classic hunting haiku

Hunting haiku from Issa, one of Japan's foremost haiku poets of the nineteenth century.

1803

狩小屋の夜明也けり犬の鈴

kari goya no yoake nari keri inu no suzu

daybreak
at the hunting shack...
the dog's bell

(translator's note) Or: "the dogs' bells."

There are just under two dozen such haiku (based on a preliminary search at haikuguy). Translations are by David G. Lanoue, who includes the following note: "Translations based on Issa zenshû (Nagano: Shinano Mainichi Shimbunsha, 1976-79) 9 volumes. Some of the translations first appeared in Issa, Cup-of-Tea Poems and Pure Land Haiku: The Art of Priest Issa."

I will plan to post some of these classic 'ku on this blog in the future, from time to time.