15 Yahan Goto
(1895-1976)
(1895-1976)
Haiku by Japanese Poets 8
translated by Fay Aoyagi
translated by Fay Aoyagi
16 Sogyo Hasegawa
(1897-1987)
(1897-1987)
from Gendai no Haiku (Modern Haiku), edited by Shobin Hirai, Kodansha,
Tokyo, 1996
Tokyo, 1996
taki no ueni mizu arawarete ochinikeri
water rides
on the waterfall
and falling
This is Yahan's most famous haiku
water rides
on the waterfall
and falling
This is Yahan's most famous haiku
doujo ite houzue o shite nehanzou
a girl's chin
rests on her palms--
a statue of lying Buddha
a girl's chin
rests on her palms--
a statue of lying Buddha
komorebi no areba todomaru tokage kana
finding a shiny spot
through tree leaves
a lizard stops
finding a shiny spot
through tree leaves
a lizard stops
yamanoue okura o shika no kao ni miki
I see
Okura Yamanoue
in the deer's face
Okura Yamanoue: a waka poet in 8th century. Many of his
poem is about the people's life in earnest tone
I see
Okura Yamanoue
in the deer's face
Okura Yamanoue: a waka poet in 8th century. Many of his
poem is about the people's life in earnest tone
yoki kotoba kikishi gotokuni fuyu soubi
as if listening
to the beautiful words
a winter rose
as if listening
to the beautiful words
a winter rose
kokoro keshi kokoro tomoshite fuyugomori
putting out my soul
lighting my soul
my winter hibernation
putting out my soul
lighting my soul
my winter hibernation
dashinukeni sakanebanaranu manjushage
when no one expects
spider lilies
have to bloom
when no one expects
spider lilies
have to bloom
futokoro ni naru kashibukuro yuki fureri
inside of my kimono
a bag of sweets rustles--
snow falling
inside of my kimono
a bag of sweets rustles--
snow falling
aini yuku kumo dakuyouni hana daite
going to see her
I am holding a bouquet
in the way I will hold a cloud
going to see her
I am holding a bouquet
in the way I will hold a cloud
awaki haha koki tsuma doyou suginikeri
mother in a pale hue
wife in a vivid hue
Dog Days are over
mother in a pale hue
wife in a vivid hue
Dog Days are over
ooashita hajime no kotoba yaya ga dasu
New Year's Day
a baby speaks the first word
of our family
New Year's Day
a baby speaks the first word
of our family
arukiiru haha mo shigururu mono no uchi
mother walks
she, too, will become
the winter rain
mother walks
she, too, will become
the winter rain
hatsufuyu no ki wo noboriyuku mizu no kage
early winter
a shadow of the water
climbing a tree
early winter
a shadow of the water
climbing a tree
hanukedori muki kae kaze o odorokasu
a molting chicken turns
and surprises
the wind
"hanukedori (molter, or a molting chicken)" is a summer kigo.
a molting chicken turns
and surprises
the wind
"hanukedori (molter, or a molting chicken)" is a summer kigo.