One of the best-known Haiku poets of all time, Kobayashi Issa was a prolific Japanese poet of the Edo period. Considered a master of his genre, his works are revered for their humour, sensitivity, and intelligence.
Issa spent a lot of time writing about nature, and his poems are filled with vivid descriptions of various flora, animals, and natural settings. As he was interested in the human psyche, his writing also explores themes of loss, grief, and the fleeting nature of life.
Issa endured a number of personal catastrophes, such as the loss of his children and a fire that destroyed his home, but he never wavered in his devotion to his craft and wrote up to the time of his passing. His works have received numerous translations and are still praised for their exquisiteness and enduring truths.
‘Everything I touch’ by Kobayashi Issa is a beautiful Japanese haiku written by one of the four great haiku masters. This piece speaks on what one might receive in return when they reach out with tenderness.
Everything I touch
with tenderness, alas,
pricks like a bramble
‘O snail’ by Kobayashi Issa is a well-known poem that celebrates nature while also inspiring readers to take their time to overcome great obstacles.
O snail,
climb Mt. Fuji,
but slowly, slowly
‘The world of dew is, yes’ by Kobayashi Issa should inspire readers to consider the meaning of life and the beauty of nature.
The world of dew is, yes,
a world of dew,
but even so
support@poemanalysis.com
Poem Solutions Limited, International House, 36-38 Cornhill, London, EC3V 3NG, United Kingdom
