Traditional haiku for mushroom hunters....

[Mycanid]

Hmm, it may not be Japanese. But it's a VERY old joke. Doesn't that count?

If I had a nickel for every time I was the subject of the "fungi" joke ....

But yes sir ... it counts! No doubt you absorbed the Japanese poetical spirit while sitting atop a matsutake!

 

[Angel Tarragon]

But yes sir ... it counts! No doubt you absorbed the Japanese poetical spirit while sitting atop a matsutake!

ROFLOMA!!!

 

[hafrogman]

[Matsuo Basho, 1644-1694]

o dear mushroom !
an unknown leaf
is sticking on to you

It makes me curious if a literal translation in more important than the poetic form. With a little tweaking.

o dearest mushroom!
an unidentified leaf
is stuck on to you

 

[Mycanid]

Here's another:

Taking hold with the hand
Of the happiness of the mountain
Mushroom gathering!

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Here's another:

Taking hold with the hand
Of the happiness of the mountain
Mushroom gathering!

Oooh, provocative.

 

[Mycanid]

It makes me curious if a literal translation in more important than the poetic form. With a little tweaking.

o dearest mushroom!
an unidentified leaf
is stuck on to you

Well ... for us to understand in English a bunch o different versions is not bad. I have been told that almost every word in Japanese has multiple meaning and shades. Word play like puns is not funny to them, because their language is like that already. If you try it they look at you as if you are an idiot. :\

So ... perhaps ... unidentified is different than unknown, however. One creates an intellectualized response, the other an emotive.

 

[Mycanid]

Here's another one I really like:

Mushroom hunting;
Tall people
Are no good at it.

 

[hafrogman]

Well ... for us to understand in English a bunch o different versions is not bad. I have been told that almost every word in Japanese has multiple meaning and shades. Word play like puns is not funny to them, because their language is like that already. If you try it they look at you as if you are an idiot. :\

So ... perhaps ... unidentified is different than unknown, however. One creates an intellectualized response, the other an emotive.

Fair enough, that one was a difficult one. I was going with mysterious, which I think was closer to the original sense, but I needed one more syllable. But others I think could be done much better.

Perhaps it will not be quite true to the original, but then it seems like any translation would be lacking, so one may as well strive for the form.

Seizing with the hand
Happiness of the mountain
Mushroom gathering

 

[hafrogman]

Here's another one I really like:

Mushroom hunting;
Tall people
Are no good at it.

That one is hilarious.

 

[Mycanid]

Fair enough, that one was a difficult one. I was going with mysterious, which I think was closer to the original sense, but I needed one more syllable. But others I think could be done much better.

Perhaps it will not be quite true to the original, but then it seems like any translation would be lacking, so one may as well strive for the form.

Seizing with the hand
Happiness of the mountain
Mushroom gathering

But is the word "seizing" what is implied? Is their eagerness involved, or is it a delicate enjoyment, tread upon lightly as a butterfly on the breeze and just as fragile and beautiful?