Back in the day, firefly boats used to be a common thing. People would get drunk and be merry while watching the fireflies on the boat ride.
闇の夜や子供泣き出す蛍舟
yami no yo ya kodomo nakidasu hotarubune
pitch black night
the children start crying
on a firefly boat
—Boncho
(trans. David LaSpina[1])
Typically haiku involving fireflies and night boat rides focus on the beauty of seeing them lit up over the water. Boncho, however, reverses the image and looks at the children. In this era before electric lights, for a young child it must have indeed been scary to be in such a dark place.
That is, me! If you like this translation, feel free to use it. Just credit me. Also link here if you can. ↩
