The Japanese poet, Issa, is...
Illustration
The Japanese poet, Issa, is considered to be among the greatest practitioners of the simple poetic form called Haiku. Issa's last poem was discovered in 1826, written on a scrap of paper under the pillow of the bed on which he had just died. It was winter, and Issa had been sleeping in a crumbling storage shed, after his own house had burned down. Here are the words he wrote:
There are thanks to be given:
this snow on the bed quilt --
it too is from Heaven.
Issa died nearly destitute, but clearly he had discovered the secret of true thankfulness. Had it been the custom to put western-style epitaphs on Japanese tombstones, Issa's could very well have read, "Here lies a happy man."
There are thanks to be given:
this snow on the bed quilt --
it too is from Heaven.
Issa died nearly destitute, but clearly he had discovered the secret of true thankfulness. Had it been the custom to put western-style epitaphs on Japanese tombstones, Issa's could very well have read, "Here lies a happy man."
