09 April 2015

Taneda Santōka (1882 -1940)




Taneda Santōka once wrote in his journal:

"Today, I've composed 10 haiku, 
of course they're about as good as broken pieces of tile, 
but they may shine as much as a piece of tile can, and my job is to polish, polish,
polish them until they shine"

leaves fall from the trees-
I keep on walking

no one to meet-
the path worsens

can't do anything else-
I just keep walking

becoming a frog-
and jumping

a bird comes once-
and does not sing

all day in the mountains-
ants are also walking

snow falls on snow-
silence

occasionally-
the sound of drinking saké
is lonely

men and women
alone with their shadows-
dancing

when you live alone-
green green are the grasses


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