Issa: Do not kill the fly!

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A female mosquito of the Culicidae family (Culiseta longiareolata), about 10 mm in length, Lisbon region, Portugal: photo by Alvesgaspar, November 2007

.....Mosquitos in the day-time;
Buddha hides them
.....Behind him.


.....A matter for congratulation!
I have been bit
.....By this year's mosquito too.


.....A glimpse of a mosquito:
From now on
.....An old man's world.


.....The bean-curd of last night
Gleams whitely:
.....Striped mosquitos hover.


.....Do not kill the fly!
See how it wrings its hands,
.....Its feet!

Issa: haiku translated by R. H. Blyth in Haiku, Volume 3: Summer-Autumn, 1952

Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation advertisement: Fortune, August 1943 (via full table)



Union Carbide Corporation advertisement: Saturday Evening Post, June 1949 (via full table)



Black fly: photo by Mark Span, 19 May 2011