Fish haiku (24th of November 2015)

-- Yosa Buson (1716 - 1783)
translated by Robert Hass.

That's two of us, my dear - two trouts the cormorants haven't caught yesterday. It's dawn and we rejoice to light while swimming in the shallows. Another day is ahead of us.

>> Yosa Buson is known as a painter among haiku poets, not only because he was a good haiga painter (see the image below) but also because his haikus are usually more visual and less thoughtful (with respect to, say, Baho's) and emotional (with respect to, say, Issa's) - this should be understood as Buson's quality. Those who know haiku consider Buson as a great haiku master, together with Basho, Issa and Shiki.

Last updated on 24th of November 2015.