And, his wall has a hole, but through it he sees the moon. Issa’s screen is torn, but through it he sees the Milky Way. Thematically, both poems belong to his “natural riches amid human poverty” group.
#MOON HAIKI FULL#
Sakuo Nakamura notes that the full moon in decline over Kyoto might have a political dimension: “authority in ancient time all has gone away,” as the center of power in Japan has moved from imperial Kyoto to the Shogun’s city, Edo (Tokyo).Ĭommentary: This haiku reminds us of one composed in 1813: This is where the emperor and his court lived. Does the Man in the Moon know it’s an Election Year?Ĭommentary: The “capital” (miyako) was Kyoto in Issa’s day. Of course, sometimes we’d rather sleep than moon-gaze. If only Sato were here… This sad poem reminds us of how precious children are to us how, without them, the wonders of the universe, even the resplendent moon, seem drab and ordinary. As he sits looking at the harvest moon–one of the most joyful occasions in the calendar for a haiku poet–the happy occasion is marred by a palpable absense. Its biographical context is important, because Issa’s daughter, Sato, born the previous year, died of smallpox in Sixth Month of 1819–just a few weeks before Issa composed this poem. In 1819, there was an eclipse on the night of the Harvest Moon, and Kobyashi Issa wrote often about it.Ĭommentary: This haiku was written in Seventh Month, 1819. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.Ĭommentary: Is Issa implying that the moon is occupied with business elsewhere and therefore is unable to appear (i.e. Below, then, are some of my favorite Issa Harvest Moon poems, with a few Lanoue commentaries to illuminate our journey and our moon-gazing tonight. Lanoue pften provides commentary to explain the verses, putting them into context of Japanese culture and history, as well as Issa’s life. Īlong with translations of over 9000 of Issa’s poems, Prof. Therefore, although you can find many Harvest Moon-themed poems by our other Honored Guests by clicking on the links listed above from prior years, today we want to focus on Issa and Lanoue. And, it should be no suprise, then, that “Harvest Moon” very much means both “Issa” and “Lanoue” for the f/k/a Gang. Lanoue of Xavier University in New Orleans (read about David’s return home after Katrina). Indeed, a search for “harvest, moon” at Lanoue’s Haiku of Kobayshi Issa website produces a bumper crop of 65 poems by Japan’s beloved 19th Century haiku master, translated by our haijin friend and Honored Guest poet David G. “The night of the harvest moon–the full moon nearest to the autumn equinox–is, along with New Year’s Day and the blooming of cherry blossoms, one of the top three most important dates in a haiku poet’s calendar.”
(Harvest Moon over the Schenectady Stockade, Sept.
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