yamaji kite otokodaki onnadaki to mou hitotsu

along the mountain path

a steep "masculine" waterfall, a gentle "feminine" waterfall

and another one

--

SATOH Ikura (1968-- ).From "Myriad blues" (Gunjou), Gunjou Haiku Group, Tokyo, August 2024.

The poet brings discussions on gender bias and preconceptions into the haiku world. In the Japanese language, steep and rugged terrain is described as masculine, while gentle rolling terrain is feminine. In the haiku above, the terms "male waterfall" and "female waterfall" are used. In this haiku, the final waterfall is not even referred to as a waterfall but rather states "and one more," not only being careful not to label it in terms of binary sexuality but also not giving it a label at all, just acknowledging that it exists.

Selected, translated and commented on by Dhugal J. Lindsay

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Pique your poetic interest with more Haiku in English here.