[all the time I pray to Buddha]
by Kobayashi Issa
Translated by Robert Hass
All the time I pray to Buddha
I keep on
killing mosquitoes.
Source: The Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho Buson and Issa (The Ecco Press, 1994)
About the author
Kobayashi Issa | Poetry Foundation
About Haiku
Haiku (or hokku) | Poetry Foundation
10 Vivid Haikus to Leave you Breathless - Read Poetry
Haiku | Academy of American Poets
The History and Artistry of Haiku | FSI (stanford.edu)
【活動說明】
欣賞了詩歌之後,歡迎大家在跟帖裏對詩歌進行點評,分享讀後感。本活動主要是為大家提供一個閱讀英文詩歌的窗口,以賞詩為主,不要求寫詩。如果大家偶爾靈感閃現,有感而發地想要寫寫詩的話,大家可以嚐試用相同的或者相關的詩歌標題,寫出不一樣的英文詩,在賞詩寫詩的過程中自娛自樂。寫出來的英文詩如果願意分享的話,歡迎以主帖或者跟帖的方式分享。謝謝大家的關注和支持!
Let's get some learning from the fun and get some fun from the learning!
相關鏈接:
ChatGPT Poem Analysis:
This haiku by Kobayashi Issa is a profound reflection on the contradiction between the speaker's spiritual devotion and their mundane actions. Here's a breakdown of the analysis:
Spiritual Devotion: The speaker expresses their continuous prayers to Buddha, indicating a deep spiritual connection or religious practice. This line sets the tone for the poem, highlighting a sense of reverence or piety.
Contradiction: Despite their devout prayers, the speaker acknowledges the simultaneous act of killing mosquitoes. This presents a stark contrast between their spiritual aspirations and the mundane, even violent, actions they perform in daily life.
Irony: The juxtaposition of praying to Buddha and killing mosquitoes creates irony. Mosquitoes are commonly seen as pests or nuisances, yet the act of killing them conflicts with the principles of compassion and non-violence often associated with Buddhist teachings.
Human Imperfection: The haiku captures the human condition of imperfection and the struggle to reconcile conflicting aspects of oneself. It suggests that even in moments of devotion or prayer, individuals may still engage in actions that contradict their beliefs or values.
Overall, this haiku invites reflection on the complexities of human nature, the tension between spirituality and practicality, and the constant struggle to align one's actions with their beliefs.