7/24/2019 Miura Chora Poems

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Miura Chora, born in Shima province, travelled throughout the country

composing poems. He was a friend of Yosa Buson and helped lead the

haiku revival movement of the eighteenth century

Miura grew up in Shima province with an older sister and a younger

brother. His father left his family during Choras childhood, so his mother

took over control of the family. She never remarried and raised her

children by herself. Chora was home!schooled as a child. Being neighbors

with the "aniguchi family, Chora was close friends with Yosa Buson. "hey

met when Buson was #$ years old, and both admired Matsuo Bash%

and &obayashi 'ssa.

'n an article for the periodical (arly Modern )apan, Cheryl Crowley wrote,

*Chora . . . studied with disciples of Bakurin, a leader of a rural Bash%

school. Chora was a successful haikai master with numerous students,although he had a reputation for being irresponsible and profligate in his

ways. He spent several years in &yoto in the early part of the +$s, and

his work fre-uently appears in se-uences composed by Buson and his

colleagues around this time.* 'n addition, .H. Blyth notes that /yoto

had set up the 'se School, followed by 0tsuya and others, but gradually it

became worldly. He worked together with poets such as Yosa

Buson 1++2!+345, "akai &it6 1+7+!+385, and 9ada an:an 1d.+45.

Chora brought it back to the poetry and simplicity of Matsuo Bash%.;

Chora was struck with serious leukemia and died on September 7, +3$.

<uring his life, Miura Chora 1#4 May +#8 = 7 September +3$5

participated in many collaboratively written poems called haikai no renga,

especially the 42!verse form known as kasen. He helped write the

following kasen titled *Susuki Mitsu* 1*Seeing Micanthus* or *Having Seen

>ampas ?rass*5 along with the poets Buson, &it6, and an:an. 't was

later published in the )apanese anthology &ono hotori!!'chi!ya shi!

kasen 1この辺り一夜四歌仙5.

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' saw pampas grass. 'snt there a bush clover around hereA

9ind rises in the autumn evening.

"he ferry halts, ' must see an inn, the second!day moon.

9hile traveling, landscape changes with each step.

'snt that the time when the daughter of "surayuki was littleA

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"he half!panel shutters feel heavy as rain is falling.

<eep in the night, the sound of bow strings for an ailing noble.

' also came to reali:e that ' have reached fifty years old.

0ld bra:ier, shall ' put a hood on you, tooA

"he lotus flower ' loved has withered away.

ittle bird, ' tell you that ' miss a nightingale.

9hen ' offer a cup of wine, the country woman shyly turns away.

young man is appointed to an office in the province of Hitachi.

fallen petal of multi!layered cherry blossoms.

Shot by an arrow, a stag lies down on a ha:y evening.

Spring comes late at a mountain temple under the moon.

"he sake wine has turned to vinegar without being noticed.

' have finished forging a five!foot sword.

"he moving of Mitsunaka to the "ada castle on a fine day.

Beyond the young leaves, ' see white clouds offshore.

0n a branch of a pine tree, the purple of wisteria remains.

' have nothing else but to chant the holy name and die.

'n the mountain ' reside, ' reminiscence of the (mperors visit in the

past.

"he escaped crane never returns even if ' wait.

>enniless, ' wrote a poem on the wall.

"he woman bringing out a light is beautiful.

0n black hair falls night snow.

Having lost a lawsuit, a man is eDpelled from his land.

(ven in the dry rice field, this year the rice grows steadily.

Eestival dishes are arranged under the moon.

humble merchant Foyfully runs around on an autumn day.

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)okingly ' invite an old woman to share my umbrella.

Eeelings of love never change in ancient times and now.

9hatever the story, she hides and does not show.

' contemplate upon the cherry blossoms of &isagata at dusk.

mountain cuckoo cries in the ha:e of dawn in Shiga.

@

Some haiku:

9atching the starsthrough willow branchesmakes me feel lonely.  storm!wind blows0ut from among the grasses full moon grows

at the ancient shrinetarnished gold!foil... and green leavesawakening time

insectsscattering in the grassesGsound!colours

@

SnowBlows, whirls anddrifts about me

'n this world alone.I Miura Chora.

stillnessthe soundof petals fallingG Miura Chora

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"he tarnished goldnd the fresh greeneryBring back memories of bygone days.G Miura Chora

fter spring sunsetmist rises from the river...spreading like a floodG Miura Chora

<uring his life, Chora participated in many collaboratively written poems

called haikai no renga, especially the 42!verse form known as kasen. He

helped write the following kasen titled *Susuki Mitsu* 1*Seeing Micanthus*

or *Having Seen >ampas ?rass*5 along with the poets Buson, &it6, andan:an. 't was later published in the )apanese anthology &ono hotori!!

'chi!ya shi!kasen 1この辺り一夜四歌仙5.

9ind rises in the autumn evening.

'snt that the time when the daughter of "surayuki was littleA

"he lotus flower ' loved has withered away.

Shot by an arrow, a stag lies down on a ha:y evening.

' have finished forging a five!foot sword.

0n a branch of a pine tree, the purple of wisteria remains.

"he escaped crane never returns even if ' wait.

0n black hair falls night snow.

Eestival dishes are arranged under the moon.

Eeelings of love never change in ancient times and now.

 happy nights

  and quiet days – 

  spring rain

silence – 

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  the sound of blossoms

  jostling as they fall

the willow-tree

  by the gate; the travellers

  look as they go

 beside itself at flowers,

  astonished by the moon – 

  the butterfly

looking through,  the willow is lonely

  with stars

a traveller to the eyes,

  a stork in light cold rain – 

  Bashō the aster