塔

Issa 一茶1818　age 56

how good
to see a pagoda!
billowing clouds

yoi hodo ni to^ no mie keri kumo no mine
よい程に塔の見へけり雲の峰
Issa is playing the game of imagining what shapes in the clouds look like. In one of them he perceives the pagoda of a Buddhist temple.　http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

召使い

Issa, 1795　age 33

the servants
all are new...
Little New Year's

meshi tsukai atarashiki kana ko sho^gatsu
召仕新しき哉小正月

Little New Year's is celebrated on the 15th and 16th days of First Month. Meshi tsukau is an old expression for a nobleman sending for a person to come and render a service; Kogo dai jiten (Shogakukan 1983) 1612. Shinji Ogawa notes that in Issa's time, this phrase could signify any one of a wide range of employees, from samurai to maids.

白桃

Masajo　真砂女　1969　age 63

白桃に人刺すごとく刃を入れて
hakuto ni hito sasu gotoku ha wo irete

Lee&Emiko’s English

into a white peach
like stabbing someone
the knife’s edge

Seasonal word: white peach (summer)

sakuo haiga

寝並ぶ

Issa　一茶　1821　age 59

寝並んで小蝶と猫と和尚哉
ne narande ko cho^ to neko to osho^ kana

David’s English

sleeping in a row--
little butterfly, cat
pries

The priest is a head priest. In the poem, Issa shows relationship and loving connection between three quite different creatures. Presented in a progression from small to large; the butterfly, cat and priest show themselves to be, in the moment, a little family.

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

sakuo haiga

芒野

Masajo　真砂女　1969　age 63

芒野に心の責苦捨てに出づ
susukino ni kokoro no semeku sute ni izu

Lee&Emiko’s English

field of pampas grass---
I go there to cast away
the anguish of my heart

Seasonal word: field of pampas grass (autumn)

sakuo haiga

降っても 照っても

Issa　一茶　 1811　age 49

雨笠も日笠もあなた任せ哉
ama-gasa mo higasa mo anata makase kana

David’s English

umbrella-hats
sun hats...
trust in Buddha!

The phrase anata makase ("trust in the Beyond!") refers specifically to trusting in the saving power of Amida Buddha. "Umbrella-hats" (ama-gasa) and "parasols" (higasa) protect from rain and sun, respectively. Issa's meaning seems to be: Rain or shine, the best course is to trust in Buddha!
http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

sakuo haiga

朝顔

Masajo　真砂女　1969　age 63

朝顔は実に幸せは小さきに足る
asagao wa mi ni shiawase wa chisaki ni taru

Lee&Emiko’s English

morning -glory
the small promise of its seeds
is sufficient

I will not set my hopes too high. This humble happiness at hand now is what I must treasure. T morning-glory that bloomed every morning is bearing seeds now. I will gather them for next year to grow the beautiful flowers again.

Seasonal word: morning-glory (autumn)

sakuo haiga.

合歓の木

Issa　一茶　1813　age 51

長の日やびんづるどのと合歓の花
naga no hi ya binzuru dono to nemu [no] hana

David’s English

a long day--
Holy Binzuru and blossoms
of sleeping tree

Binzuru is a Buddhist saint, one of the 16 Enlightened Ones. Folk custom dictates that if one prayerfully rubs his image, he or she will recover from illness;　 http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

sakuo haiga

泉涸るる

Masajo　真砂女　1969　age 63

わが汲めば泉涸るるか罪数多
waga kumeba izumi karuruka tsumi amata

Lee & Emiko translation

when I draw water
will the spring run dry?
so many sins of mine

Seasonal word: a spring ( summer)

Sakuo Haiga

sulky pose

Issa　一茶1815　ａｇｅ ５２

妹が子やくねた形りでよぶ忖
imo ga ko ya jikuneta nari de yobu hotaru

David’s English

my child strikes
a sulky pose
calling fireflies

The phrase, imo ga ko ("sister's child") means, in literary usage, "my wife's child," ergo, "my child." (Shinji Ogawa). Issa was newly married when he wrote this poem but still without children. Perhaps he is looking ahead with optimism, imagining that the child in the scene is his own.
http://cat.xula.edu/issa/

.sakuo haiga