Friday, March 31, 2006

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

Thursday, March 30, 2006

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

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

dry autumn tanka

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

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

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

Monday, March 27, 2006

the weight
of the gun the weight
of remorse

Sunday, March 26, 2006

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

Saturday, March 25, 2006

long beaver dam
a longer walk back
if we fall in

Friday, March 24, 2006

spring thaw
the dog finds a carcass
and rolls in it
he fingers the
duck bands on his lanyard -
precious jewelry

Thursday, March 23, 2006

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

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

wool coveralls
covered with deer hair
and dried blood

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

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

Monday, March 20, 2006

the smell of death
lingers in these woods
on these hands

Sunday, March 19, 2006

pulling burrs
from the haunches of my
burred dog

Saturday, March 18, 2006

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

Friday, March 17, 2006

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

Thursday, March 16, 2006

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

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

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

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

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.

Monday, March 13, 2006

beaver ponds
submerged pungee sticks
await our waders

Sunday, March 12, 2006

camp stories
swapped across the table
late into the night

Saturday, March 11, 2006

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

Friday, March 10, 2006

muddy truck
from the rear view hangs
a dog whistle

Thursday, March 09, 2006

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

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

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

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

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

Monday, March 06, 2006

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

Sunday, March 05, 2006

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

Saturday, March 04, 2006

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

Friday, March 03, 2006

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

Thursday, March 02, 2006

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

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

tailgate lunch
under autumn jack pines
curious jays
end of a season -
sticks feathers and empty shells
Hoppe's Number 9