HAIKU
Last Updated: February 27,
2006
The
following haijin are translated on this page:
UEJIMA ONITSURA (8) – KOBAYASHI ISSA (42) - KAWABATA
BŌSHA (2) – HARA SEKITEI (1) – ŌSHIMA RYŌTA (6) – MIZUHARA SHŪŌSHI (4) – IIDA
DAKOTSU (3) – MURAKAMI KIJŌ (1) – KAGAMI SHIKŌ (1) – MATSUO BASHŌ (66) – YOSA BUSON (62) – YAMAMOTO RYŌKAN (7) – YOKOI
YAGŪ (1) – NAITŌ JŌSŌ (6) – NAKAMURA KUSATAO (2) – NOZAWA SETSUKO (2) – KATŌ SHŪSŌN
(1) – KATŌ KŌKO (1) – ISHIZAKI RYOKUFŪ (1) – ŌNO RINKA (1) – NISHIJIMA
BAKUNAN (1) – YAMAZAKI SŌKAN (3) – CHIYO-NI (54) – CHIGETSU (4) – KISHIDA
CHIGYO (1) – MUKAI KYORAI (4) – TAKAHAMA KYOSHI (5) – MASAOKA SHIKI (30) – SAITŌ
SANKI (1) – TAGAMI KIKUSHA (3) – TAN TAIGI (15) – ABE MIDORIJO (1) – SONO-JO (2)
– KINPŪ (1) – NAGAI KAFŪ (1) – HACHIYA YOSHIKO (1) – TOMIYASU FŪSEI (1) –
KANEKO TŌTA (1) – MORI SUMIO (1) – MUKAI KANA (1) – ENOMOTO SEIFU (3) – SUGIKI
MOICHI (1) – HARI BAKUSUI (1) – RYŪHO (1) – MORIKAWA KYOROKU (5) – ARŌ (1) – MATSUOKA
SEIRA (2) – KAWAKAMI FUHAKU (1) – FUJIMORI SOBAKU (1) – ENOMOTO KIKAKU (7) –
SAKAI HŌITSU (1) – TOYODA CHŌSUI (1) – MIZUTA MASAHIDE (1) – SEISEI (1) –
MIYAKE SHŌZAN (1) – CHŌMU (1) – HATTORI RANSETSU (4) – TAKAYA SŌSHŪ (1) –
YAMAGUCHI SEISHI (1) – SUGIYAMA SAMPŪ (1) – SHISEI-JO (2) – HŌSHA (1) – AMPŪ
(1) – SHŌ-I (1) – GIJŌEN (1) – YASUHARA TEISHITSU (2) – ARAKIDA MORITAKE (1) – KUROYANAGI
SHŌHA (3) – TAKAI KITŌ (3) – TOHŌ (1) – MIKI ROFU (1) – SHIRŌ (1) – RIKUTO (1) –
KIfIN (1) – YASUI (1) – YAMEI (1) – KAYA SHIRAO (3) – RIYU (1) – HOKUSHI (1) –
KIGIN (1) – KAKEI (1) – ŌTOMO ŌEMARU (2) – YAHA (2) – TŌRI (1) – CHINE-JO (1) –
RYŪSUI (1) – ETSUJIN (3) – KISHŪ NOMURA (1) – KONISHI RAIZAN (1) – GOCHIKU (1) –
SŌIN (1) – CHŌSHŪ (1) – SODŌ (1) – KATŌ GYŌDAI (3) – CHŌI (1) – HAGI-JO (1) –
OTSUYŪ (1) – SHIHYAKU (1) – TEIJI (1) – OTSUJI (1) – KYOKUSUI (1) – SHARA (1) –
NAITŌ MEISETSU (2) – ROSEKI (1) – BAISHITSU (1) – RŌKA (1) – KATSURI (1) – GINKŌ
(1) – RYŪSHI (1) – KOYŪ-NI (1) – KOSHŪ (1) – MIURA CHORA (6) – SAKAMOTO
SHUSETSU (1)
kono
aki wa this
autumn,
hiza
ni ko no naki no
child on my knee
tsukimi
kana to
watch the moon
tanimizu
ya sakura-slopes;
ishi
mo uta yomu in
the valley-stream,
yamazakura even
the stones make songs
shitagau
ya concordance:
oto
naki hana mo a
flower without a sound
mimi
no oku and
the depths of the ear
ō-ashita* on
the first day,
mukashi
fukinishi the
pristine swish
matsu
no kaze of
the wind in the pines
*ō-ashita, egreat dayf:
the first day of the year.
saku-karani the
blossoms bloom,
miru-karani
hana no we
look at them,
chiru-karani the
blossoms fall,
ume
chitte after
the fall
soreyori
nochi wa of
the plum-flowers –
tennōji
fude
toranu will
anyone not
hito
mo arō ka be
reaching for his brush?
kyō
no tsuki this
dayfs moon
ara
ao no how
densely green,
yanagi
no ito ya the
willow boughs
mizu
no nagare in
flowing water
uejima
onitsura (1660-1738)
uguisu
ya before
the lord,
go-zen
e dete mo the
nightingale sings
onaji
koe the
same song
daimyō
o the
daimyo
uma
kara orosu was
made to dismount –
sakura
kana sakurac
tsugi
no ma no hi de in
the next roomfs light
meshi
o kuu I
eat my meal –
yo
samu kana cold
out
yama-yake*
no floating
down
akari ni kudaru mountain
fire-light
yobune kana night-boat
*yama-yake: emountain-fire.f In spring, fires were started in the
mountains to burn away dead grass and prepare the fields for tilling.
ō
botaru a
large firefly
yurari
yurari to flickering,
flickering
tōri
keri flits
by
beta
beta to sticking
and clinging
mono
ni tsukitaru to
everything –
haru
no yuki spring
snow
uguisu
no the
nightingale sings
mekikishite
naku with
a critical eye
wagaya
kana on
my house
yase-gaeru thin
frog,
makeru na Issa donft
give in,
kore ni ari Issa
is here
kado-gado
ni at
every gate
geta
no doro yori spring
stands in the mud
haru
tachinu on
the clogs
haru
na hi ya spring
day;
mizu
sae areba evening
remains
ware
shinaba when
I am gone,
haka-mori to nare guard
my gravestone,
kirigirisu cricket
oni
to nari now
an oni,*
hotoke to naru ya now
the Buddha,
doyō-gumo dog-day
clouds
*oni: Japanese
demon/ogre.
ikite
iru alive,
bakari
zo ware to thatfs
all; I and
keshi
no hana the
poppy
kasumi
hi ya misty
day;
sazo
tennin no tedium
otaikutsu in
heaven (imit.)
yabuiri*
ya Apprentice
Day;
haka
no matsukaze in
the pines round the grave,
ushiro
fuku the
wind blows behind
*yabuiri: on the 16th
of January
katasumi
ni the
two sooty dolls
susukeshi
hina mo in
the corner, too,
fūfu
kana are
man and wife
uguisu
ni the
fence
ategatte
oku shall
be allotted
kakine
kana to
the warbler
ariake
ya daybreak;
ame
no naka yori from
the middle of the rain
naku
hibari a
skylark song
kyō
kara wa as
from today
nihon
no kari zo you
are geese of
raku
ni ine sleep
in peace
chō
tobu ya the
butterfly –
kono
yo ni nozomi flitting
in this world
nai
yō ni without
hope
kinodoku
ya Ifm
sorry
ore
o shitōte that
you follow me,
kuru
kochō butterfly
kerorikan with
a nonchalant
to
shite karasu to manner,
the crow
yanagi
kana and
the willow
yama
no tsuki the
mountain-moon
hana
nusubito o shineth
on
terashi
tamō the
flower-thief
shiratsuyu
no donft
tread on the drops
tama
fungaku na of
white dew,
kirigirisu cricket
yūdachi
ya summer
downpour;
hadaka
de norishi riding
naked
hadaka-uma on
a naked horse
oto
bakari just
the sound –
demo
yūdachi no yet
a summer shower
yūbe evening
shinanoji
ya the
way to Shinano;
ue
no ue ni mo higher,
yet higher,
taue-uta the
rice-planting song
mi
no ue no knowing
the bell
kane
to shiritsutsu is
tolling our days;
yūsuzumi evening
cool
ka-ibushi
mo the
mosquito-smudge
nagusame
ni naru brings
comfort, too,
hitori
kana when
alone
kōmori
ya bats;
tori
naki sato no a
birdless village
meshijibun at
tea-time
yo
ga yokuba the
world is well;
mo
hitotsu tomare another
fly may settle
meshi
no hae on
the rice
nikenya
ya two
houses;
niken
mochitsuku two
houses making mochi,
aki
no ame autumn
rain
kuchi
akete opening
their mouths,
oya
matsu tori ya the
fledgelings wait;
aki
no ame autumn
rain
tama-arare hailstones
–
yotaka*
wa tsuki ni in
moonlight, the nighthawks
kaerumeri come
home
*yotaka: the lowest kind
of prostitute in Edo, who would walk the streets with a straw mat.
suzukaze
ya cool
breeze;
chikara
ippai the
grasshopper singing
kirigirisu his
all
dochira
kara whence
samuku
naru zo yo does
the cold become,
kakashi-dono Mr.
Scarecrow?
makegiku
o looking
again
hitori
minaosu at
the chrysanthemum
yūbe
kana that
lost; evening
hiikime
ni regarded
mite
sae samui in
a favourable light,
soburi
kana he
still looks cold
mikazuki
wa the
crescent moon
soru
zo samusa wa is
bent back; the cold
saekaeru is
keen
kossori
to quietly
shite
kasegu nari earning
his keep –
misosazai the
wren
hito
chirari people
whirling,
ko-no-ha
mo chirari leaves
whirling,
horari
kana swirling
c
fuyukodachi winter
grove –
mukashi
mukashi no the
tones of long,
oto
su nari long
ago
kobayashi
issa (1763-1827)
For many more
translations of Issa, see David G. Lanouefs website:
http://webusers.xula.edu/dlanoue/issa/index.html
suishō
no reflected
in the crystal
nenju ni utsuru of
my rosary –
wakaba
kana young
leaves
meimetsu
no the
flickering
izure kanashiki of
soon sorrowful
hotaru
kana fireflies
Kawabata
Bōsha
(1900-41)
sabishisa
ni from
loneliness,
mata dora utsu ya striking
the gong again,
kabiya-mori Kabiya-keeper*
*A Kabiya is a lookout
post to protect crops from foxes and boars. Smouldering wood emits an unpleasant
smell that keeps them at bay.
Hara
Sekitei
(1886-1951)
asa-kaze
ya morning
breeze –
tada hito-suji ni only
a line
age-hibari of
rising skylarks
owarete
wa when
hunted,
tsuki
ni kakururu he
hides in the moon –
hotaru
kana firefly
tomoshibi
o looking
at the light,
mireba
kaze ari you
see the wind;
yoru
no yuki snowy
night
mono
iwazu not
speaking a word,
kyaku
to teishu to the
guest, the host,
shiragiku
to and
the white chrysanthemum
meigetsu
ya harvest
moon –
umare-kawaraba the
birth of change,
mine
no matsu a
pine on a peak
hitotsu
to wa unthinkable
omowanu
yo nari there
should be only one –
kyō
no tsuki this
dayfs moon
Ōshima
Ryōta
(1718-87)
yama-zakura mountain
sakura –
setsu-rei ten ni in
the snow-peak sky
koe
mo nashi no
sound
tōtsu-yo
no far
generations
omowa kashikoshi similar
faces –
kibori-bina woodcarved
dolls
ichi-rin
no a
single
shimo no bara yori frosty
rose
toshi
akuru opens
a year
kamo
wataru wild
ducks cross
gekka
roteki no beneath
the moon; the rushes
oto
mo nashi make
no sound
Mizuhara
Shūōshi
(1892-1981)
yama-dera
no mountain-temple
to ni kumo asobu gate
in drifting cloud –
higan
kana spring
equinox
mura-boshi
ni wisps
of cloud
usu-gumo wataru cross
the host of stars –
shoshū
kana early
autumn
fuyu-tomoshi winter
lamp –
shi wa yōgan ni death
from the face
tōkarazu is
not far
winter
flame –
death
from the face
does
not keep its distance
(Imitation:) winter-lit
a
face once-removed
from
death
Iida
Dakotsu
(1885-1962)
haru
no yo na spring
night
naki-nagara neru crying
to sleep
kodomo-tachi my
children
Murakami
Kijō
(1865-1930)
suge-gasa
o wearing
a sedge-hat,
kite kagami miru looking
in the mirror,
chatsumi
kana picking
tea
Kagami
Shikō (1665-1731)
inazuma
ya lightning
–
yami no kata yuku
into the darkness
goi
no koe a
night-heronfs cry
byōgan
no a
wild goose falls
yosamu
ni ochite ill
in the cold night;
tabine
kana itinerant
sleepc
hototogisu cuckoo
kieyuku
kata e fading
towards
shima
hitotsu a
lone isle
meigetsu
ya harvest
moon
ike wo megurite milling
round the pond
yomosugara throughout
the night
tsuki
hayashi the
moon is fleet
kozue
wa ame o while
branches clasp to
mochinagara the
rain
araumi
ya turbulent
sea;
Sado ni yokotau over
Sado Isle
amanogawa the
*amanogawa: the Milky
Way.
furuike
ya an
old pond
kawazu
tobikomu a
frog jumps into
mizu
no oto the
sound of water
nao
mitashi wishing
once more to glimpse
hana
ni akeyuru in
the dawning blossoms
kami
no kao the
face of the god
saki
midasu among
a confusion
momo
no naka yori of
peach-blooms,
hatsu-zakura the
first cherry-blossom
natsu-kusa
ya summer
grasses;
tsuwa-mono-domo ga ruins
yume
no ato* of
soldiersf dreams
summer
grasses
warriorsf
dreams
over
summer
grasses;
remnants
of
veteransf dreams
summer
grasses –
the
aftermath
of
strong menfs dreams
*Composed at Hiraizumi,
tabi
ni yande waning
on a journey
yume wa kare-no o dreams
through withered fields
kake-meguru are
wandering
kono
michi ya no
one walks
yuku hito nashi ni with
this road –
aki
no
samidare*
o gathering
summer
atsumete
hayashi rain,
the swift
Mogamigawa
*samidare: early summer
rain, lit. efive-month-rainf. In the traditional calendar, the fifth month, esatsukif,
begins on June the 6th; esamidaref refers to the persistent drizzle
that is followed by intense heat and humidity.
atsuki
hi o sinking
the hot sun
umi
ni iretari into
the sea –
Mogamigawa
shizukasa
ya silence
–
iwa ni shimi-iru throbbing
through the rock
semi
no koe cicada
cry
yagate
shinu no
sign
keshiki wa miezu of
dying soon –
semi
no koe cicada
chirp*
*Bashōfs patron, Sengin
(ecicada-songf), died young.
ushi-beya
ni in
the cowshed
ka no koe yowashi mosquitoes
whirring weakly –
aki
no kaze autumn
wind
hasu-ike
ya lotus-pond
–
orade
sono mama unpicked,
intact,
tama-matsuri for
the festival of souls
fuki
tabi ni every
gust a voyage –
chō
no inaoru the
butterfly in a whirl
yanagi
kana on
the willow
mono
ieba but
a word
kuchibiru
samushi and
lips are cold –
aki
no kaze autumn
wind
yo
no naka wa time
for the world
inekaru
koro ka to
harvest rice?
kusa
no io grass-hut
mugimeshi
ni on
barley meal
yatsururu
koi ka or
attenuated love?
neko no tsuma catfs
mate
nomi
shirami fleas
and lice
uma
no shito suru and
a horse drizzling
makura
moto by
my pillow
fūryū
no poetry
hajime
ya Oku* no rising;
an Oku
taue
uta rice-planting
song
the
seeds of art;
a
rice-planting song
of
the North
*Oku: the North of
suzushisa
o taking
my quarters
wa
ga yado ni shite at
coolness,
nemaru
nari I
repose c
tsuka
mo ugoke c
shake your tomb!
wa
ga naku koe wa my
weeping voice c
aki
no kaze c
autumn wind c
aka
aka to red,
red,
hi
wa tsurenaku mo the
heartless sun, yet
aki
no kaze autumn
wind
muzan
ya na ruthless
kabuto
no shita no underneath
the helmet
kirigirisu cricket
ishiyama
no a
sharper white
ishi
yori shiroshi than
the stones of Ishiyama –
aki
no kaze autumn
wind
haiide
yo crawl
out!
kaiya
ga shita no beneath
the silkworm shed
hiki
no koe the
croak of a toad
samidare
no spared
from falling
furinokoshite
ya early
summer rain –
hikari-dō Hall
of Light
suzushisa
ya refreshing
–
hono
mikazuki no a
faint crescent moonfs
Haguro
san
hitotsu
ya ni sharing
a roof
yūjo
mo netari with
sleeping harlots –
hagi
to tsuki bush-clover
and the moon
mayuhaki
o reminiscent
omokage
ni shite of
eyebrow brushes –
beni
no hana safflower
blossoms
sabishisa
ya the
loneliness!
Suma
ni kachitaru deeper
still than Suma,
meigetsu
ya harvest
moon –
hokkoku
biyori weather
without order
teimenaki in
the North
no
wo yoko ni turn
the horsefs head
uma
hikimuke yo towards
that moor;
hototogisu hototogisu
kane
kiete the
bell fades,
hana
no ka wa tsuku the
flower-fragrance rises –
yūbe
kana evening
saru
o kiku hito the
monkeyfs cry
sutego
ni aki no a
child abandoned
kaze
ika ni autumn
wind (imit.)
tako-tsubo
ya octopus-pots;
hakanaki
yume o empty
dreams
natsu
no tsuki by
the summer moon
fuki
tobasu blowing
in stones,
ishi
wa asama no the
autumn tempest
nowaki
kana from
fuyugomori winter
seclusion;
mata
yorisowan nestling
this post
kono
hashira once
again
ro
no koe nami o utte the
slap of oar on wave,
harawata
kōru a
night to freeze
yo
ya namida the
bowels – tears
chiru
yanagi falling
willow-leaves;
aruji
mo ware mo Master
and I
kane
o kiku listen
to the bell
nagaki
hi o the
day isnft long
saezuri
taranu enough
for the song
hibari
kana of
the skylark
hiru
mireba seen
by day
kubisuji
akaki the
fireflyfs nape
hotaru
kana is
red
hiya-hiyato cool,
cool,
kabe
o fumaete feet
against the wall;
hirune
kana midday
snooze
hototogisu cuckoo-cry
–
koe
yokotau ya obliquely
mizu
no ue over
the water
kyō
nite mo in
kyō
natsukashi ya yearning
for
hototogisu hototogisu
sumadera
ya
fukanu
fue kiku listening
to the unblown flute
koshitayami among
the pine-tree shades
tsukimi
suru a
company viewing
za
ni utsukushiki the
moon; not one
kao
mo nashi has
a beautiful face
mi
ni shimite the
bitter white radish
daikon
karashi bites
into me –
aki
no kaze autumn
wind
niwatori
no in
the voice
koe
ni shigururu of
the cock, the cow-shed
ushiya
kana in
drizzle
hito
mo minu unseen
Spring –
haru
ya kagami no at
the mirrorfs reverse,
ura
no ume the
blossoming plum
yo
no natsu ya summer
in the world;
kosui
ni ukabu floating
in the lake,
nami
no ue on
the waves
On a self-portrait by
Unchiku, a
kochira
muke turn
this way –
ware
mo sabishiki I
am lonely too;
aki
no
chō
tori no unknown
to bird
shiranu
hana ari and
butterfly, this flower:
aki
no sora autumn
sky
On a night when rain
obscured the full moon:
tsuki
izuko where
is the moon –
kane
wa shizumite the
bell has sunk
umi
no soko to
the ocean floor
ikka
mina all
the household,
shiraga
ni tsue ya grey
hair and sticks,
haka-mairi visit
the graves
asagao
ya morning-glory
–
kore
mo mata waga this,
too can never
tomo
narazu be
my friend
shira
tsuyu o without
spilling
kobosanu
hagi no white
dew – the swaying
uneri
kana lespedeza
asagao
wa morning-glory
–
heta
no kaku sae even
poorly painted,
aware
nari it
has pathos
higoro
nikuki even
the crow,
karasu
mo yuki no normally
hateful –
ashita
kana snowy
morn
sukumiyuku
ya crouching
onwards –
bajō
ni kōru on
horseback
kagebōshi a
frozen shadow
umi
kurete darkening
sea –
kamo
no koe the
wild ducksf cries
honoka
ni shiroshi are
dimly white
inazuma
ni how
striking!
satoranu
hito no those
not enlightened
tōtosa
yo by
the lightning
Matsuo
Bashō
(1644-94)
hashi
nakute no
bridge and day
hi kuren to suru on
the point of falling –
haru
no mizu spring
waters*
*the traveller is
stopped at a stream swollen by the spring rains.
mizu-giwa
mo the
water also loses
nakute
furue no its
edges; drizzle
shigure
kana at
Furue
haru
no umi spring
sea;
hinemosu
notari rising
softly, softly
notari
kana subsiding,
all day c
osoko
hi ya tarrying
day;
kodama
kikoyuru echoes
in nooks
kyō
no sumi of
osoko
hi no lingering
days
tsumorite
tōki accumulate
the distance
mukashi
kana of
the past
muramura
no in
the villages
negokoro
fukenu sleep
wears on;
otoshi
mizu falling
water
se
no hikuki on
a low horse
uma
ni noru hi no riding
through a day
kasumi
kana of
mist
ochi-kochi
ni heard
far and near,
taki no oto kiku the
rush of a cascade –
wakaba
kana young
leaves
yama-dori
no stepping
on
o o fumu haru no a
copper pheasantfs tail –
iri-hi
kana spring
sunset
fuyugare
ya winter
wasteland;
yo
wa hito iro ni in
a monochrome world
kaze
no oto the
sound of the wind
shōjō
to shite bleakly
into
ishi
ni hi no iru stone,
the sun on
kareno
kana the
withered moor
hatsushimo
ya the
first frost;
wazurau
tsuru o seeing
a suffering crane
tōku
miru in
the distance
harusame
ya spring
rain –
hito
sumite kemuri someone
is there, smoke
kabe
o moru from
the wall
ashiyowa
no muddied
by wearily
watarite
nigoru wading
feet –
haru
no mizu spring
water
hina-mise
no when
closing
hi
o hiku koro ya the
doll-shop lights –
haru
no ame spring
rain
hata
utsu ya tilling
the field;
konoma
no tera no from
the forest, the temple
kane-kuyō bell
tolls
harusame
ya spring
rain –
mono
kakanu mi no the
pity of one
aware
naru who
canft write
hata
utsu ya tilling
the field;
ugokanu
kumo mo the
motionless cloud
nakunarinu is
gone
uguisu
no a
nightingale
ategatte
oku is
singing – turning
kakine
kana here,
turning there
umi
koete crossing
the sea
kasumi
no ami e into
a net of mist,
iru
hi kana the
sinking sun
uguisu
no a
nightingalefs voice
koe
tōki hi mo in
the distance
kaeru
kari returning
wild geese;
tagoto
no tsuki no the
rice-field moon
kumoru
yo ni in
gathering cloud
ie
ni arade away
from home;
uguisu
kikanu the
warbler unheard
hitohi
kana for
a day
tsurigane
ni stopping
tomarite
nemuru on
the temple bell
kochō
kana the
butterfly asleep
kimi
yuku ya you
leave;
yanagi
midori ni in
the green of willows
michi
nagashi the
road is long
yama
kurete the
mountains grow dark,
momiji
no ake o divesting
the maple leaves
ubai
keri of
their crimson
shiraume
no the
white plum-tree
kareki
ni modoru is
back at barrenness –
tsukiyo
kana moonlit
night
ikada-shi
no with
the storm
mino
ya arashi no the
raftsmenfs raincoats
hana-goromo are
blowing robes
hana
chirite the
blossoms have scattered –
ko-no-ma
no tera to now
to the branches
nari
ni keri the
temple
kusa
kasumi grasses
in mist
mizu
ni koe naki waters
with silence;
higure
kana evening
yuku
haru ya departing
spring;
shunjun
to shite late
cherry-blossoms
osozakura waver
shoku
no hi o conducting
a light
shoku
ni utsusu ya with
a flame;
haru
no yū spring
evening
kusa
kasumi misty
grass
mizu
ni koe naki and
voiceless waters –
higure
kana falling
night
ayashiki
fūfu a
doubtful couple
yasumi
keri at
rest
akikaze
no set
in passing motion
ugokashite
yuku by
the autumn wind –
kakashi
kana scarecrow
yūkaze
ya evening
breeze –
mizu
aosagi no water
laps against
hagi
o utsu the
heronfs shins
kirigirisu the
cricket
jizai
o noboru climbs
up the pothook –
yosamu
kana cold,
cold night
kōrō
no sunk
in the lights
hokage
ni shizumu from
the lofty tower –
wakaba
kana young
leaves
mijikayo
ya short
night;
kemushi
no ue ni pearls
of dew
tsuyu
no tama on
the butterfly grub
furuike
no at
the old pond
oshidori
ni yuki furu snow
falls on mandarin ducks
yūbe
kana in
twilight
yūdachi
ya sudden
shower –
kusaba
o tsukamu clinging
to blades of grass,
murasuzume the
village-sparrows
ichinichi
no another
today;
kyō
mo kayari no mosquito-smudge
kemuri
kana smoke
sushi
oshite pressing
sushi;
shibaraku
sabishiki a
gradual feeling
kokoro
kana of
loneliness
hototogisu the
cuckoo
hitsugi
o tsukamu snatches
at the coffin
kumoma
yori from
the clouds
tori
mare ni birds
are few
mizu
mata tōshi and
waters far;
semi
no koe cicada-cry
kagiri
aru a
limited
inochi
mo hima ya lifefs
leisure –
aki
no
hitori
kite one
came
hitori
o tou ya and
visited someone;
aki
no
asagiri
ya morning
mist;
e
ni kaku yume no a
dream in paints
hito-dōri of
people passing
akisame
ya autumn
rain;
mizusoko
no kusa o walking
in water
fumaretaru on
grass
akikaze
ni scattered
chiru
ya sotoba no in
the autumn wind –
kanna-kuzu stupa
shavings
kanashisa
ya sadness
–
tsuri
no ito fuku a
fishing-line blows
aki
no kaze in
the autumn wind
sendō
no the
ferrymanfs pole
sao
toraretaru has
been stolen –
nowaki
kana autumn
storm
yasezune
no a
breeze through the hairs
ke
ni bifū ari of
skinny shanks –
koromogae spring
clothes
gōriki
wa the
mountain-guide
tada
ni misuginu simply
ignores
yamazakura the
sakura
machibito
no far
away,
ashioto
tōki the
long-awaited footsteps;
ochiba
kana fallen
leaves
kasa
torete his
hat blown off,
menmoku
mo naki the
scarecrow
kakashi
kana loses
face
yama
wa
no
wa tasogare no on
the moor,
susuki
kana susuki
dusk
sara
o fumu the
sound of a rat
nezumi
no oto no scuttling
over a plate –
samusa
kana cold,
cold
kangetsu
ya winter
moon;
mon
naki tera no the
temple has no gate,
ten
takashi how
tall the sky
kogarashi
ya winter
blast –
kane
ni koishi o pebbles
are blown at
fukiateru the
bell
kangetsu
ya winter
moon;
sō
ni yukiau meeting
a monk
hashi
no ue on
the bridge
waga
hone no my
bones
futon
ni sawaru feel
the futon –
shimoyo
kana frosty
night
Yosa Buson (1716-84)
akikaze
ni autumn
wind –
hitori tachitaru a
figure
sugata kana standing
alone
hatsu-shigure first
winter-rain –
namonaki yama no a
nameless mountain
omoshiroki quaintly
teppatsu
ni in
the begging-bowl
asu no kome ari tomorrowfs
rice –
yūsuzumi* evening
breeze
*yūsuzumi: cooling
oneself in the evening after work and the heat of the Japanese summer day.
yuku
aki no the
poignancy
aware o tare ni of
closing autumn, whom
kataramashi to
tell?
hito
no mina when
everyone
nebutaki toki no wants
to sleep –
gyōgyōshi reed-warblers*
*egyōgyōshif: eexaggeratedf.
It refers to the sound made by the yoshikiri (reed-warbler).
Someiro*
no bring
tidings
otozure tsugeyo from
yoru no kari eventide
wild geese
*
taorureba fallen
taorurumama no still
niwa no kusa garden
plants
yamamoto
ryōkan (1758-1831)
fūrin
wa the
wind-chimes
nara-de tokei no do
not tinkle, the clock
atsusa
kana heat–
Yokoi
Yagū (1702-83)
sabishisa
no falling
through
soko nukete furu the
bottom of loneliness –
mizore
kana sleet
no
mo yama mo field
and mountain
yuki
ni torarete taken
by the snow
nani
mo nashi are
nothing
harusame
ya spring
rain –
nuke-deta
mama no still
shapeless,
yogi
no ana the
empty pyjamas
matsukaze
o listening
to the blows
uchikoshite
kiku of
the wind through the pines,
kawazu
kana the
frog
hototogisu a
cuckoo
naku
ya kosui no calls;
the lake
sasa
nigori is
a little muddy
yuki
yori mo snow
is not nearly
samushi
shiraga ni so
cold – the winter moon
fuyu
no tsuki in
white hairs
naitō
jōsō (1662-1704)
fuyu
umi ya winter
sea –
rakka no gotoku shed
from the clouds
kamome
uku seagulls
float
fuyu
sude-ni winter
already
rohyō ni magau like
a signpost,
haka
ikki the
gravestone
Nakamura
Kusatao
(1901-83)
ame-tsuchi
no matching
their breath,
iki aite hageshi Earth
and Heaven
yuki
furasu bring
down tempestuous snow
samidare
o June
rain
sekitsutsu
yume ni coughing
as I travel
tabi
shi ori in
a dream
Nozawa
Setsuko
(1920-95)
yamu
hitomi niwa to
the ailing eye
mabushiki mono ka they
are dazzling,
fuyu
sōbi winter
roses
Katō
Shūsōn
(1905-93)
hadaka-gi
to a
naked tree
naritaru sora no making
a sky without leaves –
fukasa
kana depthc
Katō
Kōko
(1931-)
sazanka*
ya sazanka
shira-kabe awaki a
white wall with a pale
shiroki
kage white
silhouette
*Sazanka (Camellia
sasanqua: emountain-tea-flowerf): a tree of the tea-family, cultivated in
gardens, which produces short-lived flowers towards the end of autumn.
Ishizaki
Ryokufū
(1935-)
kame
no susuki vase
susuki
no ni aru gotoku as
in a field
yū-hi
seri in
the setting sun
Ōno
Rinka
(1904-82)
sōma-tō like
the flow
nagaruru gotoku of
a zoetrope,
hito
oyuru humans
age
Nishijima
Bakunan
(1895-1981)
koe
nakuba without
a voice
sagi koso yuki no white
herons were only
hitotsurane snow
in a line
te
o tsuite with
splayed hands
uta
mōshiaguru offering
up a song,
kawazu
kana the
frog
samuku
tomo though
you grow cold,
hi
ni na atari so donft
draw close to the fire,
yukibotoke Snow-Buddha
yamazaki
sōkan (1458-1546)
mi-agari
ni her
body-debt paid,
hitori
nezame no she
wakes up alone –
yosamu
kana ah,
the cold of night*
*mi-agari: the money
paid to obtain a prostitutefs release.
ura
mo omote mo there
is no back
nakari
keri no
front
suzushisa
ya coolness
–
yo
fukaki hashi ni strangers
on a bridge
shiranu
dōshi deep
in night
ha
mo chiri mo leaves
and dust
hitotsu
utena ya on
the one lotus-calyx –
yuki
no hana flowering
snow
nanigoto
mo the
commutation
fude
no yukiki ya of
the writing-brush –
fuyu-gomori hibernating
oto
sōte companion
sounds –
ame
ni shizumaru the
rain falls more softly
kinuta
kana cloth-pounding
meigetsu
ya full
moon –
yuki
fumi wakete steps
part the snow
ishi
no oto the
sound of stone
hatsu
shigure first
winter rain
doko
yara take no and
somewherec
asaborake bamboo
dawn
taoraruru fragrant
hito
ni kaoru ya to
the hand that breaks –
ume
no hana plum-blossom
iriai
wo evening
sora
ni osayuru suppressed
in the sky;
sakura
kana cherry
blossoms
(read
as eiriai no kanef, eevening bellf)
ne
wo tsukete womanfs
passion
onago
no yoku ya taken
root;
sumire-sō wild
violets
kaketaranu never
enough
onna-gokoro ya a
womanfs heart;
doyōboshi summer
airing
natsu
no yo no a
summer evening
chigiri
osoroshi vow
is appalling;
hashi
no shimo frost
on the bridge
more
izuru unveiled
yama
mata yama ya mountain
meeting mountain;
hatsu-gasumi first
mists
ume
ga ka ya plum-blossom
scent –
doko
e fukaruru whither
has the snow
yuki
onna woman
been blown?
somekanete one
mountain-slope retinged
katayama
momiji with
maple leaves;
kataomoi unilateral
love
kaoru
kaze fragrant
wind
oku
ni hikaete held
in the depths
matsu
no hana pine
flowers
hototogisu cuckoo
–
mada
shirakami no still
blank paper
aware
nari poignancy
mikazuki
ni in
the crescent moon
hishihishi
to mono no deeply
lowers
shizumarinu hush
yūgure
wo twilight
yoso
ni azukete is
left elsewhere;
momiji
kana red
leaves
meigetsu
ni harvest
moon –
kaerite
hanasu returned
with nothing
koto
wa nashi to
say
izayoi
no sixteenth
night*
yami
wo kobosu ya darkness
in the taro
imo
no tsuyu dew
drops
*The day after a full
moon.
shiragiku
ya white
chrysanthemums –
beni
saita te no the
horror
osoroshiki of
rouged fingers*
*White chrysanthemums were
placed around the head of the deceased; fingers applied rouge to the lips.
shinawaneba if
one does not bend
naranu
ukiyo* ya in
the floating worldc
take
no yuki bamboo-snow
*Shinawaneba naranu: eif
one does not + verb, that will not become [do]f – the Japanese way of
expressing emustf.
Ukiyo: the efloating
worldf of intransience and of sensual delight.
hatsu
yuki ya the
first fall of snow;
mono
kakeba kie if
I write a word, it melts,
kakeba
kie if
I write, it melts
yo
no hana wo the
flower-world
marū
tsutsumu ya enveloped
–
oboro-zuki hazy
moon
chōchō
ya butterflyc
nani
wo yume mite what
dreams does it see
hane
tsukai fanning
its wings?
kiji
naite the
pheasant sings
tsuchi
iro iro no the
earth
kusa
to naru a
spectrum of grasses
hito
ashi ni human
legs
sagi
mo kieru ya herons
disappear –
wakana
no no seven-herb
field*
*Wakano no no: on
January 7th, seven herbs are collected to make seven-herb-porridge,
a New Yearfs dish that is believed to bring health.
akebono
no the
parting of daybreak
wakare
wa motanu is
never worn
hi-i-na
kana by
dollsc
matsu
akebono
mo naki and
daybreak no more;
kamiko
kana paper
clothes
hirou
mono picked
up
mina
ugoku nari everything
moves –
shio
higata ebb-tide
beach
tsukubōte squatting,
kumo
wo ukagau visiting
the clouds –
kaeru
kana a
frogc
mono
no oto a
night of sounds
mizu
ni iru yo ya entering
water –
hototogisu ho-to-to-gi-su
suzukaze
ya coolish
breeze –
tamoto
ni shimete ensconced
in my sleeves
ne-iru
made until
sleep
koborete
wa spilt
moto
no mizu nari it
is water again –
beni
no tsuyu safflower
dew*
*Safflower: the flower
from which rouge is made.
taki
no ne mo the
sound of the waterfall
hosoru
ya mine ni narrows;
in the peaks
semi
no koe cicada
voices
hatsukari
ya first
wild geese –
iyoiyo
nagaki a
lengthening line
yo
ni kawari of
long nights
chanohana
ya tea-flowers
–
kono
yūgure wo dusk
delayed
saki
nobashi by
blooms
kasatori
no Kasatori
yama
ya warai mo Mountain
– a smile
modokashiki still
expecting
tsukikage
mo the
moonfs shadow,
tatazumu
ya hana no too,
pauses – cherry-
asaborake blossom
dawn
tomokakumo anyway
kaze
ni makasete leave
it to the wind
kareobana dry
miscanthus
ware
yuki wo I,
snow
mizu
ni utsushite reflected
in the water,
nirami
keri* glaring
*The speaker is a
winter-hawk.
kawa
bakari only
a river
yami
wa nagarete darkness
is flowing
hotaru
kana firefliesc
yuku
mizu ni in
moving water
onoga
kage ou chasing
its reflection –
tonbo
kana dragonfly
chō
wa yume no butterfly
–
nagori
wake iru traces
of a dream within
hana-no
kana a
field of flowers
yume
samenu a
dream does not fade –
tatami
ni kiku no in
the tatami today
sakishi
kyō chrysanthemum
blossoms
shigururu
ya winter
drizzle –
hitorima
ni kinō in
a room yesterday
kyō
mo
hitorine
no sleeping
alone
samete
shimoyo wo wakened
by the chilling night
satori
keri and
aware
meigetsu
ya harvest
moon;
ittemo
ittemo I
walk, and I walk,
yoso
no sora yet
in a sky elsewhere
nani
kite mo whatever
we wear,
utsukushiku
naru we
look beautiful
tsukimi
kana viewing
the moon
iu
koto mo also
arranging words
hana
de totonou with
its wings –
kōcho
kana butterfly
no
ni yama ni on
moor and mountain
ugoku
mono nashi nothing
moves –
yuki
no asa snowy
morning
tsuki
mo mite and
I saw the moon;
ware
wa kono yo wo now
to this world
kashiku
kana farewell
chiyo-ni (1703-75)
hitorine
ya sleeping
alone;
yo
wataru oga no a
mosquito crosses night
koe
wabishi with
a lonely voice
shitte
shiranu knowing
not knowing
mi
no hodo kanashi the
sad bounds of self –
aki
no
yamazakura mountain
sakura
chiru ya ogawa no are
falling; the mill
mizugurama on
the brook
uguisu
ni nightingale;
temoto
yasumen I
stop my work
nagashimoto at
the sink
chigetsu (1632-1706)
momijiyama autumn
hills –
ironna
iro ni uncomposed
ochitsukazu in
many colours
kishida
chigyo (1918-88)
iwa
hana ya the
edge of the rock;
koko
nimo hitori here
is another caller
tsuki
no kyaku on
the moon
ishi
mo ki mo and
rocks, and trees –
manako
ni hikaru in
the eyes the light
atsusa
kana of
heat
kogarashi
no winter
gale –
chi
ni mo otosanu the
rain canft reach
shigure
kana the
ground
u
no hana mo where
the deutzias
taema
tatakan come
to an end, Ifll knock
yami
no mon on
Darkness Gate
mukai
kyorai (?1651-1704)
saezuri twittering
takamari
owari rises
and sinks
shizumarinu into
silence
kiri
hitoha a
paulownia
hi
atarinagara leaf
in falling
ochinikeri sunlight
nusundaru on
the stolen hat
kakashi
no kasa ni from
the scarecrow,
ame
kyū nari hasty
rain
mizu
ni uku a
floating
hishaku
no ue no ladle
beneath
haru
no yuki spring
snow
itechō
no a
frozen butterfly
ono
ga tamashii flies
off
ōte
tobu after
its soul
takahama
kyoshi (1874-1959)
iku
tabi mo again
and again
yuki
no fukasa o I
ask for the depth
tazunekeri of
the snow
natsu
yase no summer
thinness –
hone
ni todomaru life
holds
inochi
kana at
my bones
sunahama
ni in
the sandy beach
ashiato
nagaki footprints;
long
haruhi
kana spring
day
shinnen
no at
New Year,
hitsugi
ni ainu I
met a coffin,
yonaka
goro around
midnight
kawa
ni sōte beside
a river,
yukedo
hashi nashi walking
without a bridge;
hi
no nagaki the
day is long
haru
no yo ya spring
evening
tsuma
naki otoko what
is the man
nani
o yomu with
no wife reading?
ōbune
no a
ship
kobune
hikiyuku towing
a boat;
kasumi
kana mist
izakaya
no the
tavern
kenka
mushidasu quarrel
rekindled;
oborozuki hazy
moon
shimajima
ni on
the islands
hi
o tomoshikeri lights
are lit;
haru
no umi spring
sea
hashi
ochite fallen
bridge
ushiro
samushiki and
lonely behind
yanagi
kana the
willow
kamibina
ya paper
dolls –
koi
shitasō na their
faces just look
kao
bakari like
they want to be in love
yūdachi
ya summer
shower –
amado
kuridasu sliding
out the shutters,
gejo
no kazu many
maids
enten
ni under
the burning sun
kiku
o yashinau the
master fosters
aruji
kana the
chrysanthemums
hoshi
no na o a
man knew well
yoku
shiru hito ya the
names of the stars;
kadosuzumi cooling
at the gate
chōchin
no the
lantern
shidai
ni tōshi ever
more distant;
hototogisu hototogisu
kōmori
no the
sound is dark;
tobu
oto kurashi a
bat in flight
yabu
no naka in
the thicket
nemuran
to su I
want to sleep;
nanji
shizuka ni be
so kind as to swat
hae
o ute the
flies softly
te
no uchi ni inside
the hand
hotaru
tsumetaki the
fireflyfs light
hikari
kana is
cold
hakabara
ya field
of graves –
haka
hikuku shite the
stones are low,
kusa
shigeru the
grasses dense
kawasemi
ya kingfisher
–
mizu
sunde ike no in
the limpid pond
uo
fukashi the
fish are deep
kasa
tatamu furling
the umbrella,
genkan
fukaki the
entrance is deep
wakaba
kana with
young leaves
nagaki
yo ya long
night;
shōji
no soto o outside
the screen
tomoshi
yuku a
lantern passing
hi
tomoseba lighting
the lamp,
hi
ni chikara nashi the
flame has no strength;
aki
no
uma
orite dismounting,
kawa
no na toeba I
ask the riverfs name;
aki
no kaze autumn
wind
mon
o dete ten
paces
juppo
ni aki no out
the door – the vast
umi
hiroshi autumn
sea
hito
ni nite the
scarecrows look
tsukiyo
no kakashi like
men in moonlight –
aware
nari so
sad
aki
no ka ya autumn
mosquitoes –
shinuru
kakugo de resigned
to death
ware
o sasu they
bite me
tsukuzuku
to earnestly
waga
kage miru ya watching
my shadow –
mushi
no koe insect
voices
kangetsu
ya frozen
moon;
sekitō
no kage the
stone pagodafs shadow
matsu no
kage the
shadow of the pine
kinden
no the
palace
tomoshibi
hososhi lights
are slender;
yoru
no yuki snowy
night
masaoka
shiki (1867-1902)
inu
no nomi a
dogfs fleas
samuki
sakyū ni jump
out
tobidaseri into
the cold dune
saitō
sanki (1900-62)
kumo
kasumi imbibing
clouds and mist
nomitsutsu
koen I
cross the chrysanthemum
kiku
no yamaji mountain-path
tsuki
to ware the
moon and I
bakari
nokorinu alone
remain;
hashisuzumi cooling
on the bridge
tsuki
o kasa ni kite to
wander with the moon
asobaba
ya as
a hat –
tabi
no sora travellerfs
sky
tagami
kikusha (1753-1826)
sore-zore
no each
and every star
hoshi
arawaruru is
brought to light –
samusa
kana how
cold
(The
starving deer)
sato
e deru emerging
at the village,
shiki no se takashi the
deer is tall
yukiakari in
the light of the snow
chiri
wa mina only
sweepings,
sakura
nari keri no
blossoms to be seen;
tera
no
ume
ikete the
blossoming plum
tsuki
to mo wabin and
the moon – beauty at peace
tomoshikage in
lit shadows
fuyugare
ya withering
winter;
suzume no ariku sparrows
hop
toi no
naka in
the gutter
nodokasa
ya peacefulness;
hayaki
tsukihi o the
fleetings months and days
wasuretari passed
from the mind
nagaki
hi ya long
day;
me
no tsukaretaru my
eyes are wearied
umi
no ue over
the sea
kawa-shimo
ni downstream
ami
utsu oto ya the
slap of a net –
oborozuki hazy
moon
furimukeba behind,
they are lighting
hi
tomosu seki ya the
barrier lanterns;
yūgasumi evening
haze
hakikeru
ga having
swept,
tsui
ni wa hakazu I
cease to sweep
ochiba
kana the
fallen leaves
hae
o utsu even
the sound
oto
mo kibishi ya of
their swatting flies is strict –
seki
no hito barrier-guards
asasamu
ya cold
morning –
tabi
no yado tatsu risen
voices
hito
no koe leaving
the inn
tsumetasa
ni fingernails
nipping,
hōki
sutekeri I
left the broom under
matsu
no shita the
pine-tree
mizugame
e a
rat
nezumi
no ochishi fell
into a water-jar –
yosamu
kana cold
night
kangetsu
ya winter
moon –
ware
hitori yuku walking
alone,
hashi
no oto the
sound of the bridge
tan
taigi (1709-71)
keichitsu
ya awakening
spring;
yōji
no gotoku like
a toddler, the insect
ashi
narashi learns
about legs
abe
midorijo (1886-1980)
te
o nobete stretching
out a hand
ori
yuku haru no in
walking; the sprays
kusaki
kana and
leaves of spring
haru
no no ni in
a spring field
kokoro
aru hito no the
depth of an unpainted
sugao
kana face
sono-jo
(1647-1726)
kusa-ichi*
e Grassmarket
–
makero
makero to bringing
glower, lower!h
hi
ga atari the
sun strikes
anonymous
senryu
*The
Grassmarket is held the night before the Bon Festival. As the sun rises, latecomers urge the
stallholders to reduce the price of their wares.
A criminal on his way to
execution:
sono
ato wa Ifll
hear the rest
meido
de kikan in
the land of the dead,
hototogisu hototogisu
anon
neko
no koi a
cat in love
nezumi
mo torazu canft
even catch a mouse –
aware
nari pathetic (imit.)
kinpū (d.1726)
iromachi
ya where
the town is red
mahiru
hisoka ni secretly
at broad midday –
neko
no koi the
amorous cat
nagai
kafū (1879-1959)
shibu
ga nure the
lawn is damp
fuyu
ga majika na with
the close and covert feet
shinobu
ashi of
winter
hachiya
yoshiko
mienu
mono the
unseen
mie
shinchin to takes
shape in deep silence;
yowa
no natsu summer
midnight
tomiyasu
fūsei (1885-1979)
bochi
wa yakeato the
graveyard is a scorched ruin
semi
nikuhen no cicadas
like gobbets
goto
kigi ni of
flesh on the trees
kaneko
tōta (1919-)
yukitsubute stony
snow;
yoru
no naraku ni in
the abyss of night
saishi
nete my
family sleeps
mori
sumio (1919-)
tsukikage
ni in
moonlight
ugoku
natsu ki ya moving
summer
ha
no hikari trees;
leaf-light
mukai
kana (after 1651 – after 1704)
umi
ni suru limpid
in the ocean
uo
no goto mi its
body like a fish
tsuki
suzushi chilly
moon
hina
no kao the
faces of the dolls;
ware
zehi naku mo without
intending to,
oi
ni keri I
have grown old
ki
makura ni my
white hair grows attached
shira
kami nazumu to
the wooden pillow –
yo
samu kana chilly
night
enomoto
seifu (1732-1814)
kaze
o sae he
beckons
maneki
dashitaru even
the wind
ōgi
kana with
his fan
sugiki
moichi (1585-1667)
tani
mizu o wrapping
and spilling
tsutsunde
kobosu the
valley-stream;
momiji
kana red
leaves
hari
bakusui (1718-83)
tsukikage
o moonlight
kumi-koboshikeri scooped
and spilled –
chōzubachi wash-basin
ryūho (1594-1669)
imo
o niru as
far as the potatoes
nabe
no naka made boiling
in the pot –
tsukiyo
kana moonlit
night
degawari
ya change
of servants;
karakasa
sagete taking
her umbrella,
yū
nagame evening
view
rōsoku
ni to
the candle
shizumari
kaeru as
still as the grave –
botan
kana peonyc
rakugan
no falling,
overlapping,
koe
no kasanaru the
cries of the wild geese
yosamu
kana and
the cold of night
rankan
ni rising
to
noboru
ya kiku no the
balustrade – the shadows
kageboshi of
the chrysanthemums
morikawa
kyoroku (1656-1715)
hiyodori
no the
bulbul sings
sorekiri
nakazu no
longer;
yuki
no
arō (1879-1951)
hane-oto
sae even
the flapping of wings
kikoete
samushi is
heard in the cold
tsuki
no yoru moon-lit
night
ochi-tsumishi on
the heap
tsubaki
ga ue o of
fallen camellias,
haru
no ame spring
rain
matsuoka
seira (1740-91)
ara
no yuku over
the wild moor
waga
kage mo naki I
have no shadow –
atsusa
kana how
hot c
kawakami
fuhaku (1719-1807)
furu
o sae I
had forgotten
wasururu it
was falling;
yuki
no shizukasa yo the
silence of the snow
fujimori
sobaku (1758-1821)
waga
yuki to omoeba if
I think the snow mine
karoshi my
hat
kasa
no ue becomes
light
(on
the death of Bashōfs pupil, Kōsai)
sono
hito no not
even the sound
ibiki
sae nashi of
his snores;
aki
no semi autumn
cicadas
tonbō
ya dragonfly
kurui-shizumaru lunacy
wanes –
mikka
no tsuki crescent
moon
14th
December, 1701: the Night of the 47 Rōnins:
tsuki
yuki no among
the moon-lit
naka
ya inochi no snow;
where life
sutedokoro shall
be forsaken
yamadori
no in
the sleepless
nekaneru
koe ni copper-pheasantfs
cry
tsuki
samushi the
moon is cold
inazuma
ya lightning
–
kinō
wa higashi yesterday
is east,
kyō
wa nishi today
is west
yūhi
kage evening
sun
machinaka
no tobu fluttering
in the street
kochō
kana a
butterfly
enomoto
kikaku (1661-1707)
hoshi
hitotsu a
star is left
nokoshite
otsuru by
falling
hanabi
kana fireworks
shimo
no kiku frost
on the chrysanthemums,
nakigoto
iini kuru a
woman come
onna to
complain
toyoda
chōsui (1750-1813)
tori
chirasu a
scatter of toys
asobi
dōgu ya abandoned
–
aki
no kaze autumn
wind
mizuta
masahide (1657-1723)
chikurin
ni in
the bamboo grove
shigure
fukikomu drizzle
blows
yūbe
kana into
evening
seisei (1869-1937)
mijikayo*
ya short
night –
mada
nure iro no my
washed hair holds
arai-gami its
wet colour
*mijikayo: a summer kigo
miyake
shōzan (1718-1801)
choki-bune*
ya open
skiff –
haru
no yukue o as
if in pursuit
ou
gotoshi of
departing spring
*choki-bune: a small,
low-hulled, pointed-bow boat with one oarsman; a popular form of transportation
in
chōmu
(1732-95)
ganjitsu
ya New
Yearfs Day –
harete
suzume no the
cloudless tales
monogatari of
sparrows
ume
ichirin a
plum-blossom more;
ichirin
hodo no a
blossomfs more
atatakasa of
warmth
aosagi
no the
heronfs
gyatto
nakitsutsu harsh
screeching while
kyō
no tsuki todayfs
moon
meigetsu
ya harvest
moon;
kemuri
haiyuku smoke
crawls over
mizu
no ue water
hattori
ransetsu (1653-1707)
atama
no naka de inside
my head
shiroi
natsuno to a
white summer field
natte
iru has
become
takaya
sōshū (1910-)
enten
no burning
sun
tōki
ho ya a
distant sail
waga
kokoro no ho of
my heart
yamaguchi
seishi (1901-)
na
wa shirazu I
donft know the names;
kusa-goto
ni hana but
every weed has blossoms
aware
nari and
poignant charm
sugiyama
sampū (1647-1732)
karakasa
ni pushed
back
oshimodosaruru by
the umbrella –
shigure
kana winter
rain
fumidai
mo a
writing-desk,
ryōshi
mo tsuki mo paper
and the moon –
yukata
nite plenty
Shiseijo
kokoro
sumaseba clearing
the mind,
hayashi
no oku no the
dripping deep
shizuku
nari in
the wood
Hōsha
(1885-1954)
koe
bakari only
its voice
ochite
ato naki falling
without a trace –
hibari
kana the
skylark
Ampū
(c.1707)
hana-iki
no even
a snort
arashi
mo shiroshi is
a storm in white
kesa
no fuyu this
winter morning
Shō-i
(17th-century)
matsuyani
o unable
to escape
hanare
kanete ya the
pine-tree resin –
semi
no koe cicada
drill
Gijōen
uchitokete variance
resolved,
kōru
to mizu no water
and ice
nakanaori are
at peace
suzushisa
no coolness
katamari
nare ya as
a mass –
yowa
no tsuki midnight
moon
yasuhara
teishitsu (1610-73)
ganchō
ya New
Yearfs Morning;
kami-yo
no koto mo I
think of the Age
omowaruru of
the Gods
arakida
moritake (1473-1549)
haru
tatsu ya spring
rises –
shizuka
ni tsuru no quietly,
to the feet
ippo
yori of
the stork
furuki
to ni on
the old door
kage
utsuriyuku the
shadow cast in flight
tsubame
kana of
the swallow
yūhikage shadows
of the sinking
michi
made izuru sun
– the scarecrow
kakashi
kana reaches
the road
kuroyanagi
shōha (?-1771)
kuren
to su night
descends
haru
no kurui ya hail
falls;
arare
furu insanely
spring
kiri
fukashi the
fog is thick;
nani
yobariau what
calls between
oka
to fune hillock
and boat?
tatazumeba standing
still,
nao
furu yuki no the
snow falls further –
yomichi
kana evening
road
takai
Kitō (1741-89)
kagerō
ya shimmering
heat;
horohoro
ochiru sand
falls in fits and starts
iwa
no suna from
the rock
Tohō
(1657-1730)
ashiato
o ebb-tide
beach –
kani
no ayashimu the
crab suspects
shiohi
kana the
footprints
miki
rofu (1889-1964)
dokoyara
de somewhere
or other
uguisu
nakinu a
nightingale sang –
hiru
no tsuki midday
moon
Shirō
(1742-1813)
kuma
mo naki in
a cornerless sky
sora
ni kakururu hides
hibari
kana the
skylark
Rikuto
(17th C.)
kōsaku
no in
the worked fields
no
wa shizumarinu hush
has fallen;
yū
hibari evening
skylarks
Kifin (1697-1748)
harukaze
ni in
the spring wind
chikara
kuraburu the
pitted strength
hibari
kana of
the skylark
Yasui
(1657-1743)
hiroki
no o the
broad fields
tada
hito-nomi ya are
swallowed in one
kiji
no koe pheasantfs
cry
Yamei
(17th C.)
hito
koishi my
heart is yearning
hitomoshi
goro o candles
are lighted
sakura
chiru flowers
are falling
kayaribi
no at
the end of the smoke
kemuri
no sue ni from
the smudge,
naku
ka kana humming
mosquitoes
hayanagi
no down
Temple-Street
teramachi
suguru with
leafy willows;
amayo
kana rain
at dusk
Kaya
Shirao (1735/8-1791/2)
kumo
no mine billowing
clouds;
ishiusu
o hiku a
stone mill grinding
tonari
kana next
door
Riyū
(1660-1705)
waregane
no even
the vibrations
hibiki
mo atsushi of
the broken bell are hot –
natsu
no tsuki summer
moon
hokushi (? – 1718)
natsu
yase to summer
slimness,
kotaete
ato wa comes
the reply,
namida
kana then
tears
Kigin
(1623-1705)
u
no tsura ni torches
fall
kagari
koborete on
cormorantsf faces –
aware
nari
Kakei (1647-1716)
kyonen
made the
melons I
shikatta
uri o scolded
him for last year –
tamuke
keri my
offering
ou
hito ni lending
akari
o misuru the
pursuer light –
hotaru
kana firefly
Ōtomo
Ōemaru (1722-1805)
hototogisu cuckoo
–
kao
no dasarenu my
face forestalled
kōshi
kana by
the lattice
hitogoe
no human
voices
yahan
o suguru passing
by at midnight –
samusa
kana cold,
cold
Yaha (1662-1740)
kawasemi
ya kingfisher
–
nureha
ni utsuru the
setting sun reflected
yūhikage in
its feathers
Tōri
(? – 1779)
moeyasuku so
easily glowing,
mata
kieyasuki so
easily going out –
hotaru
kana fireflyc
Chine-jo (? – 1688)
mayoigo
no the
lost child
naku
naku tsukamu is
crying, crying, catching
hotaru
kana fireflies
Ryūsui (17th C.)
chiru
toki no falling
kokoroyasuki
yo so
composedly!
keshi
no hana the
poppy
yuku
toshi ya departing
year –
oya
ni shiraga o I
hid my grey hairs
kakushikeri from
father
andon
no the
lantern
susuke
zo samuki is
sooty; cold
yuki
no
Etsujin (1656-1702)
aki
no
karasu
mo nakade a
crow, without a cry,
tōri
keri has
passed
kishū
nomura (1886-1983)
amado
kosu distracted
flame –
aki
no sugata ya across
the shutters slides
hi
no kurui the
shape of Autumn
konishi
raizan (1654-1716)
nagaki
yo ya long
night;
omou
koto iu issuing
thoughts,
mizu
no oto the
sound of the water
gochiku (1699-1781)
kaze
ni noru riding
the wind
kawagiri
karushi the
light river mist
takasebune and
high-sided boat
sōin (1604-82)
kudakete
mo broken,
again;
kudakete
mo ari broken,
there, again:
mizu
no tsuki the
moon in the water
chōshū (1852-1930)
ware
o tsurete viewing
the moon;
wa
ga kage kaeru my
shadow
tsukimi
kana brings
me home
sodō (1641-1716)
akatsuki
ya daybreak;
kujira
no hoeru the
singing of whales,
shimo
no umi a
frosty sea
hi
kuretari descending
with day
mifi
dera kudaru from
haru
no hito the
people of spring
ochiba
ochi fallen
kasanarite
ame leaves
falling rain
ame
o utsu on
rain
katō
gyōdai (1732-92)
akikaze
no autumn
wind –
honemade
tōru until
the very bones
kakashi
kana of
the scarecrow
chōi (1886-1930)
kasa
torete his
hat on the ground,
ame
muzan naru relentless
the rain
kakashi
kana on
the scarecrow
hagi-jo (?)
aki
fukete autumn
wears on;
ko-no-ha
goromo no robes
of fallen leaves
kakashi
kana for
scarecrows
otsuyū (1674-1739)
inabune
ni missed
noriokuretaru the
harvest boat –
kakashi
kana scarecrow
shihyaku (?)
na
o kiite hearing
its name
mata
minaosu ya I
looked at it anew –
kusa
no hana flowering
plant
teiji (17th c.)
tomo
sureba concomitance
–
kiku
no ka samushi chrysanthemum
scent is cold
yamiagari when
convalescing
otsuji (1881-1919)
samuki
yo ya chilly
night –
umi
ni ochikomu the
noise of a waterfall
taki
no oto into
the sea
kyokusui (?-1717)
yoaruki
ya walking
in night;
toshi
no nagori no parting
from the year,
yuki
ga furu snow
is falling
shara (17th c.)
kogarashi
ya withering
wind –
sora
ni korogaru in
the sky a single,
tsuki
hitotsu rolling
moon
onna
hitori a
woman,
sō
hitori yuki no a
monk, a ferry
watashi
kana in
snow
naitō
meisetsu (1847-1926)
tsure
mo naku no
companion,
no
ni suterareshi cast
away on the moor –
fuyu
no tsuki winter
moon
roseki (1870-1918)
se
no takaki I
passed
hōshi
ni ainu a
tall priest –
fuyu
no tsuki winter
moon
baishitsu (1768-1852)
kanashisa
ya sadness
–
shigure
ni somaru dying
the gravestone,
haka
no moji the
cold, persistent rain
rōka (1669-1703)
hitori
zutsu one
by one,
furikakeruyuku the
walkers fall from sight;
yukimi
kana snow-viewing
katsuri
(1732-1817)
mizutori
no water-fowl,
mune
ni kuchibashi oku beak
nestled in its breast;
ukine
kana floating
sleep
ginkō (1718-90)
shizukasa
ya stillness;
ochiba
o ariku the
sound of a bird
tori
no oto walking
the fallen leaves
ryūshi (?-1681)
hana
chirite the
blossoms have fallen:
shizuka
ni narinu our
hearts and minds
hito-gokoro are
at peace
Koyū-ni
(18th C.)
te
ni toreba held
in the hand,
nao
utsukushiki it
is even more lovely,
sumire
kana the
violet c
Koshū
(?)
tabisugata a
traveller to the eyes,
shigure
no tsuru yo a
stork in light cold rain –
bashōō Bashō
the Master
sukashi
mite looking
through,
hoshi
ni sabishiki the
willow is lonely
yanagi
kana with
stars
hana
ni kurui beside
itself at flowers,
tsuki
ni odoroku astonished
by the moon –
kochō
kana the
butterfly
tabibito
no the
willow-tree
mite
yuku kado no by
the gate; the travellers
yanagi
kana look
as they go
shizukasa
ya silence
–
chiru
ni sureau the
sound of blossoms
hana
no oto jostling
as they fall
yo
wa ureshiku happy
nights
hiru
wa shizuka ya and
quiet days –
haru
no ame spring
rain
Miura
Chora (1729-81)
ashioto
mo kiete the
footsteps, too,
shigure
no fall
away; once more,
mata
ne kana a
drizzling sleep
sakamoto
shusetsu (1656-1733)
View the Translations with the Japanese Script
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Introduction