雪とけて村一ぱいの子ども哉
yuki tokete mura ippai no kodomo kana
snow melting
the village overflows
with children
—Issa
(Tr. David LaSpina)
(Snowy morning at Koishikawa by Hokusai)
This is one of my favorite haiku. There is a playfulness as it tells us the snow melts and the village overflows† then quickly resolves any suspense by delightfully telling us this is not a flood of water but of excited children, eager to play outside again after a long winter of being stuck inside, and eager to stomp in all the wonderful puddles from the melting snow, no doubt. Stomping in puddles being one of the great joys of childhood.
I have written often in this Haiku of Japan series about the misfortunes of Issa's adult life: the death of his wife and kids, his poverty, etc; but I haven't covered his childhood. It may not surprise you to hear that his childhood was also full of misery. His mother died when he was only three. His father remarried, but his stepmother hated him and made his young life hell. He was forced to work instead of going to school, and she made him leave home at fourteen.
Yet despite all his misfortune, he always saw the joy in life and remained a playful boy at heart. In spring the village overflows with children, and I'm sure Issa was right there with them in his heart playing and enjoying.
Footnotes
†: The Japanese is literally "fills" with children. The sense however is one of filling to the brim, packing so full it can't fill anymore. With the suggestion of the kids going to play, I think in English "overflows" fits the scene better.
❦
| Don't miss other great haiku in the Haiku of Japan series! |
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Recent Haiku
- 81 — Winter Game
- 82 — Hated Crow
- 83 — Passing Through
- 84 — Dried Salmon
- 85 — Little Demon Hunters
- 86 — Still Alive
- 87 — After Demon Purification
- 88 — Burning House
- 89 — Cold Night
- 90 — Midnight Noises
- 91 — Still Laughing
- 92 — Paper, Rock, Scissors
- 93 — Straight Hole
- 94 — Dreams of Cherry Blossoms
- 95 — Doll Faces
- 96 — O Ye Sea Slug of Little Faith
- 97 — Harbinger of Warm Weather
Collections
- Collection 1 :: Haiku 1–10
- Collection 2 :: Haiku 11–20
- Collection 3 :: Haiku 21-30
- Collection 4 :: Haiku 31-40
- Collection 5 :: Haiku 41-50
- Collection 6 :: Haiku 51-60
- Collection 7 :: Haiku 61–70
- Collection 8 :: Haiku 71–80
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I post one photo everyday, as well as a haiku and as time allows, videos, more Japanese history, and so on. Let me know if there is anything about Japan you would like to know more about or would like to see.
| Who is David? | |
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 | David LaSpina is an American photographer lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time. |