大瀑布秋の声を添ふ

big waterfall
joining its constant roar
autumn's voice
—Shinoda Teijiro

(daibakufu / hitosuji aki no / koe o sou)

(Print by Kawase Hasui)

Let's see... off the top of my head, I've mentioned the moon (and moon-viewing), scarecrows, the Milky Way, and various leaves as autumn kigo (nature words) that are commonly used in haiku.

Another is autumn wind, literally referred to in Japanese as the voice of autumn (姫の声 aki no koe). You may see it translated in many different ways, but it is referring to the wind and related things, such as the sound of the wind blowing leaves on a deserted trail.

This is one of my favorite woodblock prints, a beautiful scene by Kawase Hasui. It fits this haiku very well, doesn't it?

Don't miss the other great haiku in the Haiku of Japan series!

1. Traveling to the inn
2. Childless Woman
3. Old Dancing Butterfly
4. Seeing the Moon
5. Checking the Scarecrow
6. Skill of Insects
7. The Spider Lilies
8. A Thousand Green Mountains
9. Falling Lead Enlightenment
10. Lonely Night
11. Her Day Off
12. Autumn Crow
13. Faint Footprints
14. Alone on the Road
15. Autumn Begins
16. Early Morning Moon Viewing
17. Mistaken for a Scarecrow
18. The Galactic River
19. The Love of Cats

David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org.