朝顔の花で葺たる庵哉
asagao no hana de fukitaru iori kana
covered with
morning glories...
my small shack
—Issa
(Tr. David LaSpina)
(Print by Koson Ohara)
Despite the tragedy of his life, Issa could see the joy in just about everything. Here he seems to have discovered a natural treasure in the very roof of his tiny house—beautiful morning-glories!
Morning glories have been a much loved flower in Japan since being introduced from China around 1200 years ago. When Europe took them from Japan in the 19th century, they were called "The Japanese Morning-Glory". It is loved so much in Japan that they lead the world in developing different variates of the flower, numbering in the hundreds at this point.
It is considered an autumn kigo. Like us, the flower starts the day bright and beautiful but fades as the day goes on; autumn often has the same association, that of the beginning of the end, when things start to fade and wither. It is a season when we can feel the transience of life the most.
Don't miss other great haiku in the Haiku of Japan series!
#1–10 — Haiku of Japan :: Collection #1
#11–20 — Haiku of Japan :: Collection #2
#21–30 — Haiku of Japan :: Collection #3
#31 — Am I a Butterfly or a Man?
#32 — Hidden Grey Hair
#33 — Sleeping Butterfly
#34 — Never To Grow Old
#35 — From Dog to Cat
#36 — Short Night
#37 — Silent Moon
#38 — Temple Pine Needles
#39 — Nothing and Everything
#40 — Stubborn Scarecrow
#41 — Falling Camellia
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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.
 | David LaSpina is an American photographer lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time. |