This haiku is by a somewhat obscure poet, Ishii Rogetsu (1873-1928). Rogetsu [露月], whose name means 'dew of the moon', was one of the students closest to the renowned haiku poet master, Masaoka Shiki. He was perhaps best known as the main medical doctor of the small town of Yuwa, in the northern province of Akita, but it is his poetry that has earned him a place in history.
The tree frogs are excited by the falling of the shower and begin to sing/chirp more loudly, as if to compete with the falling rain. Rogetsu has captured the auditory as well as visual moment of frogs, shower and green leaves in a stroke of zen-like transcendence.
Now that the summer rains have begun here in Chiang Mai, I too am serenaded on a daily basis by the tree frogs as they sing their bird-like songs. A joy beyond words. . .
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