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Issa Kobayashi

Untitled First Haibun from Oraga Haru

Translation #1

My own way of celebrating the first of the year is somewhat different, since the dust of the world still clings to me. Yet I am like him still in this: —I, too, forbear to use the commonplace congratulations of the season. The words "crane" and "tortoise" ring hollow on my ear, like the greetings of the begging actors (1). Nor will I set the customary pine beside my door, nor sweep the dust out of my house, for I live in a tiny cottage that might be swept away at any moment by a blast from the wild north wind. I will leave all to Buddha, and though the path ahead be difficult and steep, like a snow-covered road winding through the mountains, I welcome the New Year—even as I am.

Only
Moderately happy
Is my spring
My New Year.

My little daughter was born just last May, but I give her a grownup's portion of zoni for her New Year's breakfast.

Crawl, laugh,
Do as you wish—
For you are two years old
This morning (2)

On the first of January, in the Second Year of Bunsei [1819].

I have no servant to draw the first water of the New Year:

But look! A crow comes
In his stead
To bathe in the water
On New Year's Day

Translation #2

From Kobayashi Issa. The Spring of My Life and Selected Haiku. Translated and Introduction by Sam Hamill, Boston: Shambhala, 1997.

"Still clothed in the dust of this suffering world, I celebrate the first day in my own way. And yet I am like the priest, for I too shun trite popular seasonal congratulations. The commonplace "crane" and "tortoise" echo like empty words, like the actors who come begging on New Year's Eve with empty wishes for prosperity. The customary New Year pine will not stand beside my door. I won't even sweep my dusty house, living as I do in a tiny hermitage constantly threatening to collapse under harsh north winds. I leave it all to Buddha, as in the ancient story.

The way ahead may be dangerous, steep as snowy trails winding through high mountains. Nevertheless I welcome the New Year just as I am.

New Year greeting-time:
I feel about average
welcoming my spring

And although she was born only last May, I gave my little daughter a bowl of soup and a whole rice cake for New Year's breakfast, saying:

Laughing, crawling, you're
exploring — already two
years old this morning
                          New Year's Day, 1819

No servant to draw wakamizu, New Year's "first water."

But look: Deputy
Crow arrives to enjoy
the first New Year's bath

Notes:
(1) On New Year's Eve poor actors went from door to door, wishing a prosperous year and accepting a small amount of money in return for the little performance they presented.

(2) According to traditional Japanese belief, we become a year older at every return of New Year's Day. Zoni, rice cake boiled with vegetables, is the most important part of the menu for New Year's breakfast. Wakamizu, or the first water drawn on the morning of New Year's Day, is also important, for it is believed to have the magical power to maintain health and prolong life."

(3) Traditionally in many Asian cultures, babies are considered one year old when they are born."