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