Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827)


tsuyu no yo wa / tsuyu no yo nagara / sari nagara

So this world of dew
is a world of dew.
And yet ... and yet ....

Issa's most famous haiku, written one month after the passing of his daughter.


In this world

In this world
even butterflies
must earn their keep.

Oh cricket

Oh cricket!
Act as the gravekeeper
after I'm gone.

tarai kara / tarai ni utsuru / chimpunkan

Washing the newborn ...
rinsing the corpse.
Hmm.

Issa's deathbed haiku, found under his pillow.