100 HAIKUs of Kyoshi Takahama, translated by L. P. Lovee
HAIKU is AI: not Artificial Intelligence, but Art of Intelligence, leading to "LOVE".
Haiku Aids Increasing Knowledge Universally.
This issue includes all of the previously published numbers (100 to 1) of "100 HAIKUs of TAKAHAMA Kyoshi".
(100) 独り句の推敲をして遅き日を (S34. 1959)
(hitori kunosuikoh-o-shite osokihio)
alone,
elaborating haikus_
lengthening days of spring
(akeyasuya kachohfuuei namuamida)
daybreak getting earlier_
composing haiku of nature
namuamida
(Note)
’kachoh-fuuei’（花鳥諷詠）, which was advocated by Kyoshi Takahama, means a typical way of composing haiku based on appriciation of nature including human affairs.
’namuamida’ （南無阿弥陀）is Buddhist chanting words of sutra, which mean ’I believe in Amitabha'.
(akunareba iroakuyokere oinoharu)
if any vice,
sensual vice would be better_
spring of old age
(97) 我のみの菊日和とはゆめ思はじ (S29. 1954)
(warenomino kikubiyoritowa yumeomowaji)
chrysanthimum-bright-day_
never
only for me
(Note)
Kyoshi Takahama made this haiku when he received a Cultural Medal (=文化勲章).
(96) 虚子一人銀河と共に西へ行く (S24. 1949)
(kyoshihitori gingatotomoni nishieyuku)
Kyoshi alone
goes toward west
with the galaxy
(haitataki tenimochiwareni taishinashi)
having a flyswatter
in my hand
I have no great ambitions
(Ohzakura korenikasizuki ohtsubaki)
a large cherry tree_
beside it
a large camellia
(kozokotoshi tsuranuku bohnogotokimono)
This haiku was highly appreciated by Yasunari Kawabata (a Nobel winner for Literature).
In this haiku, metaphor as well as inversion is applied.
(Translation A)
kozokotoshi
piercing
a stick-like thing
(Translation B)
my belief in HAIKU
pierces kozokotoshi
like a stick
(Translation C)
time pierces
kozokotoshi
like a stick
(Note)
“kozokotoshi” is a kigo (= seasonal word) established by Kyoshi Takahama, referring to New Year, on which yesterday is the last year, and today is this year. Thus, the literal meaning of kozokotoshi is “last-year-this-year”.
Translation A is a word-for-word translation and can be interpreted in various ways. However, “stick-like thing” should be considered as the real subject and a metaphor. In Translations B and C, “my belief” and “time” are added, respectively replacing the word “stick-like thing”. Thus, the kigo “kozokotoshi” should grammatically be taken as the object of “pierce”. Otherwise, this haiku makes nonsense.
In Translation A, if you take “kozokotoshi” as the subject for “pierce”, and “stick-like thing” as the object for “pierce”, then what do you think the “stick-like thing” indicates? Does it make any sense?
(ranranto hirunohoshimie kinokohae)
the daylight star
looks glaring_
mushrooms grow
(Note)
This haiku was made as a farewell tribute to people in Koromo City. They gave mushrooms (=茸）to Kyoshi Takahama for a farewell present. He lived in Koromo for about three years after moving there for refuge from air raid during the war.
The word ’daylight star’ means the sun, because the word ’爛欄’ (=glaring) is used for describing it. In the case of this haiku, it is possible to express 'kinoko' by either letter of '茸' or '菌'. However, the latter was adopted. The letter '菌' can also mean 'germ' when it is read as 'kin'.
Thus, it seems that with the cited haiku, Kyoshi Takahama intended to express the whole great nature by referring to the greatest thing ’daylight star (=太陽)’ and the smallest thing 'mushroom (=菌)'.
(91) 春潮にたとひ櫓櫂は重くとも (S22. 1947)
(shunchohni tatoirokaiwa omokutomo)
Even if the oar is heavy
against the spring tide_
(Note)
This haiku was made as a tribute to encourage Kyoshi's grand-daughter (Nakako Bohjoh: 坊城中子) when she entered a nursing school.
The Kyoshi's haikus translated herein are cited from the writings of Toshiki Bohjoh (坊城俊樹：the son of Nakako Bohjoh, that is, a great-grandson of Kyoshi Takahama).
(ametsuchino aidanihoroto shigurekana)
a slight drop
between heaven and earth_
wintry rain
(Note)
This haiku is a monody, which is a tribute to one of Kyoshi's disciple haiku poets, Hanamino Suzuki（鈴木花蓑）.
(89) 映画出て火事のポスター見て立てり (S16. 1941)
(eigadete kajinoposutah mitetateri)
walking out of a cinema,
I stopped, seeing
a poster of fire
(waremomata kohnarito tsuitoide)
(Translation A)
I also am crimson_
as if so saying,
a burnet abruptly appeared
(Translation B)
abruptly stepping out,
saying "me too, crimson"_
a burnet
(Note)
’waremokoh’ （吾亦紅） is a burnet. Literally,'waremokoh’ means: ’I also am crimson’. Thus, this haiku is a pun as can be understood from translations A and B. However, how to interpret the omitted subject is entrusted to readers.
(87) 天の川の下に天智天皇と臣虚子と (T6. 1917)
(amanogawanoshitani tenjitennohto shinkyoshito)
under the Milky Way
Emperor Tenji
and his subject Kyoshi
(86) 龍の玉深く蔵すといふことを （S14. 1939)
(ryuhnotama fukakuzohsuto yuukoto-o)
(Translation A)
fruitlets of dwarf mongo grass_
suggesting
containing deep inside
(Translation B)
fruitlets of dwarf mongo grass_
what is held
deep inside them
(Translation C)
fruitlets of dwarf mongo grass,
holding all nature
deep inside them
(Note)
In the original haiku, the object of the word "containing" is omitted, allowing reader's choice.
(nanigashini funshitetsukini arukiori)
under the moon,
I am walking in a disguising costume
as a certain person.
(Note)
In this haiku, the subject, which is omitted, seems to be "I".
(84) 山川にひとり髪洗ふ神ぞ知る (S16. 1941)
(yamagawani hitorikamiarau kamizoshiru)
god knows_
in a mountain stream
a woman alone washing her hair
(83) 蔓もどき情はもつれ易きかな (S22. 1947)
(tsurumodoki nasakewamotsure yasukikana)
compassion
easily tangles_
staff-tree
(inazumao fumitehadashino onnakana)
treadding on
lightning_
a barefoot woman
(81) たとふれば独楽のはぢける如くなり (S12. 1937)
(tatoureba komanohajikeru gotokunari)
(Literal translation)
as it were,
repelling of
two spinning tops
(Translation A)
you and me,
as it were,
repelling spinning tops
(Translation B)
our relations
so to speak,
repelling of spinning tops
(Note)
This haiku is a monody in memory of Hekigotoh Kawahigashi. In this haiku, the subject is omitted by adding preliminary words to that effect.
(suzumeramo hito-o osorenu kuninoharu)
spring
in the country where
sparrows also fear no people
(79) 古綿子著のみ著のまま鹿島立 (S11. 1936)
(furuwatako kinomikinomama kashimadachi)
my departure for abroad
in the everyday wear_
old ’watako’ clothes
(78) 鴨の中の一つの鴨を見てゐたり (S11. 1936)
(kamononakano hitotsunokamo-o miteitari)
I gazed at
only one of
the wild ducks
(shinryohno odorokigaoni kitarikeri) or
(shinryohno odoroki-kaoni kitarikeri)
(Translation A)
the cool of early autumn
appeared on the look of
a surprised person
(Translation B)
a look of surprise
in the cool of
early autumn
(Translation C)
a person having
a look of surprise
agaist the early autumnal cool
(Note)
Depending on how you take the conbination of words and the meaning of ‘の (=no)’, the original haiku can be translated in various ways as described above. ’の’ is a postpositional word, functioning as an auxiliary to the main word '新涼'.
(76) 白牡丹といふといへども紅ほのか (T14. 1925年)
(shirobotan toiutoiedomo benihonoka)
white rose,
so called, but
slightely tinged with red
(75) 道のべに阿波の遍路の墓あはれ (S10. 1935)
(michinobeni awanohenrono hakaaware)
pathetic!
on the wayside,
a tomb of ’awa’ pilgrim
(gyobetsuiru mizuofumaete mizusumashi)
a whirligig beetle treads
on the water where
fish and turtles live
(73) 椿まづ揺れて見せたる春の風 (S10. 1935)
(tsubakimazu yuretemisetaru harunokaze)
a camellia
first shakes to show
spring breezes
(72) 一を知つて二を知らぬなり卒業す (S10. 1935)
(ichioshitte nioshiranunari sotsugyohsu)
(Literal translation)
graduated,
knowing one
but not two
(Translation A)
students are graduated,
knowing one
but not two
(Translation B)
knowing one
but not two_
he graduates from a school
(Note) In this original haiku, the subject is omitted and unknown. This haiku seems to be made in assosiation with a proverb which means the following: A sage knows 10 upon hearing one.
(71) 川を見るバナナの皮は手より落ち (S9. 1934)
(kawaomiru banananokawawa teyoriochi)
(Trnslation A)
a banana peel
fell from a hand,
I watch the river
(Translation B)
the banana peel
fell from my hand,
I watch the river
(Note) The original haiku does not tell who holds the banana.
(70) 道のべに阿波の遍路の墓あはれ (S10 1935年)
(michinobeni awanohenrono hakaaware)
on the wayside,
pathetic
a tomb of ’awa’ pilgrim
(asagaono utsuri nettaigyowashizumu)
a morning glory
reflected,
a tropical fish submerging
(hasuikeni kamiaraioru onnakana)
a woman,
washing her hair
at the lotus pond
(67) 燈台は低く霧笛は峙てり (S8 1933年)
(tohdaiwahikuku mutekiwa sobadateri)
the lighthouse is low,
a prominent sound
the foghorn
(66) 神にませばまこと美はし那智の滝 (S8 1933年)
(kaminimaseba makotouruwashi nachinotaki)
incarnation of god_
what a sublimity!
Nachi waterfall
(65) くはれもす八雲旧居の秋の蚊に (S7 1932年)
(kuwaremosu yakumokyuukyono akinokani)
bitten by autumn mosquitoes
in the old house of
(64) 帚木に影といふものありにけり (S5 1930年)
(hahakigini kagetoiumono arinikeri)
the broom trees
had
so-called shadows
(Note) This haiku seems to be a kind of pun made in association with a folklore or ’Hahakigi’ in Genjimonogatari (The Tale of Genji).
(kamonokuchibashiyori taratarato harunodoro)
spring mud,
dribbling from
the bill of a wild duck
(itechohno onogatamashii outetobu)
a frozen butterfly
flies, chasing
her own spirit
(kazegafuku hotokekitamau kehaiari)
a wind blows_
I feel the soul of the deceased
coming
(erimakino kitsunenokaowa betsuniari)
the face of the fox stole
lies
at another position
(Note)
This haiku implies that the person wearing the fox stole has a face resembling that of a fox.
(sujibeini soutegekohno sakurakana)
cherry blossoms
blooming downward
along ’sujibei’ wall
(Note) ’sujibei’ is a roofed wall sorrounding a temple or a samurai residence.
(dansahno hadakanoueno kawagoromo)
a fur dress
put on
a naked dancer
（57）たてかけてあたりものなき破魔矢かな （S6. 1931年）
(tatekakete atarimononaki hamayakana)
a ’hamaya’ arrow
rests against the wall_
nothing around it
（56）石ころも露けきものの一つかな （S4 1929年）
(ishikoromo tuyukekimonono hitotsukana)
a stone_
one of
those dewy things
（55）草萌の大地にゆるき地震かな （詳細不詳）
(kusamoyuno daichiniyuruki jishinkana)
a gentle earthquake_
the grass sprouting
on the earth
(warenohoshi moeteorunari hoshizukiyo)
bright starry night_
glowing is
my star
(kazegafuku hotokekitamau kehaiari)
a wind blows_
as if the soul of the deceased
coming
（52）祇王寺の留守の扉や推せば開く （T14 1925年）
(giohjino rusunotobiraya osebahiraku)
The door of Gioji temple
opens when pushed
at the nun’s absence
(Note)
The nun was once the geisha who had been called Nine-Fingered Geisha.
(keichitsuno tsuchiouruosu amenaramu)
(Translation A)
the rain will soak
the soil of
keichitsu
(Translation B)
it will rain,
soaking
the soil of keichitsu
(Note)
'keichitsu' is a kigo of spring, meaning the day when insects emerge from hibernation underground; around March 6 in the solar calendar.
(shunchoto iebakanarazu mojio-omou)
speaking of spring tide
reminds me
of Moji port
(yabunohono ugokuakikaze miteiruka)
you might stay
watching the autumn wind,
thicket ears moving
(48) 止りたる蠅追ふことも只ねむし (S.4 1929）
(tomaritaru haeoukotomo tadanemushi)
simply too sleepy
to slap off
an alighting fly
(47) ツェツペリン飛び来し国の盆の月 (S.4 1929）
(tsuepperin tobikishikunino bonnotsuki）
the Zeppelin
flew to my country_
the Bon-festival moon
(hishoyadono kabeniharitaru kodomonoe)
kids-written pictures
put up on the wall of
a summer cottage
(hinayorimo mihotokeyorimo kawairashi)
the baby cute,
more than
a hina doll or buddha
(shichimorino hakaotsutsumite shiinotsuyu)
from a Japanese chinquapin
dews fall, covering
the shichimori-grave of Taira clan
(41)(42)(43）流れゆく大根の葉の早さかな （S.3 1928）
(nagareyuku daikonnohano hayasakana)
(Translation A)
a leaf of Japanese radish
flowing away:
what a rapidity!
(Transation B)
how fast!
the leaf of Japanese radish
flows away
(Tranlation C)
flowing away,
how fast!
Japanese radish leaves
(funekishini tsukebayangini hoshihitotsu)
the boat reached the shore,
I found a willow,
above it, a star
(39) 咲き満ちてこぼるる花もなかりけり (S3. 1928）
(sakimichite koboruruhanamo nakarikeri)
cherry blossoms
in full bloom_
no petals falling
(38) 何となくあたり淋しき爐を開く (M24. 1891)
(nantonaku atarisabishiki rowo hiraku)
I open the hearth_
unaccountably lonely
around it
(37) えりもとをなぐるやうなり秋の暮 (M24. 1891)
(erimotowo naguruyounari akinokure)
I feel it as if
my neck were beaten_
the autumn evening
(yarihagoya aburanoyouna kyoukotoba)
“yarihago” shuttlecock_
the oily sound of
Kyoto accents
(Note)
The following translation published in Terebess Asia Online (TAO) is wrong, because "yarihago" is different from Battledore and shuttlecock. Also,(：) is inappropriate.
Battledore and shuttlecock:
The Kyoto accent sounds
As if the words were oiled
(35) この庭の遅日の石のいつまでも (S2. 1927)
(kononiwano chijitsunoishino itsumademo)
the stones of this garden
in a lengthening day
will lie forever
(Note)
The following translation published in Terebess Asia Online (TAO) is in appropriate in terms of word order.
The rocks in this garden
Remain forever
In the lengthening days of spring
(ippenno rakkamiokuru sizukakana)
watching a petal of cherry-blossoms
falling down,
what a silence!
(haruoshimu rinnenotsukihi madoniari)
the sun and the moon,
transmigrating in the window_
I treasure the rest of the spring
(muresuzume narukonitomaru asaborake)
a group of sparrows
perch on a rattle-scarer_
daybreak sunlight
(konomichiwo wareragayukuya tanbaiko)
this road
we’ll take, to find
plum blossoms
(30) 或墓のくすぶり見えぬ彼岸かな (T15. 1926）
(aruhakano kusuburimienu higankana)
a certain tomb
seen in smoldering,
vernal equinox day
(29) 紅さして寝冷の顔をつくろひぬ (T14. 1925）
(benisashite nebienokao-o tsukuroinu)
putting rouge on,
she adjusted
her face chilled in the sleep
(28) どかと解く夏帯に句を書けとこそ (T9. 1920）
(dokatotoku natsuobini kuokaketokoso)
she untied her summer obi,
dumped it, demanding me
to write a haiku on it
(shuusenni dakinosete kutsuniseppunsu)
putting my baby
on a swing,
I kissed her socks
(26) 年を以て巨人としたり歩み去る (T2. 1913）
(toshi-o-motte kyojintoshitari ayumisaru)
Having made
a giant of year,
the time walks away
(25) 草摘みし今日の野いたみ夜雨来る (T2. 1913）
(kusatsumishi kyounonoitami yosamekuru)
a night rain comes,
mourning the today’s fields
where I picked up herbs
(ishinoueno hokorinifuruya akinoame)
onto the dust covering the stone
falls
the autumn rain
(23) 君と我うそにほればや秋の暮 (M39. 1906年)
(kimitoware usonihorebaya akinokure)
you and me,
how about faking love_
evening in the autumn
(Note)
The following haiku, whichi is published in Terebess Asia Online (TAO) is wrong: a mistranslation of the Japanese original haiku.
You and I wish
We loved each other’s lies
Late in the autumn
(gyoushunno hakamomizoumo chiisakere)
both small,
the tomb and the statute of the founder_
the departing spring
(kyouonna hananikuruwanu tsumifukashi)
a Kyoto woman_
sinful,
not getting crazy about cherry blossoms
(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
(funekishini tsukebayangini hoshihitotsu)
the boat reached a shore_
a willow there,
a star above 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
(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)
the shrine,
no poets worship it,
villiagers only worship it
(kononochino kofunnotsukihi tubakikana)
time after this date of
the ancient mounds_
the camellias
(15）囀や山かけて売る土地広し (T2. 1913年)
(saezuriya yamakaketeuru tochihiroshi)
chirps of birds_
the broad lot to be sold
with a hill behind
(Note)
In this haiku, "山かけて" (yamakakete) is a pun, meaning "run", "take a chance", or "hang".
(14) 春風や闘志抱きて丘に佇つ （T2. 1913年）
(harukazeya tohshi-idakite okanitatsu)
a spring wind_
I stand on the hill,
my heart full of fight
(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
（11） 凡そ天下に去来程の小さき墓に参りけり（M41. 1908年）
(oyosotenkani kyoraihodono chiisakihakani mairikeri)
under heaven,
I visited such a tomb
as small as I heard of Kyorai
（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
（９） 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
(kaimamiru kohshokumononi kusa-kanbashiki)
the grasses fragrant
to a lecherous man
peeping in through the hedge
（７）刑罰の石を背負うて夏野かな （M38. 1905年）
(keibatsuno ishioseoute natsunokana)
the stones of punishment
carried on one's back_
the summer field
(arutokiwa tanifukakuoru gebanakana)
'gebana' flowers,
taken deep in a valley
at a cetain time
(akikazeya ganchuunomono minahaiku)
autumn wind_
anything you see
could be a haiku
(Shikiyukuya juushichinichino getsumeini)
Shiki passed away
in the moonlight
of the 17th day
（３） 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
（２） 怒濤岩を噛む我を神かと朧の夜 （M29. 1896年）
(dotou iwawokamu warewokamikato oboronoyo）
as if thinking me a god,
surging waves bite the rock_
hazy moon night
(harusameno ikouniomoshi koigoromo)
heavy on a dress-rack
clothes of love_
spring rain
(Note)
L. P. Lovee (pen name of Satoshi Kinoshita) is coined from the title of his blog “Let’s Practice Love Everyone”.
