Bilingual Haiku Scroll

和英俳句の掛軸

Scroll through these haiku poems that have been published in Japanese, English, or both together. They represent a unique genre inasmuch as they were imagined and composed in Japanese, in 5-7-5 syllables with a seasonal reference, then an English version was composed that could either stand alone as an independent poem or help bilingual readers understand the underlying message more deeply. The haiku genre presents changes in nature that reflect profound changes within oneself. The universality expressed in natural symbolism can be communicated to the reader. But bilingual haiku may be more likely to succeed in this communication.

Below each haiku poem in Japanese (Chinese characters), Romanization of the 5-7-5 syllables is provided for learners ofJapanese.

大阪女学院短期大学/大学 教授 スティーブ・マッカーティが作成した和英俳句：

　　春　Spring　　

村人と　違う春かな　寺の客　（四国俳壇）

murabitoto chigauharukana teranokyaku

a different spring
than villagers see?
a temple pilgrim

(a winner of the UNESCO International
Haiku Contest on Cultural Diversity,
published in the World Culture Report 2000)

（国連UNESCOの英語による国際俳句コンクール入賞。
コンクールのテーマは、文化的多様性でした。
「世界文化報告書２０００年」に載っています。）

若葉には　枝に世界が　回るやう　（全国版朝日俳壇）

wakabaniwa edanisekaiga mawaruyau

To young leaves
The world seems
To spin on a branch



石仏の　涙が待てる　梅雨の前　（愛媛新聞）

sekibutsuno namidagamateru tsuyunomae

Before the rainy season
Tears of the Stone
Buddhas can wait

夏　Summer

蒸し暑い　浮世を滑る　おはるさん　

(Mainichi Daily News)

mushiatsui ukiyowosuberu Oharusan

Oharu-san slides
Down the sultry
Floating world



ひすい門　自然に開く　沙羅の花　（四国俳壇）

hisuimon shizennihiraku saranohana

A jade gate
Naturally opening
Sala flowers



青鷺や　胸を繕う　白羽舞い　（四国新聞）

aosagiya munewotsukurou shirahamai

The blue heron
Preening its heart
White feathers fly



七夕や　望を乗せる　笹の舟　（四国新聞）

Tanabataya nozomiwonoseru sasanofune

Wishes riding
A bamboo boat
To the stars



霧笛呼び　汽笛のこだま　夏の夜　（愛媛新聞）

mutekiyobi kitekinokodama natsunoyoru

A distant foghorn blows
A midsummer night's call
A train whistle echoes

秋　Fall

収穫の　日でも着替えぬ　案山子かな

（『耕』[俳句のジャーナル]）

shuukakuno hidemokigaenu kakashikana

Even on harvest day
Clothes unchanging
The scarecrow



柿くれと　鹿お辞儀する　東大寺　（『耕』）

kakikureto shikaojigisuru toudaiji

By Todaiji Temple
A deer deeply bows
Requesting a persimmon



寂しいな　秋の空から　山おろし　（愛媛俳壇）

sabishiina akinosorakara yamaoroshi

So desolate the wind
Blowing down the mountain
From the sky in fall

冬　Winter

影も吹く　夜でも暮れる　冬の風　（『耕』）

kagemofuku yorudemokureru fuyunokaze

The winter wind
Blowing even the shadows
Darkening even the night



年末や　目に入りけり　古ワイン　（『耕』）

nemmatsuya menihairikeri furuwain

The year ends
With old wine
In these eyes



白鳥の　子になる鴨や　堀の雪　（『耕』）

hakuchouno koninarukamoya horinoyuki

Snowy moat
Ducks as if
Baby swans



Please let me know your impressions,
by e-mail to Steve McCarty.