Haiku by Issa

The bitter part,
eaten by the mother,
mountain persimmon
[1]

澁いとこ母が喰ひけり山の柿
shibui toko haha ga kui keri yama no kaki

12 1/4″ W x 43″ H Japanese Scroll
by Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase

$180.00

SKU: H3015SS Category: Tags: , , ,

H3105 – Haiku by Issa – The bitter part …
by Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase

The bitter part
eaten by the mother
mountain persimmon
[1]

shibui toko
haha ga kui keri
yama no kaki
澁いとこ
母が喰ひけり
山の柿
issa 一茶

One end of the persimmon is sweet, the other bitter. The mother gives the sweet end to the child and herself consumes the astringent remains. The self-sacrifice of mothers.

R. H. Blyth suggests the two translation:

Wild persimmons,
The mother eating
The bitter parts.
[2]

Mountain persimmons;
The mother is eating
The astringent parts.
[3]

References:

[1] Translation by Timothy L. Jackowski, Takase Studios, LLC.

[2] 1111.

[3] 231.