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<\/a><\/p>\n(Harvest Moon over the Schenectady Stockade, Sept. 15, 2008)<\/p>\n
.. “Gimme that harvest moon!” .. by Kobayashi Issa, translated by David G. Lanoue .. A<\/strong><\/em> cold front is moving into Schenectady today, after a sultry weekend that simply did not jibe with tonight’s arrival of the Harvest Moon<\/a> (which is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox and has traditionally added extra light to farmers toiling to bring in the Fall harvest). You can’t love and write haiku without being under the influence of the Harvest Moon, and f\/k\/a<\/em> has celebrated this special lunar event annually with an array of haiku and senryu:<\/p>\n \n [Harvest Moon over Schenectady, NY, Sept. 15, 2008; dag] \n As Professor David G. Lanoue reminds us<\/a>:<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n Indeed, a search for “harvest, moon”<\/a> at Lanoue’s Haiku of Kobayshi Issa<\/a> website produces a bumper crop of 65 poems by Japan’s beloved 19th Century haiku master, translated by our haijin friend and Honored Guest<\/a> poet David G. Lanoue of Xavier University in New Orleans (read about David’s return<\/a> home after Katrina). And, it should be no suprise, then, that “Harvest Moon” very much means both “Issa” and “Lanoue” for the f\/k\/a<\/em> Gang.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n .. Along with translations of over 9000 of Issa’s poems, Prof. Lanoue pften provides commentary to explain the verses, putting them into context of Japanese culture and history, as well as Issa’s life.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.<\/p>\n not only waiting .. harvest moon night– \n harvest moon– \n harvest moon-gazing . .. the heavens don’t allows cooperate: harvest moon \n .\u540d\u6708\u3084\u3051\u3075\u306f\u3042\u306a\u305f\u3082\u3044\u305d\u304c\u3057\u304d harvest moon– <\/a><\/p>\n Commentary<\/a>: Is Issa implying that the moon is occupied with business elsewhere and therefore is unable to appear (i.e. it’s a cloudy night).<\/p>\n . . . In 1819, there was an eclipse on the night of the Harvest Moon, and Kobyashi Issa wrote often about it.<\/p>\n overly helpful– \n harvest moon– Commentary<\/a>:\u00a0 This haiku was written in Seventh Month, 1819. 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. 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. 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n lit by the harvest moon Of course, sometimes we’d rather sleep than moon-gaze .. the harvest moon \n on harvest moon night . . . . Does the Man in the Moon know it’s an Election Year?<\/p>\n harvest moon– <\/a><\/p>\n Commentary<\/a>: The “capital” (miyako) was Kyoto in Issa’s day. This is where the emperor and his court lived. 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).<\/p>\n harvest moon– the harvest moon harvest moon– the harvest moon harvest moon– harvest moon- hole in the wall– Commentary<\/a>: This haiku reminds us of one composed in 1813:<\/p>\n looking pretty Thematically, both poems belong to his “natural riches amid human poverty” group. Issa’s screen is torn, but through it he sees the Milky Way. And, his wall has a hole, but through it he sees the moon. In both cases, rips and holes–signs of poverty–are revealed to be lucky, for they allow celestial beauty into the hovel.\u00a0 This haiku is one of the “essential” 188 picked by the translator.<\/p>\n mountain village– harvest moon– \n harvest moon \n harvest moon– \n in the harvest moonlight next to the roof beam .\u540d\u6708\u3084\u5bb6\u3088\u308a\u51fa\u3066\u5bb6\u306b\u5165 harvest moon–<\/a>. . Issa Self-portrait<\/a> with poem ..<\/p>\n
\ncries the crying
\nchild<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> .. .. Kobayashi Issa<\/a> and translator Prof. David G. Lanoue<\/a> .\u00a0 . . . .<\/p>\n
\nfor the harvest moon to rise…
\nstreetwalker<\/p>\n ..<\/p>\n
\ninstead of the moon
\nleaking rain<\/p>\n
\ndigging in the teacup
\nfor sake money<\/p>\n
\npriests, samurai
\nmerchants<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\non a clear, rainless night
\nelsewhere!<\/p>\n
\nmeigetsu ya ky\u00f4 wa anata mo isogashiki<\/p>\n
\ntonight even you
\nare busy!<\/p>\n
\nthe harvest moon
\neclipse forecaster<\/p>\n
\nmy lap would be a pillow
\nif my child were here<\/p>\n
\nno different…
\ntrashy house<\/p>\n ..<\/p>\n
\nover mountain and river…
\nwhile I sleep<\/p>\n
\ngreeting the moon…
\nwith snores<\/p>\n
\neven in Kyoto
\ngrowing old<\/p>\n
\nI tell you it’s cold
\non Shinano Mountain!<\/p>\n
\nhangs over it…
\nrice cake gift<\/p>\n
\nwherever you are
\nsomeone’s annoyed<\/p>\n
\ndrifts with the tide…
\na little boat<\/p>\n
\nSumida River thick
\nwith mosquitoes<\/p>\n
\nfifty seven years
\nof traveling autumns<\/p>\n<\/a> .\u58c1\u7a74\u306b\u6211\u540d\u6708\u306e\u5fa1\u51fa\u54c9
\nkabe ana ni waga meigetsu no oide kana<\/p>\n
\nmy harvest moon
\ncomes in<\/p>\n
\nin a hole in the paper door…
\nHeaven’s River<\/em><\/p>\n
\neven in my soup
\nthe harvest moon<\/p>\n
\nin the seat of honor
\na katydid chirrs<\/p>\n
\non the mountain scarecrow’s
\nsleeve<\/p>\n
\non a stone a teacup
\nfilled with sake<\/p>\n
\nunruffled, unaffected
\nscarecrow<\/p>\n
\nshining bright…
\nharvest moon<\/p>\n
\nmeigetsu ya ie yori dete ie ni iru<\/em><\/p>\n
\ngoing out
\ngoing back in<\/p>\n