14 Shuoshi Mizuhara
(1892-1971)
(1892-1971)
Haiku by Japanese Poets 7
translated by Fay Aoyagi
translated by Fay Aoyagi
14 Suju Takano
(1893-1966)
(1893-1966)
from Gendai no Haiku (Modern Haiku), edited by Shobin Hirai, Kodansha,
Tokyo, 1996
Tokyo, 1996
hiki naite toushoudaiji haru izuko
bull frog cries
where is the spring
at the Tosho Daiji Temple
Tosho Daiji: A temple in Nara built in 759. One of the Seven
Famous Temples in Nara Era.
bull frog cries
where is the spring
at the Tosho Daiji Temple
Tosho Daiji: A temple in Nara built in 759. One of the Seven
Famous Temples in Nara Era.
takaneboshi kokai no mura wa neshizumari
stars above the mountains
a village of silkworm farmers
deep in sleep
stars above the mountains
a village of silkworm farmers
deep in sleep
fuyugiku no matou wa onoga hikari nomi
winter chrysanthemum
only clad in
its own light
winter chrysanthemum
only clad in
its own light
botan joudo mau chou nomi o yurushikeri
I pardon only
the butterfly dancing
in the Peony Paradise
I pardon only
the butterfly dancing
in the Peony Paradise
ebi haneshi kuriya no oto ka joya no kane
a sound from the kitchen
where a prawn splashed...?
New Year's Eve bells
a sound from the kitchen
where a prawn splashed...?
New Year's Eve bells
ikigai no chaki hitotsu aru shincha kana
there is one cup
of my reason for living
the first tea of the season
there is one cup
of my reason for living
the first tea of the season
kiku no hachi utsuseyo hinata utsurikeru
move the chrysanthemum pot...
a spot made by the sun
is moving
move the chrysanthemum pot...
a spot made by the sun
is moving
tadayoeru tebukuro no aru un'ga kana
in the canal
there is a glove
floating...
in the canal
there is a glove
floating...
houjou no oohisashi yori haru no chou
from the giant eaves
of the priests' quarter
a spring butterly
from the giant eaves
of the priests' quarter
a spring butterly
zukazukato kite odoriko ni sasayakaru
without hezitation
he comes straight to the dancer
and whispers to her
one of his signature haiku
without hezitation
he comes straight to the dancer
and whispers to her
one of his signature haiku
furusato ni chikazuku kokoro uragaruru
my feeling
closer to home...
leaves start to wither
uragare (tips of the branch or eaves starting to wither) is
autumn kigo
my feeling
closer to home...
leaves start to wither
uragare (tips of the branch or eaves starting to wither) is
autumn kigo
haru no tsuki arishi tokoro ni tsuyu no tsuki
where the spring moon was
the moon
of the rainy season
where the spring moon was
the moon
of the rainy season
hida no ro ni hida no onna no sumi o tsugu
to the fireplace in Hida
a woman in Hida adds
a piece of charcoal
Hida: old name of Northern Gifu Prefecture; there are many
high mountains in the area and is called Japanese North
Alpus
to the fireplace in Hida
a woman in Hida adds
a piece of charcoal
Hida: old name of Northern Gifu Prefecture; there are many
high mountains in the area and is called Japanese North
Alpus
hajimeteno machi hajimeteno haru yuube
a town I come for the first time
a spring night for the first time
a town I come for the first time
a spring night for the first time