Santoka's Gochu hermitage no longer exists; it was located in Ogoori
Town, Yamaguchi Pref. to the west of Hiroshima. (T.Nonin)
45. It's raining in my hometown;
I'm walking barefoot.
(Ame furu furusato wa/ hadashi de aruku)
46. Having moved in and settled down,
I'm surrounded by flowers of the opposite shore/
flowers of the autumnal equinox.*
*opposite shore (Higan)--Buddhistic term.
autumnal equinox (Higan/Shuubun-no-hi)--day on the calendar.
(Utsuri kite/ o-higanbana no/ hana zakari)
47. Glory of the morning sky
Heralds the coming of rain;
Must sow the seeds of radish.
(Asayake/ ame furu/ daikon makou)
48. Out of the evening sky
I pick and pluck a yuzu-citrus.*
*Yuzu--yellow, sour and fragrant citrus resembling a lemon, not oval
but round and softer. It is symbolic of Japan's winter.
Yuzu-trees, together with persimmon-trees, are seen in the yards of
rural houses--typical scenery of Japan's countryside just as the
apple tree is to the West. On the day of winter solstice, it is the
custom with the Japanese to enjoy yuzu-bath (Yuzu-yu) either in the
household or in public bathhouses (Sentoh). Urban dwellers can get
yuzu at stores. Yuzu is also used as healthy natural vinegar. A
good subject (season-word) for Haiku. Lots of Haikuists like to
compose yuzu-ku around this season. (T.Nonin)
(Yuuzora kara/ yuzu no hitotsu wo morau)
49. Tea-blossoms keep falling--
Let them fall as they do.
(Cha-no-hana no/ chiru bakari/ chirashite oku)
50. Winter is come;
Sticks of wood,
Sticks of bamboo.
(Fuyu ga kiteiru/ kigire/ takegire)
51. The moon has risen;
I'm awaiting nobody and nothing.
(Tsuki ga nobotte/ nani wo matsu deno naku)
52. There's something to eat,
This and that--
Windy all day.
(Are kore/ taberumo wa atte/ kaze no ichinichi)
53. Sound of water--
I'm truly settled down and relaxed.
(Mizuoto/ shinjitsu/ ochitsuki mashita)
54. Falling leaves--
Far beyond,
I see Buddha.
(Ochiba furu oku fukaku/ mi-hotoke wo miru)
55. Snow is falling
All around Gochu hermitage;
I build a fire as a lonely self.
(Gochu yuki furu/ hitori to shite/ hi wo taku)
56. Warm day,
I have something more to eat.
(Nukui hi no/ mada taberumono wa aru)
57. Snow's falling on snow,
I'm in quietude.
(Yuki e yuki furu/ shizukesa ni oru)
58. Moonlit night,
He came with a handout gift;
I found 'twas rice.
(tsukiyo/ temiyage wa/ kome datta-ka)
59. Camellias are in bloom;
There are tombstones.
(Tsubaki hiraite/ haka ga aru)
60. A tiny vase,
A twig of camellia in it.
(Ichirin-zashi no/ tsubaki ichirin)
61. What's that sound--
Must be a bird
Eating berries since morning.
(Oto wa/ asa kara kinomi wo tabe ni kita tori ka)
62. Uprooted many a time,
Diehard is the weed;
I pull out its tenacity.
(Nuitemo/ nuitemo/ kusa no shuuchaku wo nuku)
63. Today I picked butterburrs,
Ate butterburrs.
(Kyo wa/ fuki wo tsumi/ fuki wo tabe)
64. Sparrows dance,
Dandelions fall.
(Suzume odoru ya/ tanpopo chiru ya)
65. Morn is about to dawn,
Windows just opened--
Fresh young leaves.
(Mou ake souna/ mado akete/ aoba)
66. Long hair...
Gray.
(Nagai ke ga/ shiraga)
67. I'm true and obedient to my mind;
Rice has just been cooked well.
(kokoro sunaoni/ gohan ga fuita)
68. It's good after all
To be all by myself--
Weeds.
(Yappari/ hitori ga yoroshii/ zasso)
69. Whole day long
No one has come today--
Firelies.
(Kyo mo ichinichi/ dare mo konakatta/ houtaru)
70. Stark naked I am,
Dragonfly trying to land on me.
(Suppadaka e/ tombo tomarou to suru ka)
71. Making a rustling sound,
Mute insect has come.
(Kasari kosori/ oto sasete/ nakanu mushi ga kita)
--END OF GOCHU HERMITAGE-- (27 ku /47 ku)
---Selected and translated by Takashi Nonin
Copyright: as per usual
--------More will ensue next time-------