given a live and quiet winter carp
ikite shizuka na kanbuna morota
1937–1938 · Late years at Gochū-an
Sōmokutō · Persimmon Leaves (Kaki no ha)
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He was given a winter crucian carp, still alive. At the bottom of the pail, the carp keeps quietly still. The stillness of a fish in the cold, and the gladness of a gift. The spoken "morota" (I was given) is warm.