This download includes 300 selected poems of Issa (1763-1828), one of the four old-school masters of the Haiku. He wrote more than 5,000 poems, including 16 poems on Sumo wrestling, 5 on Earthworms singing, 9 on snakes entering holes. Given his street names "Priest Cup-of-Tea" and "Shinano Province's Chief Beggar", he could have clearly secured a post in the posse of Public Enemy or the Wu-Tang Clan. The selection here is generously provided by translator David G. Lanoue, who will be continually updating the poems (this version: 10.23.04). David has translated thousands of Issa poems which are available with the Japanese originals and more on his site - see here.
