A haiku by Issa translated by David Gerard who has this to say about the poem:
"This haiku is the lead poem in Issa's 1795 travel journal, Saigoku kikô ("Western Provinces Travelogue"); Issa zenshû (Nagano: Shinano Mainichi Shimbunsha, 1976-79) 5.35. Shinji Ogawa explains that ryoshuku ("inn"), in this context, signifies "journey." Shinji notes that Issa started off on the 25th day of Third Month, 1792, and when this haiku was composed on New Year's Day of 1795, he was still on the same journey. Sara ni signifies "once more," or "over again." In this situation, it means, "still." Issa is still on his great journey--a fact that seems, suddenly, incredible to him."
To see more Issa haiku: http://haikuguy.com/issa/
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