classic hunting haiku # 3

Here is the third in our series of classic hunting haiku written by Issa, one of Japan's finest haiku poets.

1824

追鳥や鳥より先につかれ寝る

oi-dori ya tori yori saki ni tsukare neru

bird hunter--
even before his falcon
a weary sleep

Translator's note: In translating this, I assume that the "bird" (tori) mentioned is the hunter's falcon; hence I translate it, "his falcon."

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."

# 2

trout opener
the creek flows slowly on
men in waders fish

trout opener
men in waders
the creek flows

rustle of dry leaves
is it a ten point buck?
nope - red squirrel

dry autumn tanka

dry autumn
log trucks rumble by
choking road dust
- in our Gazetteers
we hunt up streams and swamps

venison chili
in the butcher's meat locker
deer carcasses hang

the weight
of the gun the weight
of remorse

lock on a treestand
in the middle of nowhere
guard against the fall

long beaver dam
a longer walk back
if we fall in

spring thaw
the dog finds a carcass
and rolls in it

he fingers the
duck bands on his lanyard -
precious jewelry

March madness -
the crazy flight of woodcock
every night at dusk

wool coveralls
covered with deer hair
and dried blood

an icy March wind
as we cross the open fields -
a pheasant cackles

the smell of death
lingers in these woods
on these hands

pulling burrs
from the haunches of my
burred dog

Pheasant on a stake
not to be found round these parts
BLENDED Phasianidae

Wisconsin grouse camp
the Captain's sea chest is filled
with single malt scotch

a pair of wood ducks
get up at once -
a rare double

through the game vest
the bird's death throes
drumming . . . drumming . . .

life ebbing
unexpected calm
then death

guest haiku

This one is by Winona Baker of Canada.

moss-hung trees
a deer moves into
the hunter's silence

There is some discussion of this haiku at World Haiku Review.

beaver ponds
submerged pungee sticks
await our waders

camp stories
swapped across the table
late into the night

the sauna fired up
after a long day's hunt
steamy dissipation

muddy truck
from the rear view hangs
a dog whistle

late in the season -
slogging through flag to the blind
break ice for the dekes

classic hunting haiku

Here is the second in our series of classic hunting haiku written by Issa, one of Japan's finest haiku poets.

1810

弓提し人の跡おふかのこ哉

yumi sageshi hito no ato ou kanoko kana

following behind
the hunter with his bow...
a fawn

Again, there are something on the order of a dozen or more 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."

setting out decoys
what will the wind do?
the dog's tail thumps

duck opener eve
where the hell is my back tag
license? shell box? gun?

a goose overhead
about sixty yards I'd say
we watch him fly by

ice on the decoys
black ducks flying in snow squalls
neoprene gauntlet

we approach the blind
geese roosting on the water
honking and calling

hey, fresh woodcock splash
still sticky wet to the touch
- look! the dog's on point

cold and overcast
damp drizzly November day
a flight of woodcock!

tailgate lunch
under autumn jack pines
curious jays

end of a season -
sticks feathers and empty shells
Hoppe's Number 9