Allan Persinger
on translating Yosa Buson
In the first of these haiku, "Kakari Udo" has two meanings: one, a guest who has been asked to stay, and two, a guest who sponges off the host. "Yoki" just above it means "good quality," and I have translated it as "expensive." In the second haiku, "master" could be Buson's original teacher, Soua, or it may reference BashÅ, who did many walking poetry tours through Northern Japan.
about the author
Yosa Buson (1716-1784) is considered one of the four major haiku poets and one of the three great poets of the Edo era. Buson was most likely born in the village of Kema in the Settsu province, which is now known as Osaka. Besides studying poetry with Hajin, Buson also studied calligraphy, Chinese-style poetry (kanshi), and Noh chanting (yokyoku). Scholars wonder if Buson studied Chinese literature under a master or if he was self-taught.
about the translator
Allen Persinger has a graduate degree in creative writing and he lived in Japan for fifteen years. He has won several awards, including the American Poets' Prize, and he teaches English at Milkwaukee Area Technical College.
