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.
