春雨　/ Spring rain

春雨を凌ぐ大樹の葉擦れかな
under a big tree
take shelter from the spring rain 
whispering leaves overhead

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

歳時記の言葉vol.12 "木下闇" / The seasonal words in Japanese Haiku vol.12 "koshita yami"

"木下闇"は直訳すると"darkness under trees"となる、夏を表現する季語です。 夏の日本では、木々の茂みが濃くなり、その下に、昼間でも微かに暗い空間ができるものです。その闇は影でできるもので、漆黒の闇とは異なります。明るいところから森に足を踏み入れると、視界が暗くなるものです。"木下闇"はその暗さ自体と同様に、明るいところとの感覚の違いも表します。芭蕉以前の古来から伝わる言葉です。 The seasonal word "koshita yami" can be translated literally as "darkness under trees", and expresses summer. During the Japanese summer, clumps of trees grow thickly, and form slightly darker spaces under them even in the daytime. The darkness is a shadowy darkness, and differs from pitch-darkness. When we set foot in a forest from a light place, our sight dims the lights. "Koshita yami" refers to the darkness itself and the difference in feeling as well. The word has its origin in ancient times before Basho.
Read more

歳時記の言葉 vol.5 蛇 / The seasonal words in Japanese haiku. Vol.5 "Hebi"

蛇(hebi)は英語の"A snake"、"Snakes"を意味し、夏を表します。 日本にはおおよそ三種類の毒蛇、蝮、ハブ、ヤマカガシが生息していますが、他の大半の蛇は毒を持ちません。春に蛇たちは冬眠から覚め、巣穴から出て来ます。夏には活動的になり、あちらこちらをうろつきます。この季節には水田を滑るように進む蛇を見ることができます。三種類の毒蛇の中では、ヤマカガシが最も大人しそうに見えるのですが、毒性は最も強いものです。ですから、この蛇には最も注意が払われるべきです。 "Hebi" means "A snake" or "Snakes" in English, and expresses summer. There are approximately three kinds of poisonous snakes in Japan: pit vipers, habus, and tiger keelbacks, but most of the others aren't poisonous. In spring, snakes wake from hibernation, and come out of their holes. In summer, they become active, and wander from place to place. We can see slithering snakes on the surface of rice paddies in this season. Among the three kinds of poisonous snakes, tiger keelbacks are the quietest looking ones. However, they're the most venomous, so we must pay the most attention to these snakes. 
Read more

歳時記の言葉vol.10 "衣更" / The seasonal words in Japanese Haiku vol.10 "koromogae"

衣更は季節に応じて衣服を変えることを指し、初夏を表す季語です。 往時の日本では、陰暦四月と十月の最初の日に、人々は衣装ダンスを入れ替えたものでしたが、それは宮中行事が起源でした。今でも多くの人がその伝統を継承していますが、かつてほど厳格に行われてはいません。現代では、おおむね五月中に衣装ダンスを冬物衣類から夏物に入れ替え、それを衣替と呼んでいて、人の衣類も気持ちも軽くさせてくれます。この時分が、日本では一年を通して最も過ごしやすいかもしれません。 The seasonal word "koromogae" refers to "the seasonal change of clothing", and denotes a early summer.  In ancient times of Japan, on the 1st day of the fourth and the tenth lunar months, people changed their wardrobes. It was originally an event of the Imperial Court. While many people continue with the tradition still now, it is not so strict as it used to be once. In these days, we change our wardrobe from winter wear to summer one in May on the whole, and we call it "koromogae". It makes our clothes and feelings lighter. These days might be the most delightful season in this country in the whole year.
Read more