On New Year foods.
蓬莱に聞かばや伊勢の初便
| hōrai ni kikaba ya ise no hatsu tayori |
The feast is prepared, but What I would hear is Ise’s First missive. |
(1694)
Category Archives: Bashō
ōtsu e no
On taking up one’s brush: for the first three days [of the New Year] he kept his mouth shut [and composed no poetry], producing this on the fourth.
大津繪の筆のはじめは何佛
| ōtsu e no fude no hajime wa nani hotoke |
For an Ōtsu icon, The first stroke of the brush should draw Which Buddha? |
(1691)
ganjitsu wa
On New Year’s Day.
元日は田ごとの日こそ戀しけれ
| ganjitsu wa tagoto no hi koso koishikere |
On New Year’s Day, In every rice paddy the sun is more Dear. |
(1689)
ganjitsu ya
komo o kite
On the beginning of spring.
こもおきてたれ人ゐます花のはる
| komo o kite tarebito imasu hana no haru |
Wrapped in a straw mat Who can that be? In a spring full of flowers. |
(1690)
utagau na
On the beginning of spring: in praise of the sight of the beach at Futami.
うたがふな潮の花も浦の春
| utagau na ushio no hana mo ura no haru |
Be in no doubt: Tideflowers too, bring Spring to the shore. |
hokku nari
kabitan mo
On the beginning of spring.
かびたんもつくばゝせけり君が春
| kabitan mo tsukubawasekeri kimi ga haru |
The Capitaine, too, Is face down- In our Lord’s spring. |
(Spring 1678)