1 Kyoshi Takahama
(1874-1959)
(1874-1959)
Haiku by Japanese Poets 1
translated by Fay Aoyagi
translated by Fay Aoyagi
2 Arou Usuda
(1879-1951)
(1879-1951)
sono nakani chiisaki kami ya tsubo sumire
a small god
inside--
potted violets
a small god
inside--
potted violets
enzan ni hi no ataritaru kareno kana
sun shining
on the far-away mountains
withered field
sun shining
on the far-away mountains
withered field
shunpuu ya toushi idakite oka ni tatsu
spring wind--
I stand on the hill
with the fighting spirit
spring wind--
I stand on the hill
with the fighting spirit
hebi nigete ware o mishi me no kusa ni nokoru
a snake dissapears
these eyes that watched me
are left on the grass
a snake dissapears
these eyes that watched me
are left on the grass
shirobotan to iutoiedemo beni honoka
it is called
white peony
but faintly red
it is called
white peony
but faintly red
hatsuzora ya daiakunin kyoshi no zujyou ni
New Year's sky
above the head of a very bad guy
called Kyoshi
New Year's sky
above the head of a very bad guy
called Kyoshi
hatsuchou o yume no gotokuni miushinau
I lose sight
of the first butterfly of the year
as though I lose sight of my dream
I lose sight
of the first butterfly of the year
as though I lose sight of my dream
kyoshi hitori ginga to tomoni nishi e yuku
Kyoshi by himself
goes to West
with the Milky Way
Kyoshi by himself
goes to West
with the Milky Way
mon o deru hito shunkou no tsutsumi saru
spring light wraps
and carries away a person
leaving through the gate
spring light wraps
and carries away a person
leaving through the gate
sugu koi toiu shiki no yume akeyasuki
in my dream
Shiki says 'Come here soon...'
summer dawn
in my dream
Shiki says 'Come here soon...'
summer dawn
from Gendai no Haiku (Modern Haiku), edited by Shobin Hirai, Kodansha,
Tokyo, 1996
Tokyo, 1996
yuugure no mizu no tororito haru no kaze
water at dusk
becomes thicker
spring wind
water at dusk
becomes thicker
spring wind
mejiro naku hinata ni tsuma to suwaritari
Japanese white-eye sings
I sit in the sunshine
with my wife
Japanese white-eye sings
I sit in the sunshine
with my wife
higurashi ya dono michi mo machi e oriteiru
evening cicada--
all the downhill roads
to the town
evening cicada--
all the downhill roads
to the town
karekusa no soyogedo soyogedo fuji tadashiki
withered grass
swaying, swaying ...
Mt. Fuji keeps its posture
withered grass
swaying, swaying ...
Mt. Fuji keeps its posture
kanrai ya rokkotsu no goto syouji aru
winter thunder--
there are ribs-like
shoji screens
winter thunder--
there are ribs-like
shoji screens
asazamu no fukii ga megane kumorashinu
morning chill
my glasses are fogged
with the artesian well
morning chill
my glasses are fogged
with the artesian well
hakuren ni yuuhi no kin no shitatareri
into the white magnolia
golden color of the evening sun
is dropping
into the white magnolia
golden color of the evening sun
is dropping
kabe no kuzure itodo ga hige o futteori
a hole in the wall
a cave cricket
sways its whiskers
a hole in the wall
a cave cricket
sways its whiskers
yamagiri ni hotaru kirikiri fukarekeri
in the mountain fog
fireflies
furling and unfurling
in the mountain fog
fireflies
furling and unfurling
kajika naku mizu utte kaze kienikeri
singing frogs--
the wind hits the water
and disappears
singing frogs--
the wind hits the water
and disappears
