Furukawa Senryu Idle Thoughts: Counting the Months Since Arrival, It Barely Adds Up - Karai Senryu's Haifu Yanagidaru Volume 3 (Part 4)

Although people say they have decreased, wide shows on television are still aired by every station. Due to the influence of the WBC, a lot of gossip-like content is being broadcast under the guise of baseball news. Both now and in the past, rumors have always captured everyone's interest.

An introduction to old Senryu works from the 'Haifu Yanagidaru Volume 3' selected by 'Karai Senryu' during the Edo period.
Following the easy-to-read transcription, I have noted the entry number, the original text, and the preceding phrase (maeku).
Some include my own free translations. I have also added some 7-7 syllable comments.

Counting the months since arrival, it barely adds up

303 Counting the months since arrival, it barely adds up; I certainly do ask, I certainly do ask

'Hatsu-hatsu' means barely or just about. As for what was 'asked' (tazunekoso sure), it refers to a story where a bride became pregnant, so they counted the days. It is a poem about calculating the months since she arrived as a bride, and the numbers finally matching up. Digging into the details—what an Edo-period entertainment reporter.

Counting the months since she arrived, it just about adds up
The age of the child born to the newlyweds

In this way, children were born, and the town of Edo became a city of one million people (around 1721).
Although the declining birthrate is a problem now, I wonder how many humans the Earth's resources can actually support. It seems the town of Edo also had many troubles due to its large population.
The current population is far too large for the Earth. Is it really enough to just be fruitful and multiply?

While eating, the maid gets someone else to answer

387 While eating, the maid gets someone else to answer; I certainly do celebrate, I certainly do celebrate

Since the preceding phrase is 'I certainly do celebrate' (iwai koso sure), it must be a day of celebration. The hired maid was working frantically, and just as she finally got to eat, someone called out, 'Hey!' Since she had food in her mouth, she had someone else answer, 'Yes!' A poem about daily life.

Called while eating, I rely on someone else to answer
Look at my situation too, dear

Seeing white pockmarks for the first time after staying over

465 Seeing white pockmarks for the first time after staying over; I certainly did love you, I certainly did love you

'Itsuzuke' means staying overnight at a brothel. 'White pockmarks' are the white scars left by smallpox. The white pockmarks that had been hidden by makeup were visible on her face in the morning. The poem says, 'I certainly did love you' about that. It is truly a case of 'love is blind.'
Smallpox is a disease that was declared eradicated in 1980, the only infectious disease humanity has been able to wipe out. The mortality rate was high, and even after recovery, 'pockmarks' remained on the face and body.

Seeing your bare face on the first morning
Without a mask, I wouldn't know who you are

A falling affair, looking like my own mother

512 A falling affair, looking like my own mother. How dangerous, how dangerous.

'A falling affair' refers to an affair or illicit relationship. This poem describes a partner in a dangerous affair who looks like one's own mother. Or perhaps it became a poem because the person was actually having an affair with their wife's mother. That is far more dangerous.

The person I'm having an affair with is like a mother
The relationship between men and women is truly mysterious

Once you have fallen in love, there is nothing you can do about it. There are marriages between families, and there are forbidden loves. Whether in the Edo period or the present day, wherever there are people, love is born. The more forbidden the love, the deeper the feelings grow. And so, poems are born.
Not just in Senryu, but since the days of the Manyoshu, people have been falling in love with one another.