smoking ban

by Issa, 1824

Dr. David translation and comment
For Issa who enjoyed his pipe, a smoking ban was a hard thing.

sakuo Haiku
And we now, smokers are suffering from smoking ban all over the world.

pine tree shade

by Issa 1819 age 57, sixth month his daughter die.

Dr. David translate, http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

sakuo renku and renga

to one side

Issa year unknown.

Dr.David translation. http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

sakuo renku and renga

work so hard

by Issa 1820, Age 58

Chrysanthemum is Kiku, his wife.
Why didn’t Kiku drink him even dewdrop?

Answer is in death and birth of their children.
1819, sixth month their daughter died.
1820, tenth months their second son is born.
The boy was got pregnant at the first month of the year.
It would be possible that Kiku had urged Issa to make baby.
Issa must so hardly work.

how industrious! shooing the fly

Issa 1824.

Dr.David translation.

sakuo renku.

the nape of neck

Issa 1820

David's translation and comment.
"Heaven's River" refers to the Milky Way. In my first translation I read bon no kubo literally as the recess of a tray, but Sakuo Nakamura alerted me to the fact that Issa is using the expression colloquially to mean, "nape of the neck."

sakuo renku

who are hordes of hell?

David’s English
today even the
hordes of hell celebrate
the new year

kyo^ koso wa jigoku no shu^ mo o-sho^gatsu

.けふこそは地獄の衆もお正月

by Issa, 1820

sakuo comment
The hordes of hell are the heavy workers in this world.
who belong to the lowest class in the society.

sakuo renku and renga

bat in a village without birds

by Issa, 1820 age 57, living in home village. Last year his daughter died.

Key phrase.
There has been a Japanese proverb, saying “ bat in a village without birds”
It means when there is no great person, a petty person wears a big face

sakuo renku
都の話に口開けたきり

big talk on Capital
mouths remain open

visit http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

translated by Dr.David

black kites reeling

by Issa, 1815 age 53, last year he married with young bride.

David’s comment
http://haikuguy.com/issa/search.php?keywords=black+kites+reeling&year=1815

plum blossom moon

by Issa, 1798 , the last year of his 7 years journey to Shaigoku(western area)

花札（japanese　cards）Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanafuda

two claps

By Issa, 1803 , age 41,living in Edo.
He used to go around his haiku friends in Bouso area.

On his trip in summer, he dropped into the shrine that was surrounded with
forest.
As Japanese custom, he prayed the god with two bows, two claps and
one bow.
In still forest the mountain cuckoo sang twice just like response to his two claps.

Fir tree is used as the God’s symbol pole, [onbashira 御柱]
The most famous one is in Suwa Shrine that is in Issa’s home,
Shinano area.

sakuo renku and renga

a quick song katydid

by Issa in 1818,his age of 56.

Fifty month, a daughter was born.

It is Autumn,because katydid is Kigo of September.

It is in bed room, because lantern is set in dark room.

Key phrase is [tyoi to nakeri]=[a quick song]

Katydid is wild insect,so when some one enter into room,

the insect didn't sing.

Katydid is a young lady, because the Key phrase is told by Edo local speech just like the Cockney of Londoner.

It was smart and sharp.

sakuo's renku and ren-Ga

the rear goose

1812 Issa 50 years old, hoping strongly return to his native village.

On June he went to the village for the negotiation of his father's asset.

On November he decided to live eternally in the village, borrowed a rental house.

Translation by Dr.David http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

two birds

by Issa 1818.
translation Dr. David.http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

by Issa in 1818.

translation Dr. David.

sakuo comment,

The motherless bird is Issa himself,and I feel Issa in the blind man.

Issa cherry blossom

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8013981673797912870

sakuo.

blossom clouds

David’s English
with a lantern
into the gap of blossom
clouds

cho^chin wa hana no kumo ma ni iri ni keri
一茶　
挑灯は花の雲間に入にけり

by Issa, 1820 age 58,
Tenth Month, 5th day, his second son, Ishitarô, is born.

"070524 accusing the pine" on Google Video

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4238314363568064418&hl=en

1809, age 47, Issa lived in Edo.
This is the first attempt of musical haiku with sounds and pictures.
The music is played by Issui Mimegishi with monochord Koto that is
the oldest koto, accompanying traditional poem, Japanese waka.

sakuo.

cloud peaks

David’s English
the peaks of clouds
behind one blade of grass
vanish

kumo no mine kusa ippon ni kakure keri
一茶
.雲の峰草一本にかくれけり

by Issa, 1812

David’s comment
An interesting experiment with perspective.

sakuo’s image
In hot summer day, Issa was on journey.
He felled down into thicket
After a little sleep, he awaked and sees summer sky.

offering box

David’s English
deep in the thicket
an offering box...
plum blossoms

一茶
.薮尻のさいせん箱や梅の花
yabu shiri no saisen hako ya ume no hana

by Issa, 1819, 57 years old, live in home Village.



Image
The place is road side. A little Temple in which there is Buddha statue.
Issa offer and play for his daughter who was born on May of last year.

blue hanging bell

David’s English
coolness--
a blue hanging bell
red blossoms

suzushisa ya aoi tsuri-gane akai hana
一茶
.涼しさや青いつりがね赤い花

by Issa, 1825

Additional image
Hanging bell is in Temple.
Suppose red blossom were ladies, the blue bell should be young man.
Temple plus young man come to young priest, whose head is shaved,
blue and cool.