うらやまし美しう成て散る紅葉
urayamashi utsukushuu natte chiru momiji


envied by all
turning beautiful then falling
autumn leaves
—Shiko


(Tr. David LaSpina)

(Print by Shodo Kawarazaki)

Miyamori, an early haiku translator, tells us this poem is actually referencing the cherry blossoms. The samurai loved the cherry blossoms. They preferred death to dishonor and thought that to die at the apex of their power was better than to grow old and fade away. The cherry blossoms, which scatter while still at their most beautiful, were seen by them as a symbol of this. In this verse, Shiko is looking at the autumn leaves in the same way. They turn beautiful, then scatter with the wind, just like the sakura, going out on top, so to speak.

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Don't miss other great haiku in the Haiku of Japan series!

#1–10 — Haiku of Japan :: Collection #1
#11–20 — Haiku of Japan :: Collection #2
#21–30 — Haiku of Japan :: Collection #3
#31—40 — Haiku of Japan :: Collection #4
#41–50 — Haiku of Japan :: Collection #5
#51 — Dewdrop World
#52 — A Fleeting Life
#53 — The Only Sound
#54 — Autumn Clouds
#55 — Playing Dewdrops
#56 — To the Last Drop
#57 — A Rest From Moonviewing
#58 — Forever Young
#59 — Fading into the Mist
#60 — Wiping Horse Poop
#61 — Turncoat Umbrella

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I post one photo everyday, as well as a haiku and as time allows, videos, more Japanese history, and so on. Let me know if there is anything about Japan you would like to know more about or would like to see.

Who is David?
	David LaSpina is an American photographer lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time.