Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,
We are on the trail with Basho and today we are following him to Ise (wellknown for it's Shrine) were he visited a disciple of him named Matsubaya according to the preface of this haiku.
Matsubaya was in Ise, so we went in search of news of him, and stayed here for ten days. After dark, I visited the Outer Shrine of Ise. The first gate was faintly visiblea against the light sky.
Sacred lanterns were everywhere. The pine wind from the mountain pierced me, and my heart was deeply moved.
end of the month
no moon hugging an ancient cedar
in the storm
© Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)
I also found a wonderful translation of this haiku by an anonymous poet:
moonless night . . .
a powerful wind embraces
the ancient cedars
 |
| The Holy Sunrise in the Ise Shrine |
in worship of the holy sunrise
at Ise Shrine
© Chèvrefeuille
Must be awesome to be there at Ise Shrine and see the image of the sun rising above the bridge ... it's a very holy experience ...
This episode is open for your submissions tonight at 7.00 PM (CET) and will remain open until May 5th at noon (CET). I will try to post our next episode, if taken in my hand, later on.
A very powerful second translation indeed - the first translation by Jane shows the haiku really belongs to the haibun. The second is so rich. Your haiku, bowing to the holyness of the sun, brilliant touch - ie, not the statues, or shrines of dieties but the sun - very nice indeed. Great post.
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