H3000 Haiku by Basho – On the back of the mirror …
by Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase
On the back of the mirror,
A spring unseen,
A flowering plum-tree [1]
|
hito mo minu haru ya kagami no ura no ume |
人も見ぬ 春や鏡 のうらの梅 |
| bashou | 芭蕉 |
R. H. Blyth suggests the translation:
A spring unseen of men, –
On the back of the mirror,
A flowering plum-tree. [2]
Nelson and Saito suggest the translation:
A spring no one sees –
On a mirror’s back
Apricot Blossoms. [3]
References:
[1] Translation by Timothy L. Jackowski, Takase Studios, LLC.
[2] 992.
[3] 19.
