Fukuda Chiyo-ni
Fukuda Chiyo-ni, also known as Kaga no Chiyo, was a Japanese poet during the Edo period. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest female haiku poets.
Short Biography
Chiyo-ni was born in Matto, Kaga Province (now Hakusan, Ishikawa Prefecture). She began writing haiku at age 7. By 17, she had already become famous across Japan for her poetry. Her poems are seen as a work for unity between humanity and nature.
The teachers of Chiyo-ni were the students of Basho, which allowed her to stay true to his style, but yet she still was able to develop her independent figure. During her life, she became known as Soen, after becoming a nun.
Haiku by Chiyo-ni
- morning glory!
- the well bucket-entangled,
- I ask for water
- spring rain---
- all things on earth
- become beautiful
- to tangle or untangle
- the willow---
- it's up to the wind
- rouged lips
- forgotten---
- clear spring water
- a dandelion
- now and then interrupting
- the butterfly’s dream
- the moon's shadow
- also pauses -
- cherry blossom dawn
- rain clouds ---
- the frog
- puffs his belly out!
- green leaves or fallen leaves
- become one---
- in the flowering snow
- I've seen the moon
- I sign my letter to the world
- -- Respectfully yours--
- I saw the moon as well
- and now world
- "truly yours..."
Next: Etsujin