fireworks
I have
my moments
thickening fog
not a word
since the last exit
before I pick up the nickel
a rain drop
on Jefferson’s head
the load tied down –
her painted toe nails
on the dashboard
outside
in the dark
I let my imagination go
“before I pick up the nickel” & “outside” (2005/I)
breakfast alone
a cricket
in the kitchen
double-play:
baseball and fireworks
called on account of rain
[July 2, 2005]
Hey, George, the lid is still on the pot!
“BigToeF
fireworks
I have
my moments
thickening fog
not a word
since the last exit
before I pick up the nickel
a rain drop
on Jefferson’s head
the load tied down –
her painted toe nails
on the dashboard
outside
in the dark
I let my imagination go
“before I pick up the nickel” & “outside” (2005/I)
breakfast alone
a cricket
in the kitchen
double-play:
baseball and fireworks
called on account of rain
[July 2, 2005]
Hey, George, the lid is still on the pot!
“BigToeF
- please support ONE - The Campaign to Make Poverty History — and Live 8 -
hut’s mosquitoes
this damned year, too
feasting
the pesky mosquito’s
birthplace…
temple flower
mosquito swarm–
even you
have a narrow home
thrown together–
thin mosquitoes, thin fleas
thin children
my home
where I even exhale
mosquitoes
a place
short on mosquito swarms…
sickle moon
wringing hands
in the mosquito netting…
let me have just a corner!
to the lullaby
of mosquitoes
she sleeps
even the horses
sleep in light green
mosquito nets!
today too
mosquito larvae and me
at sunset
living long
the flies, fleas, mosquitoes…
a poor village
leisure class–
“Mosquitoes have come!”
they say
even the mosquito hates
thin legs…
quickly moving on
- all haiku by Kobayashi ISSA, translated by David G. Lanoue
- here’s a self-portrait by Issa, with accompanying haiku:
Gimme that moon!
cries the crying
child
- find more Issa haiku for ONE & Live 8 here -
Live8
- please support ONE - The Campaign to Make Poverty History — and Live 8 -
hut’s mosquitoes
this damned year, too
feasting
the pesky mosquito’s
birthplace…
temple flower
mosquito swarm–
even you
have a narrow home
thrown together–
thin mosquitoes, thin fleas
thin children
my home
where I even exhale
mosquitoes
a place
short on mosquito swarms…
sickle moon
wringing hands
in the mosquito netting…
let me have just a corner!
to the lullaby
of mosquitoes
she sleeps
even the horses
sleep in light green
mosquito nets!
today too
mosquito larvae and me
at sunset
living long
the flies, fleas, mosquitoes…
a poor village
leisure class–
“Mosquitoes have come!”
they say
even the mosquito hates
thin legs…
quickly moving on
- all haiku by Kobayashi ISSA, translated by David G. Lanoue
- here’s a self-portrait by Issa, with accompanying haiku:
Gimme that moon!
cries the crying
child
- find more Issa haiku for ONE & Live 8 here -
Live8
Issa, the classic haiku master of 19th Century Japan, has often
helped this weblog make points on very contemporary issues.
Tonight, I’m borrowing Issa’s words, as translated
by Prof. David G. Lanoue, in support of the important work of
ONE - The Campaign to Make Poverty History — and of Live 8.
Your Editor just started his punditry-free vacation, so will merely
hazy night–
people listening
to heavenly music
in my home village
they’re used to poverty…
maiden flowers
people call it
“empty belly” hunger…
morning lark
the mushroom hunters
return empty-handed…
fussing
even the poor
workhorses of Edo sleep…
in mosquito nets!
morning time–
thin mosquito, thin flea
thin child
mosquito larvae
dance in memoriam…
the tomb’s puddle
from today on
may my medicine work!
welcoming the gods
“Issa self neg” - all haiku by Kobayashi ISSA,
Issa, the classic haiku master of 19th Century Japan, has often
helped this weblog make points on very contemporary issues.
Tonight, I’m borrowing Issa’s words, as translated
by Prof. David G. Lanoue, in support of the important work of
ONE - The Campaign to Make Poverty History — and of Live 8.
Your Editor just started his punditry-free vacation, so will merely
hazy night–
people listening
to heavenly music
in my home village
they’re used to poverty…
maiden flowers
people call it
“empty belly” hunger…
morning lark
the mushroom hunters
return empty-handed…
fussing
even the poor
workhorses of Edo sleep…
in mosquito nets!
morning time–
thin mosquito, thin flea
thin child
mosquito larvae
dance in memoriam…
the tomb’s puddle
from today on
may my medicine work!
welcoming the gods
“Issa self neg” - all haiku by Kobayashi ISSA,
Yu Chang from 
