 駕籠. In Issa zenshu^ two readings for the character, "palanquin," are given: norimono and omikoshi (Nagano: Shinano Mainichi Shimbunsha, 1976-79, 1.36; 3.215).

sakuo renku
橋は溢れる祭りの如し
hashi ha afureru mature no gotoshi

bridges are overflowed
as like Festival.

dog lunch

David’s English
"The dog took your lunch!"
the reed thrush
tattles

sakuo’s English
the dog took lunch
isn’t it over act

一茶
昼飯を犬がとるとや行々し
hirumeshi wo inu[ga]toru toya gyo^gyo^shi

by Issa, 1825
63 years old. last year married with second wife after three months he divorced.

sakuo renku
Issa was lazy by nature. Since his divorce on last year, no one takes care for him

忘れられてる私の昼飯
wasure rareteru watasi no hirumeshi

It is forgotten
my lunch

growing weary

David’s English
growing weary
of the diet...
my new summer robe

一茶
腹のへる工夫尽てや更衣
hara no heru kufu^ tsukite ya koromogae

by Issa, 1815
Age 53, last year he married with 28 aged Kiku. These days, he was economically and mentally
most stable among lifetimes.

sakuo renku
腹にお肉の晒し巻きたり

on stomack
wearing meat clothe

Glove forgotten

David’s English
my province--
the children also make
snow Buddhas

一茶
我国や子どもも作る雪仏
waga kuni ya kodomo mo tsukuru yuki-botoke

by Issa, 1814

sakuo renku
忘れた手袋仏預かる
wasureta tebukuro hotoke azukaru

Glove forgotten
Buddha take care of

Baby's voice

David’s English
growing old--
these eyes no good
for flea chasing

一茶
としよりも蚤を追ふ目はかすまぬか
toshiyori mo nomi wo ou me wa kasumanu ka

by Issa, 1822
Age 60, on third month his third son is born. He has lost three children already.
Next year his wife will die.

sakuo renku
耳に赤子の声の浸みけり

Baby’s voice penetrating
to my ears

sweet dishes

David’ English
the smell of piss
wafting too...
chrysanthemums

一茶
小便の香も通ひけり菊の花
sho^ben no ka mo kayoi keri kiku no hana

by Issa, 1814, Age 52
Fourth Month, 11th day, he marries Kiku ("Chrysanthemum": age 28).
Eight month he departed to Edo.
Twelfth month he returned to home village.

sakuo renku
ご馳走四月江戸へ旅立つ
gotisou yotuki edo he tabidatu

sweet dishes four months
start on trip to Edo

rice planting with family

David’s English
world of man--
a rice field replaces
lotus blossoms

一茶
人の世に田に作るる蓮の花
hito no yo ni ta ni tsukuraruru hasu no hana

by Issa, 1816
1816, Age 54Fourth Month, 14th day, a son, Sentarô, is born. Fifth Month, 11th day, he dies.
It is only 27days life.
This was season of rice planting.
The baby was the first son whom Issa has got after long hard life, 45 years in Edo.
The rice field has become Issa’s asset after long struggle, 13 years with half brother.

sakuo renku
家族で田植えの夢は消えけり
kazoku de taue no yume ha kie keri

planting rice with family
the dream has disappeared

play for a while

David’s English
is the night this nice
in China?
cuckoo

一茶
こんな夜は唐にもあろか時鳥
konna yo wa kara ni mo aro ka hototogisu

by Issa, 1811.
Age 49 staying in Edo. He has been getting position as poet.
The last year was bad year for him.
On January he lost his beloved Mrs. Kakyo. On November he was suspected as a robber by Mr. Natume, big sponsor.
He has been still in the chaos of long struggle on inheritance.

sakuo renku
浮き世離れて暫し遊ばん
ukiyo hanarete sibashi aso ban

free from the world
playing for a while

sorry to wait for long

David ‘s English
do you think
it's too smoky in here?
face of the doll

一茶
煙たいとおぼしめすかよ雛顔
kebutai to oboshimesu ka yo hiina kao

by Issa, 1808
This ku is referred to Issa’s talking.
Issa is politely asking an elegant girl that do you feel smoky.
Smoke is tobacco, the girl is prostitute and the place is high class red zone
that is famous Yoshihara.

sakuo　renku
華の吉原　お待たせ御免
hana no yoshihara omatase omen

flourish Yoshihara
sorry to wait for long

friend of Village

David’s English
I sit too
at the rice planters'
dinner tray

一茶
それがしも田植の膳に居りけり
soregashi mo taue no zen ni suwari keri

by Issa, 1818
Issa became 56 years old.
It is his luckiest time in his life. He married, on June daughter born,
Of course he has owned rice field and he has many haiku friend around.

Staying in Edo, his long absence and work as poet made him solitary
from villager who form solid community for rice cultivation.

Rice planting is key work to support the village community.
So without jointing real work of rice planting he was invited to the dinner.
It was great pleasure for him, and he could get real feeling to
be a company of native village.

sakuo renku
ようやくなれた村の仲間に
youyaku nareta mura no nakama ni

change at last
friend of Village

like mother

David’ｓ English
wildflowers--
all we say or speak about
is autumn wind

一茶
草花やいふもかたるも秋の風
kusa-bana ya iu mo kataru mo aki no kaze

by Issa, 1810
Age 48
On January Mrs. Orimto Kakyo died. She was his haiku student and secretly beloved lady
On April knowing it but he stayed at far Shinano for the negotiations over
his inheritance.
On June lastly he visited her grave.

sakuo Renku.
母のよう慕いし人の今はなし
haha no you shitaisi hito no imaha nashi

beloved lady as like mother
who has gone now

Yours is mine too

David’s English
which, oh which
is your mountain?
cuckoo

dore-dore ga nanji ga yama zo hototogisu

一茶
どれどれが汝が山ぞほととぎす

Issa, 1813
The long battle of inheritance has ended on January.The father’s asset has been divided in two part between Issa and his brother in law.

sakuo Renku
俺の物は俺の物　お前の物も俺の物

Mines is mine and
Yours is mine too

pissing side by side

David’s English
or the neighing horse
the cold night
same as for me

一茶
いななくや馬も夜寒は同じ事
inanaku ya uma mo yozamu wa onaji koto

by Issa, 1808
Age 46 living in Edo, poor life.

sakuo renku
暮れの宿場や連れの小便
kure no syukuba ya ture no syonben

dusk at travel inn
pissing side by side

make love on and under

David’s English
on the high priest's
head...
flies making love

一茶
僧正の頭の上や蝿つるむ
so^jo^ no atama no ue ya hae tsurumu

by Issa, 1825
age 63, last year he married with second wife, after three months he divorced.

sakuo Renku
下の頭も恋の思案
sita no atama mo koi no shian

the head under the flies
thinking make-love

Yumoto Hotel

David’s English
cuckoo--
hot tub steam stirs
as does the grass

一茶
時鳥湯けぶりそよぐ草そよぐ
hototogisu yu keburi soyogu kusa soyogu

by Issa, 1813
Age 51 Second Month, he is living in Kashiwabara in a rented house. In autumn, his inheritance dispute finally settled, he moves into his family home.

sakuo comment
Issa at 51 years old visited hot spring in Yudanaka where he had found his lifelong friend named Kijyo Yumoto whose hotel and Issa memorial museum still exist. http://www.d8.dion.ne.jp/~fandy-y/history.html

sakuo renku
憂き世忘れて希杖とお湯へ
ukiyo wasurete kijyo to oyu he

forgetting troublesome worlds

bathe with Kijyo

scattering happiness

David’s English
the blossoming tree
born to a friendly
existence

一茶
花の木の持って生たあいそ哉
hana no ki no motte umareta aiso kana

1822 his age is 60. on third month his fourth child born, after losing three children.
How lovely was the new baby.

sakuo Renku
幸せの花家中に撒く
siawase no hana iejyu ni maku

happy petals
scattering over home

three snow dolls

David’s English
front gate--
a child is building
Snow Mountain

一茶
門先や童の作る雪の山
kado-zaki ya warabe no tsukuru yuki no yama

by Issa, 1821
59 years old, his second son die on the first month.
He has lost three children.

sakuo Renku
三つ見守る雪だるま哉
mitssu mimamoru yuki-daruma kana

watching them
three snow dolls

moon and plum blossom

David’s English
on one sleeve
the bright moon...
plum blossoms!

一茶
片袖は月夜也けり梅の花
kata sode wa tsuki yo nari keri ume no hana
by Issa, 1821

sakuo Renku
佳人近づく香りの内を
kajin tikazuku kaori no naka wo

Beauty comes up
through the scent

longing for new wife

translated by Dr. David
loafing around
in Kyoto...
autumn wind

Tr. Norman Darlington
hanging about --
even in the blossom capital
the autumn wind

一茶
のらくらや花の都も秋の風
norakura ya hana no miyako mo aki no kaze

1816 Issa stayed in Edo not in Kyoto. So I think 花の都 is not necessary to be Kyoto.
1814 he married , came to Edo, returned at the year end.
1815 he repeated the same pattern [go and back, home village and Edo] 1816 he came to Edo, stayed there during the year.
At this time he had the contradictional desire between staying at home with his new wife and being active in haiku in Edo.

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forgetting lost treasures

1823 Age 61,
Last year his third son born, so at the New year’s day the baby
has become 10 month old.

what are you doing here?

by Issa, 1804, 42 years old ,living in Edo.
He was very poor.

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Happy New Year 2007

cultivaite in snow falling

by Issa,1822, Age 60

sakuo comment
It is hard work to cultivate rice field in snow falling.
Nothing to say, there is no renku.

David's comment
This haiku alludes to the crunching or chopping sound made by a plow.

rice cake

by Issa 1810

David's comment
The rice cake is covered with bean jam. Shinji Ogawa notes that taisetsu no botamochi means "important rice cake...placed on the shelf as an offering to Buddha or Shinto gods." A katydid (kirigirisu) is a green or light brown insect, a cousin of crickets and grasshoppers. The males possess special organs on the wings with which they produce shrill calls. Although katydid is the closest English equivalent, many translators (such as R. H. Blyth) use the more familiar "grasshopper" and "cricket." See Haiku (Tokyo: Hokuseido, 1949-1952; rpt. 1981-1982/reset paperback edition) 4.1068-69.

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men have plucked little pines

by Issa, 1820
he had lost already two children.
David’s commment
This haiku has the prescript, "The crane's inscription." Cranes were famous for their fantastic longevity. This haiku offers a crane's-eye perspective that spans thousands of ages. Pulling up a young pine tree on the first day of Rat is a custom that originated in China. Shinji Ogawa explains that its purpose was to bring good luck or longevity. Samisu is an old verb with the modern equivalent, anadoru: to despise, to hold in contempt; Kogo dai jiten (Shogakukan 1983) 719.

double Kigo, snow and spring rain

by Issa,
1823, Age 61
His fundamental of living was on a rice farmer as a land owner.
I think that his three times marriages have been possible for his property,
based on rice field.
The snow was poem for Poet Issa, but it was hazards for farmer Issa.
This ku has double Kigo, snow and spring rain, in which I found his contradiction that he was a poet as well as a farmer.

over fourty

by Issa, 1803
his marriage is 1814, so it does not refer to Issa himself.
At 1803 he was 41 years old, living in Edo.
He has started his new action, leaving from old sect.
1801 his father die and, dispute on inheritance has begun.

Watching the parade of wedding, he thought,
I have become 41 years old.
Not getting sure position on Haiku profession.
Not having family, or marriage.
Not to be young.
Not getting surly inheritance.

together with

1815 Issa on the first day of the year.
Last year on April he married with young lady.
On August leaving his wife, he went to Edo and doing his haiku business
till t On December 27th arrived at his home.
This ku was made on the first day of the year, the dog year in animal calendar.
Wolf is the symbol of wildness. [dress in a robe] means politely.
Issa would like to say that the wildness, please behave politely.
It may likely point his young wife.

my rice field

Issa, 1804 42 years old living Edo. The geese fly toward north where is Issa’s
home village.
Three years before, Issa’s father die who said that half of my property
should be given to Issa.
But the will didn’t become effective. Issa had large dissatisfaction.

soot and slander

1813, Issa 51 years old.
On 1801 his father died. For twelve years the dispute about the succession
had continued. On February 1813 he decided to move to home village kashihabara
and rented house. Critical eyes of the surrounds watched at him severely

sexal appeal

Issa, 1806 44 years old, living in Edo.

I felt survival power in out season flower that even gives sexual appeal.

fasting in hell

Issa, 1820 58 years old, last year his daughter dies at only one year.
The hordes of hell are not Devil but dead people who fell to the hell and
are to be eaten by the Devil.
Today is fasting day according New Year’s custom.

good for waking

Issa Original
Issa (tran. by David)to English
sakuo Renku

1822 age 54, on the last year he married with young wife.There were many haiku students and friends in his home province.

next year new birth

Issa original
Issa (tran. by David) to English
sakuo Renku

1821, Age 59

1819 first daughter die.
1820 second son born.
1821 the son die on first month
next year, on third month third son born.

horse and chestnuts

Issa Original

Issa( tran.by David )to English

sakuo Renku

1808, age 44, lived in Edo.