These are HAIKU poems and calligraphy by 'Isshi' (Ohtsubo Kazue), who is a member of the HAIJIN KYOuKAI (Haiku Poet Society) in Japan and in Nagano prefecture.

Several of the poems use the word 'BONCHI', which is translated here as 'valley', but really refers to a basin or bowl-shaped valley. The writer's home town is a smallish city situated in a basin.

1 (image)

HAKU UN NO UE NI TOBI UKU HATSU ARA SHI.

A hawk floating above a white cloud, in a storm wind.

[A 'TOBI' is a 'kite' - a member of the hawk family.]

2 (image)

YUu KAZE YA NEGURA SAGASENU AKI NO CHOu.

In a late afternoon breeze, the autumn butterfly cannot find a place to sleep.

3 (image)

YAMAZATO NO AKE NO AKARI WO MATSU SHOuJI.

In a mountain village, a door waits for the sunrise light.

[A 'SHOuJI' is a Japanese sliding door.]

4 (image)

TOuSEN NI CHIGYO GIN IRO NO OBI HIKINU.

In a winter spring, a minnow seems to draw a silvery sash.

5 (image)

MUKU NO MURE BONCHI NO ASA NO AKI YUSURU.

A flock of starlings shake the valley on an autumn morning.

[Refers to the noise that a group of starlings can make.]

6 (image)

YAMA SUSO NI NEKKI KATAMARU NATSU MATSURI.

At the base of a mountain, enthusiasm gathers for a summer festival.

7 (image)

TAKE NI KUMO MURAGARU BONCHI BANKAKOu.

The late summer light in the valley, clouds gather over a peak.

8 (image)

ARAKUMO NI YUuHI NO AKI NO TAKE UKABU.

In the coarse clouds at dusk, an autumn peak seems suspended.

9 (image)

INABIKARI BONCHI NO YAMI NI TAKE SOBIYU.

A lightning flash, from the valley's darkness a peak rises.

 10 (image)

YAMA KAZE NO MICHI NI UMARURU MURETONBO.

In the path of a mountain wind, a swarm of dragonflies are born.

11 (image)

AO HOuZUKI SHOuJO NO ERI NO SHIROKU NARU.

A green ground-cherry, and a young girl's color becomes white.

[In early summer, a girl wears a white school uniform.]

12 (image)

AKI NO SEMI II NOKOSU KOTO OoSUGI TE.

The autumn cicada has many dying words to tell.

[The cicada is heard singing in the trees during the summer, but dies in the fall.]

13 (image)

AKATSUKI NO SHUuREI AO KI BONCHI KANA.

The autumn chill at dawn in a blue valley.

14 (image)

ASE NO ME WO YAMA NO KIRYUu NI HITASHIORI.

Sweat in the eye, moistness in a mountain air current.