The Year’s First Dream – What Did You Dream About?

In Japan, it is believed that the first dream of the New Year is important because it tells you what the year holds for you. What did you dream about? Here’s a haiku poem by Itō Shōu in English and Japanese below.

The year’s first dream –

a secret I spoke to no one,

smiling to myself.             ― Itō Shōu (1859-1943)

 

初夢や

秘めて語らず

一人笑む        ―伊藤松宇

The Japanese poet Itō Shōu was a poet of the Meiji era (1868-1926). He was a contemporary of another great Haiku poet Masaoka Shiki. Both wrote during a time when Japan opened its doors to the world and quickly learned about Western culture and technology.

 

On a journey, I’d have

as my companion on the road,

a butterfly.                            ―Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902)

 

道づれは

胡蝶をたのむ

旅路かな        ―正岡子規

Posted by reimanko

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