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Martin Mc Carthy's avatar

What a wonderful, timeless haiku by Kobayashi Issa that could easily be applied to many current situations. Now, every springtime when I see Trump and his legion of billionaire degenerates, I will think:

"Unaware of these degenerate times,

cherry blossoms abound!"

loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

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Michael R. Burch's avatar

I wonder what Issa would make of Trump, who has taken degeneracy to new lows.

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Martin Mc Carthy's avatar

Now, that's an idea for a well-liked country song - Garth Brook's and "Friends in Low Places". I don't think he meant Trump, but he might have because he's a Republican, as far as I know. As for Issa and Trump, he'd probably say "Bald tree with strange orange fruit."

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Michael R. Burch's avatar

Yes, very strange, very sour fruit.

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