Haiku by Kobayashi Issa

Kobayashi Issa (1763 - 1828) often celebrates in the free gifts of Nature. Though he lives in a ramshackle hut, he discovers a treasure-trove of "pearls" strewn in the grasses by his gate. He's poor only in the humanly constructed economic sense. As a haiku poet who opens his mind and heart daily to the wonders of Nature, he's richer than most. His pen name means a Cup-of-tea. He wrote as many as 20'000 haiku in his life. Issa is known for his drawings juxtaposing haiku and his work also includes haibun (passages of prose with integrated haiku) and he collaborated on more than 250 renku (collaborative linked verse).

ー羊雲を追っていく牧よう犬のように

blowing and howling

chasing away clouds of sheeps

like a shepherd dog

露の玉一ッ一ッに古郷あり

many beads of dew

adorn one by one my home

in that old village

露の世や露のなでしこ小なでしこ

dewdrops lay on big 

and small pink colored cloves

in this dewy world!

露の世の露の中にてけんくわ哉

in a world of dew

and within every dewdrop

a world of struggle

露の世や露の小脇のうがひ達

what a dewy world

cormorant fishermen were

covered by dewdrops

露の世は露の世ながらさりながら

dew evaporates 

and all our world is dew... so dear 

...so fresh ...so fleeting

露の世の露を鳴也夏の蝉

in a dewy world 

the dripping sound of dewdrops

chirping cicada


玉になれ大玉になれけさの露

tiny precious pearls
inside a wonderful world!
shiny morning dew


下の露末の露もとの雫や

when does stop to roll
those dewy perles from fall?
dripping drops of dew

白露の身にも大玉小玉から

among dewy pearls
a few were big others small

glistening dewdrops

草の葉や雨にまぎれぬ秋の露

blades of grasses

lost among the raindrops

during autumn dew

白露と仲間よく見ゆる影ぼふし

glistening dewdrops

and my good looking fellow

were remaining shadows

帷子に忝の夜露哉

granted and grateful

for that summer kimono

misty evening dew!


 白露に福ややどらんぼたん畠

that silvery dew
troublesome prosperity
in a peony field

露ほろりほろりと鳩の念仏哉

doves and pigeons

amid weeping dewdrops

praise Amitābha!


白露にざぶとふみ込む烏哉

marvel at dewdrops
splashing swagger of the crow

on the dewy ground!

Why is this haiku so compelling? The poem strides forward syllable by syllable into the sparkling dew, arriving finally at: a crow! Issa's language perfectly matches the image it presents: vibrant, cocky, irrepressible. Readers who latch onto Issa's verses of personal sorrows and consequently paint him as a poet of suffering, should remember this haiku. He is, above all else, a poet of life.

白露にまぎれ込だる我家哉

glistening dewdrops

vanishing among the mist
the roof of my home!

田を打てば露もおりけり門の口

rice paddy harvest

carries dew by the way...

to enter the gate

白露に片袖寒き朝日

silvery dewdrops

drenched sleeves to the bones

on an early morning

糸屑にきのふの露や春のてふ

on a waste thread

yesterday's dewdrops aligned

spring awakening

送り火や焚く真似しても秋の露

burned to nothing

like bonfires for the dead

autumn dew indeed

笛吹て白露いわふ在所哉

play the bamboo flute

and celebrate the silver dew

at my hometown

野仏に線香けぶるやけさの露

incense smoke

on the Buddha in the field...

morning dew

身の上の露とは更にしらぬ哉

not at all aware
that life's dewdrop is fading

like everything!

身の上の露ともしらでさはぎけり

unaware of life

fading away like dewdrops ...

a whimsical smile

Every morning will be enough to live ... at the Buddhist temple or small hut (庵 hermitage) if you believe in a life of fulfilment following Buddhist teachings. And we can life with as little then a cup of tea made of dew* means literally: we may not need much to live on, as we follow the rules of secluded life, nature always will be gentle with us in every day life!

朝々や庵の茶おけの草の露

every morning lays
enough for my tea kettle ...*
of dew in the grass

茶けぶりや丘穂の露をただ頼む

smoked tea on hills

and the upland rice paddies

are trusting the dew

白露や茶腹で越るうつの山

silvery dewdrops

with a bellyful of tea

crossing Mount Utsu

露ちりて急にみじかくなるよ哉

scattered dewdrops

suddenly the nights grow short

summer solstice !

我門の宝もの也露の玉

like pearls of jades
natures riches at my gate
pearls of dewdrops


露ちるや後生大事に鳴雀

the dewdrops scatter
sparrows sing persistently
next-life salvation


朝露に浄土参りのけいこ哉

early morning dew
reaching-Buddha's-Pure-Land
practice by a shrine !

後からぞっとするぞよ露時雨

drizzle fizzle rain
a shiver runs up my spine
late autumn shower


めぐり日と俳諧日也春の雨

a day for haiku
a day for hanging around
a rainy spring day

うす霧の引からまりし垣ね哉

misty drizzle
entangled that hedgerow

into the haze

Taro leaves are heart-shaped, bright to deep green and they can span over a foot in diameter. The underside of the leaves have veins that branch out from the stem. Both the veins and stem will have a purple to red hue and are often variegated. Although taro is cultivated primarily for its roots, the leaves are wholly edible and have a tender-firm and succulent texture. The flavor is subtle, offering a pleasant nuttiness with an iron finish that is comparable to the flavor of spinach.

芋の葉や親碗程の露の玉

leaves of taro
equals a rice bowl's worth
jasper green dew


小盥や今むく田螺すべりあそぶ

in a small basin

pond snails ready for shelling

play sliding games


代々の貧乏垣の木槿哉

for generations
from this poor living fence
roses of Sharon!


朝寒を引くり返す木槿哉

despite of the cold
rewarded by the blooming
roses of Sharon!

夕汐や草葉の末の赤蜻蛉

evening tides
on the grass blade's tip
a red dragonfly


遠山が目玉にうつるとんぼ哉

distant mountains
reflected on the eyeballs
of a dragonfly !


俳人を済度に入れるか赤とんぼ

have you come
to save us haiku poets?
red dragonfly

朝露に食傷したう蜻蛉哉

food poisoning after

 feeding on morning dew
worship dragonfly!


君が代の大飯喰ふてさくら哉

a hearty meal
of Great Japan's rice...
cherry blossoms!

梅の木の心しづかに青葉かな

the plum tree
with heart at peace...
leafing green

名月のこころになれば夜の明る

harvest moon--
when my heart's had its fill
it's dawn

Kokoro signifies both "heart" and "mind" in Japanese. Therefore, after "autumn wind," the haiku could be translated, "the mind of Issa is thinking" or "the heart of Issa is feeling." Both would be correct yet incomplete.

For a poet who made his personal life the stuff of poetry, this is perhaps his most personal self-portrait. Of course, Issa leaves it to the reader to contemplate and decide what feelings and ideas are stirring as the autumn wind blows.

山道の曲り々し心かな

mountain paths
like the issue of the heart

twisting and winding

秋の風一茶心に思ふやう

autumn wind--
Issa's heart and mind
stirring

行雁や人の心もうはの空

  travelling geese--
the human heart, too
soars

行雁や人の心 也上の空

  travelling geese--
the human mind, too
drifts

何もないが心安さよ涼しさよ

nothing at all
but a calm heart
and cool air

行々し一本芦ぞ心せよ

just one reed
for the reed thrush...
take heart!

ものしりの真似して籠る夏心

like wise men do
I go into seclusion...
summer heart

二人していろりの縁を枕哉

a couples destiny
at the edge of the hearth
share their pillow


しばらくは枕の上や雲の峰

for the moment
straight above my pillow...

billowing clouds

雪どけや大手ひろげし立ち榎

as snow has melted
plenty of elbow room
for the lotus tree*

The date plum tree (Diospyros lotus) was known to the ancient Greeks as 'the fruit of the gods' for its delicious fruit, which have a taste that resembles both plums and dates. Mentioned in Homer's epic poem the Odyssey, it was so delectable that those who ate it, forgot about going home and wanted only to eat lotus fruit with the lotus-eaters.

The date plum fruit is yellow when immature and ripens to a purple-brown colour. Although a very small fruit, only 1-2cm, when ripe the flesh is soft and very rich and sweet in flavour, which is why it has always been so highly regarded.

Native to China and a range of countries that span the Himalayas and other parts of Asia Minor, Diospyros lotus (also called Caucasian Persimmon) was introduced to Britain in 1597. It was cultivated in England in the 17th century but has never been a common feature in gardens and generally remains limited to collections.

たまに来た古郷の月は曇りけり

a glimpse of the moon
over my home town before
clouds gave it a kick


あさ陰に関も越えたる扇哉


in morning shadows
he passes through the barrier gate...

with paper fan

雨三粒はらって過し扇哉

sweeping off three drops
of rain in passing...
paper fan

朝顔に老づら居て団扇哉

my old face rests
in morning-glories...
fanning my paper fan


朝露の朝顔売るやあら男

selling morning-glories
wet with morning dew...
a tough character

朝顔の花に何盃けさの露

the morning-glories
are filled with morning dew

how many of cups ?

人は旅日は朝朗けさの露

travelers set out
by the time the sun rises...
early morning dew


うす菫桜の春はなく成ぬ

straggly violets -
the cherry blossom spring
has almost gone

Hina Matsuri is the japanese festival for young girls, which is celebrated at March 3rd in modern times. It is an event where people hope for growth and happiness for girls and it is called "Momo-no-Sekku", which means "festival of peach". "Hina" is an ancient word and means "doll" and "Matsuri" means "festival". "Momo" means "peach" and "Sekku" is another word for "festival". The festival is also often called the Peach Festival.

At this day gracefull dolls dressed in ancient costumes are displayed in a layout with different steps. This decoration stands for about one month. The dolls represent the emperor and empress, their attendants and other members of the court. There is also a small celebration with special rice cakes and drinks. A set of Hina-dolls usually consists of at least 15 dolls, all in the ancient costumes.

雛の日もろくな桜はなかりけり

Doll Festival time

not a decent cherry tree

blooming anywhere

渋柿と烏も知って通りけり

even the crow knows
the persimmon's astringent
 along the pathway


逃くらし逃くらしけり夏のせみ

a life of running
running away from duty
summer cicada


世の中は地獄の上の花見かな

in this crazy world
we walk on the roof of hell
gazing at flowers


年暮れぬ笠きて草鞋はきながら

another year goes by

I still wear straw hat and sandals

lacking alertness


旅に病で夢は枯野をかけ廻る

ill on that journey

my feverish dreams run wild

 in the rotten fields

人问わば露と答へよ合点か

if someone asks you

then answer: it's a dewdrop

do you understand?

This undated haiku is a rewrite of one that Issa composed in 1813. The original version begins with "weak tea" (cha no awa). http://haikuguy.com/issa/

一人茶や蝶は毎日来てくれる

drinking tea alone - 

every day the butterfly 

pays off a visite 

はつ蝶や会釈もなしに床の間へ 

first butterfly - 

without formal greeting 

entering the alcove

世の中は蝶も朝からかせぐ也 

even in this world 

a butterfly must toil too 

from dawn to dusk

はつ蝶よこんな筵に汚るるな

blithely butterfly
care for your reputation
on such a straw mat!

置露に蝶のきげんの直りけり

among those dewdrops
the butterfly's mood improves 

reaching to it's end