HAIKU Selection
by TAKAHA Shugyo
Translation by SATO Kazuo & Patricia DONEGAN
kisutsuki ya ochiba wo isogu maki no kigi
woodpecker——
leaves quickly fall
in the meadow
- MIZUHARA Shuoshi (1892 - 1981)
natsu gusa ni kikansha no sharin kitetomaru
summer grasses——
the wheels of the locomotive
come to a stop
- YAMAGUCHI Seishi (1901 - 1994)
tampopo ya choko nigoru tokoshinae
dandelions——
muddy waters of the Yangze
eternally
- YAMAGUCHI Seison (1892 - 1988)
taki no ue ni mizu arawarete ochini keri
above the waterfall
water revealed
becomes waterfall
- GOTO Yahan (1895 - 1976)
utsukushiki midori hashireri natsu ryori
beautiful lines
of green run through
the summer dishes
- HOSHINO Tatsuko (1903 - 1984)
hane watte tento mushi no tobi izuru
splitting her wings
the ladybug's
flying begins
- TAKANO Suju (1893 - 1976)
ko no ha furi yamatsu isogu na isugu na yo
leaves falling
never-ending
yet why, so fast
- KATO Shuson (1905 - 1993)
banryoku no naka ya ako no ha hae somuru
along with spring leaves
my child's teeth
are coming in
- NAKAMURA Kusatao (1901 - 1983)
kari gane ya nokoru mono mina utsukushiki
wild geese——
all that remains
beautiful
- ISHIDA Hakyo (1913 - 1969)
chiru sakura umi ao kereba umi e chiru
cherry blossoms fall
on the sea
for the sea is blue
- TAKAYA Soshu (1910 - 1999)
Reviews:
woodpecker——
leaves quickly fall
in the meadow
- MIZUHARA Shuoshi (1892 - 1981)
The scene is Akagi mountain of Gunma prefecture. The woodpecker is pecking at the tree and eating insects. People listening to the sound of the pecking, also notice that the leaves were already falling in the meadow. This is one scene of the highland meadows of late autumn.
This haiku is rather new in style, because haiku usually describes in black "sumie" style, but this haiku is written as if in the oil painting style of the French Impressionists. So Shuoshi seems to have the eyes of a Western artist towards Nature, seen in bright sun-light.
summer grasses——
the wheels of the locomotive
come to a stop
- YAMAGUCHI Seishi (1901 - 1994)
On the track lines a locomotive train comes into the train yard; the speed of its big wheels slow down and finally stop at the edge of the yard where tall summer grasses are growing. The engine's white steam rises and drifts away. The green grass, the white steam and the black locomotive all make a haiku of contrast.
It seems that the power of the summer grasses stops the big chunk of iron that represents the convenience of modern life. This is a haiku of contrast between soft and hard, which is Nature and civilization. The dynamic movement of the wheels seems as big as on a movie screen and the effect moves us. This haiku method is very innovative.
wild geese——
all that remains
beautiful
- ISHIDA Hakyo (1913 - 1969)
This haiku needs an introduction about the poet's parting on September 23, 1943 when he got his draft card notice. He then thought of his family and friends who remained behind.
In the evening sky, a flock of wild geese were flying and honking and then disappeared. It seemed to echo Hakyos sad feeling and his determination to deem, everything that remains as beautiful. This shows his affection toward everything that remained: the value of family and friends - and that love becomes more beautiful when it ends. His sad feeling is embodied in the image of the departing wild geese.