Santōka Alarm
日本語EN

In 1929, and again in 1930, there was nothing for it but to keep on walking. Here and there I drifted through the Kyūshū country.

having parted and walked on a cicada crying

wakarekite tsukutsukubōshi

1925–1932 · Years of mendicant wandering
Sōmokutō · The Begging Bowl (Hachi no ko)

Notes

From 1929–30, when he wandered on and on through Kyūshū. Having parted from someone and set out walking, he hears a tsukutsukubōshi cicada crying. In the lingering wake of the farewell, only the cicada's voice goes on.

Browse all 701 poems

山頭火アラーム アプリアイコン

Wake to this poem.

Santōka Alarm is an iOS app that wakes you each morning with a single poem.
Set a poem you love as your alarm.

Download on the App Store iOS 26+