HAIKU December 2022

ものゝふの河豚にくはるゝ悲しさよ　　　　子規

 

mononofu no

fugu ni kuwaruru

kanashisa yo

 

how tragic

warriors eaten

by globefish

 

Season word: globefish (河豚fugu), winter

Composed by Masaoka Shiki in 1892, at age 25. Born

in Matsuyama, Shiki is credited with making haiku a

respected literary form.

 

*In 1892 the Chishima, a Japanese navy vessel, collided with a large British cargo ship near Matsuyama and 71 of the navy crew drowned.

 

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Trans.: The Shiki Museum English Volunteers