Photo by:  Curt Hodge, HIEM

We talked about an autumn Kidai, the “Moon”.   Let us look at some of the famous masters’ Moon-Ku.

Buson (1716-1784) a Japanese poet and painter of the Edo period. Along with  Bashō and Issa,  Buson is considered among the greatest poets of the Edo Period.

The moon reached its zenith                                                                                                      but she passed on over                                                                                                                    the lonely towns  

月天心貧しき町を通りけり　　　　蕪村　　　　　　　　                                                                      (Tsuki Tenshin   mazushiki machi-o  tori-keri           Buson)

 

Issa (1763-1823) a poet and lay Buddhist priest.  Despite a multitude of personal trials, his poetry reflects a childlike simplicity, making liberal use of local dialects and conversational phrases.

The beautiful full moon                                                                                                                    child is crying, begging for take it down                                                                                  for she wants to cuddle it                                Issa                                                                       

名月をとってくれろと泣く子かな　　    一茶                                                                                   (mei-getsu o   totte kure-ro to naku kokana)

Tosei (1903-1996) Okubo (Takeo) Tosei.   A poet, politician, he was Japan’s first Director of the Maritime Safety after the WWII and co-founder of Japan Traditional Haiku Assn.

Raise up the anchor                                                                                                                         let it drip the drops of                                                                                                                moon-shine

錨揚ぐ月の雫を零しつつ　　　　橙青                                                                                              (Ikari agu   tsuki-no Hikari-o  koboshi-tsutsu          Tosei)