H  A  I  K  U     S  P  I  R  I  T
Haiku by Japanese Women



FROM:
HAIKU BY JAPANESE WOMEN

Compiled and Translated by MAKOTO UEDA
ISBN
IMPORTANT

 

 

 

 

let us start picking --
don't drop herbs from your basket
or anything else!

 

 

Den Sutejo

 

 

 

 

a bamboo bud
breaking out of its layered sheath
a warrior in arms!

 

 

Kawai Chigetsu

 

 

 

 

one step outside
the temple gate, it's Japan --
a tea-picker's song

 

 

Tagami Kikusha

 

 

 

 

sewing in the lamplight
I teach spelling to my child --
autumn rain

 

 

Sugita Hisajo

 

 

 

 

the more callouses
the more brightly
my ring sparkles

 

 

Takeshita Shizunojo

 

 

 

 

chapped hands
and no rice -- I weep
with a monkey's face

 

 

Ishibashi Hideno (1947)

 

 

 

 

the woman at high noon
untiringly watches
a distant fire

 

 

Katsura Nobuko

 

 

 

 

climb this tree
and you'll be a she-devil
red leaves in the sunset

 

 

 

 

glow up on a hydro pole
the electrician turns
into a cicada

 

 

Mitsuhashi Takajo

 

 

 

 

on the skin of a woman
who has never conceived
hot autumn sun

 

 

 

 

on the scale
my bathed and steaming body
this night of snow

 

 

Katsura Nobuko

 

 

 

 

the dead grass--
life lies dormant
on the face of the earth

 

 

 

 

losing my way
is part of the journey --
poppy flower

 

 

Inahata Teiko

 

 

 

 

as if mending
socks, I repair my mind
and live on

 

 

 

 

like a ninja
a crow on the paddy
always alone

 

 

Yoshino Yoshiko

 

 

 

 

a scrap of iron--
without fail, menfolk
stop to look

 

 

Uda Kiyokoa

 

 

 

 

shooting star --
in love with someone, not knowing
where it will lead me

 

 

Mayuzumi Madoka



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