100 HAIKUs of TAKAHAMA Kyoshi (1~20) (Revised)

(HAIKU of Kyoshi Takahama, translated by Satoshi Kinoshita)

          

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春雨の衣桁に重し恋衣 (M27. 1894年

        (harusameno ikohniomoshi koigoromo)

         heavy on a dress-rack

         clothes of love_

         spring rain

  

怒濤岩を噛む我を神かと朧の夜 (M29. 1896年

         (dotoh iwaokamu wareokamikato oboronoyo

         as if thinking me a god,

         surging waves bite the rock_

         hazy moon night 

    

蓑虫の父よと鳴きて母もなし M32. 1899年

         (minomushino chichiyotonakite hahamonashi)

          a bagworm chirps

          papa papa,

          without mamma, either 

      

子規逝くや十七日の月明に (M35. 1902年

       (Shikiyukuya juushichinichino getsumeini)

          Shiki passed away

          in the moonlight

          of the 17th day   

   

秋風や眼中のもの皆俳句 (M36. 1903年

         (akikazeya ganchuunomono minahaiku)

          autumn wind_

          anything you see

          could be a HAIKU

    

 (或時は谷深く折る夏花かな (M37. 1904年

        (arutokiwa tanifukakuoru gebanakana)

        'gebana' flowers,

        taken deep in a valley

        at a cetain time

   

刑罰の石を背負うて夏野かな (M38. 1905年

       (keibatsuno ishioseoute natsunokana)

    carrying a stone of punishment

        on one's back_

        the summer field

    

 (垣間見る好色者に草芳しき (M39. 1906年   

       (kaimamiru kohshokumononi kusakanbashiki)

        the grasses fragrant     

        to a lecherous man

        peeping in through the hedge  

              

桐一葉日当りながら落ちにけり (M39. 1906年

   (kirihitoha hiatarinagara ochinikeri)

   a leaf of paulownia

   fell,

   with the sunlight on it

   

 (10曝書風強し赤本飛んで金平怒る (M41.1908年

      (bakushokaze tsuyoshi akahontonde kinpiraikaru)

      strong a wind at book-exposing,

      a red-covered storybook blown down,

      exposing the hero Kinpira angry  

    

11凡そ天下に去来程の小さき墓に参りけり(M41. 1908年

  (oyosotenkani kyoraihodono chisakihakani mairikeri)

      Under heaven,

      I visited such a tomb 

      as small as I heard of Kyorai.  

         

(12)(13) 霜降れば霜を楯とす法の城 (T2. 1913年

         (shimofureba shimowotatetosu norinoshiro)

         if there is a frost,

         the frost be a shield_

         the temple of laws        

    

(14) 春風や闘志抱きて丘に佇つ (T2. 1913年

        (harukazeya tohshiidakite okanitatsu)

        spring wind_

        I stand on the hill,

        my heart full of fight      

       

(15囀や山かけて売る土地広し (T2. 1913年)

       (saezuriya yamakaketeuru tochihiroshi)

       chirps of birds_

       running on a hill,

       a broad lot to be sold

 (Note)

In this haiku,  "山かけて" (yamakakete) is a pun, meaning "run",  "take a chance", or "hang".

   

(16この後の古墳の月日椿かな  (T2. 1913年)   

      (kononochino kofunnotsukihi tubakikana)

       after this,      

       lasting time of the ancient mounds_

       the camellias      

(17) 歌人祭らず俚人ただ祭る社あり (T2. 1913年)

       (kajinmatsurazu satobitotada matsuru yashiroari

       (on Hitomaro death-anniversary)

        a shrine,

       no poets worship it,

       villiagers only worship it        

(18) 一つ根に離れ浮く葉や春の水 (T2. 1913年)

     (hitotsuneni hanareukuhaya harunomizu)

     the spring water_

     the leaves float aloof,

     grown from single roots                 

(19) 舟岸につけば柳に星一つ (T2. 1913年)

     (funekishini tsukebayangini hoshihitotsu)

     the boat reached a shore,

     there a willow,

     thereabove a star      

(20) 秋来ればいつもあはれにきぬたかな (M24. 1894年

      (akikureba itsumoawareni kinutakana)

      autumn has come,

      always pathetic

      'kinuta' fulling