Teshoku shite
Niwa fumu hito ya
Ham oshimu.
—Buson
Candlestick in hand,
See, he strolls through the
garden,
Grieving over spring.
The last Japanese word in this haiku oshimu, here translated
“grieving,” has the additional meaning of ‘‘reluctant.” Hence, the
man who strolls, candlestick in hand, through his garden is
grieving over the departure of spring and reluctant to let the
season go.