うらやまし 思ひ切る時 猫の恋

It’s enviable.
The gracefulness of
The cat’s love.
—Etsujin

Urayamashi omoi-kiru toki neko no koi

(print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi)

Cats would seem to be beloved everywhere, even in pre-modern Japan. And why not, huh—who indeed doesn't love a cute cat?

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

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.