I like both the first (Hearn) and last (Kirkup) ones - love the simplicity, and for me, it allows space for my imagination to experience the action and of the frog and reaction of the water.
Thanks for yet another thought-provoking post! FWIW, I prefer the Hearn translation because it reflects the cadence, brevity, and spirit of the haiku poetic style. As Duke Ellington once remarked, “It’s not the notes that count—it’s the spaces between them”, and I believe the magic of haiku lies in the syllabic limitations of the form. Would-be poets are forced to choose the perfect words with which to convey their message, and place them judiciously within a minimalist structure. That distillation of thought has an inherent purity, and the “spaces” between and around the words allow the reader’s imagination to engage with the text, fill in the conceptual gaps, and take partial ownership of the subject matter and message by filtering it through their own visual and emotional framework.
All poems allow that transcendant flight of fancy, however haiku is unique in the way it boils the literary process down to a fine essence.
Less is more! :-)
Thanks again for sharing your considered thoughts and perspective!
The one translated by Sarah Isbell has emotions that resonate with the art. It feels so warm and full of nature, just like how the art looks. Thanks for sharing this, Rachel!🤎
Kirkup has to be the comedic and to-the-point favorite, but Isbell's imagery is beautiful and i'm very attached to the Roald-Dahl-esque retelling by Marks!
Rachel - this was fun to read :)
I like both the first (Hearn) and last (Kirkup) ones - love the simplicity, and for me, it allows space for my imagination to experience the action and of the frog and reaction of the water.
Fun and interesting post!
Thanks for yet another thought-provoking post! FWIW, I prefer the Hearn translation because it reflects the cadence, brevity, and spirit of the haiku poetic style. As Duke Ellington once remarked, “It’s not the notes that count—it’s the spaces between them”, and I believe the magic of haiku lies in the syllabic limitations of the form. Would-be poets are forced to choose the perfect words with which to convey their message, and place them judiciously within a minimalist structure. That distillation of thought has an inherent purity, and the “spaces” between and around the words allow the reader’s imagination to engage with the text, fill in the conceptual gaps, and take partial ownership of the subject matter and message by filtering it through their own visual and emotional framework.
All poems allow that transcendant flight of fancy, however haiku is unique in the way it boils the literary process down to a fine essence.
Less is more! :-)
Thanks again for sharing your considered thoughts and perspective!
The one translated by Sarah Isbell has emotions that resonate with the art. It feels so warm and full of nature, just like how the art looks. Thanks for sharing this, Rachel!🤎
Kirkup has to be the comedic and to-the-point favorite, but Isbell's imagery is beautiful and i'm very attached to the Roald-Dahl-esque retelling by Marks!