1.Ochi Etsujin(1656-?)

<Japanese>

うらやまし  思ひ切る時  猫の恋

Urayamashi/ Omoi-kiru toki/ Neko no koi

<English>

Four Cats In Different Poses by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

It’s enviable.

The gracefulness of

The cat’s love.

*It seems like a haiku stalled in love, but apparently it is a poem about lost love. It represents a man’s lingering mind…

2.Takahama Kyoshi(1874-1959)

<Japanese>

虹立ちて　忽ち君の　在る如し

Nizi tachite/ Tachimachi kimi no/ Aru gotoshi

<English>

The rainbow stands

In a moment

As if you are here.

*The feeling when the rainbow appears neaby, it resembles what the lover comes up.

3.Sugita Hisajo(1890-1946)

<Japanese>

枯野路に　影かさなりて　わかれけり

Karenoji ni/ Kage kasanarite/ Wakare keri

<English>

On the path in the desolate field,

The shadows overlapped and

Parted.

*It is a haiku poem of almost like a a scene out of movies.

4.Hashimoto Takako(1899-1963)

<Japanese>

雪はげし　抱かれて息の　つまりしこと

Yuki hageshi/ Dakarete iki no/ Tsumarishi koto

<English>

It snows violently,

I was hugged

And choked.

*The word of “violently” modifies not only “snows” but also haggued. 

Ukiyo-e by Kawase Hasui

5.Mitsuhashi Takajo(1899-1972)

<Japanese>

鞦韆は　漕ぐべし愛は　奪うべし

Shusen ha/ Kogubeshi ai ha/ Ubau beshi

<English>

You should swing

A swing, and you should

Steal love.

*shusen: The old Japanese word means for a swing. The Current poeple use “buranko”(ブランコ). In haiku, a swing is in the spring of the season words.

6.Suzuki Masajo(1906-2003)

<Japanese>

死なうかと　囁かれしは　蛍の夜

Shinouka to/ Sasayakareshi ha/ Hotaru no yo

<English>

“Shall we die together?”

You wispered to me

At the night of firefly.

*Firefly evoke us thought of an ephemeral life.

Book

7.Katsura Nobuko(1914-2004)

<Japanese>

ゆるやかに　着て人と逢ふ　蛍の夜

Yuruyaka ni/ Kite hito to au/ Hotaru no yo

<English>

I wear loosely

And meet the man

At the night of firefly.

*The way of loose wearing kimono meant trust a man.

8.Takayanagi Shigenobu(1923-1983)

<Japanese>

きみ嫁けり　遠き一つの　訃に似たり

Kimi yukeri/ Tooki hitotsu no/ Fu ni nitari

<English>

You married.

It’ like a deth note

From far away.

9.Mayuzumi Madoka(1962-)

<Japanese>

会ひたくて　逢ひたくて踏む　薄氷

Aitakute/ Aitakute fumu/ Usugouri

<English>

I want to see

And to meet you

With stepping on the thin ice.

*”会ひ” and “逢う” are in same pronounced and a similar meaning. Furthermore, it is so excellent that the later “逢” means men and women ‘s tryst.

10.Otaka Sho(1977-)

<Japanese>

逢ふことも　過失のひとつ　薄暑光

Aukotomo/ Kashitsu no hitotsu/ Hakusho-kou

<English>

Meeting is

One of the accidents.

The sunshine at the beginning of the summer.

*Meeting, accidents, getting stronger sunshine. These are unavoidable to lift up the mual feelings for lovers.

Read more love poems?

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