A Fleeting Life :: Haiku of Japan #52

かぎり有命のひまや秋のくれ
kagiri aru inochi no himaya aki no kure


in a fleeting life
some leisure time
this autumn evening
—Buson


(Tr. David LaSpina)

("Moonlit Sea" by Shoda Koho)

Life is short, a fact that the autumn reminds us of as nature fades away for the year. But even in the face of a limited life, some quiet free time can feel like forever.

I'm sure we've all been here. The kids go out for the day, there is no work to do, we have an hour or more of free time stretched out before us. We know it isn't all that long and will end soon, but for that one moment (as we sip the hot tea or coffee we just made and relax in our chair), it seems like it could last forever. Buson captures that feeling wonderfully here. Life is short, but this moment: forever.

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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 — Falling Camellia
#42 — Snow Falling
#43 — Morning Glory Shack
#44 — My Father's Face
#45 — Dragonfly Hunter
#46 — Fallen Butterfly
#47 — Fading Dreams of Ancient Warriors
#48 — Battleground Pear Tree
#49 — Showing My Hidden Side
#50 — Ambitious Snail
#51 — Dewdrop World

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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.

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