The translations and interpretations are my own. Any suggested changes or interpretations are welcomed in the comments.
今迄は
ima made wa
罰もあたらず
bachi mo atarazu
花の雨
hana no ame
Translation —
Until now
No punishment was given —
A shower of flowers.
In my opinion, Issa is referring to the tranquility of the Edo period, which followed a thousand years of war in Japan, comparing it to a shower of cherry blossoms with fleeting beauty, suggesting that peaceful moments can be short-lived.
神風や
kamikaze ya
魔所も和らぐ
masho mo yawaragu
山ざくら
yamazakura
Translation —
Heavenly wind —
Even evil places are soothed
By the mountain cherry blossoms.
As the wind blows, mountain blossoms cover the earth. Nature has a way of healing even the deepest wounds and the darkest blight, even the decay within one’s…
