Zen Death Haiku Iii

ZEN DEATH HAIKU III Spring stirs the clouds in the sky's teabowl —Kikusha-ni, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Tonight I saw how the peony crumples in the fire's embers —Katoh Shuhson, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Both victor and vanquished are dewdrops: flashes of light briefly illuminating the void. —Ouchi Yoaka, loose translation by Michael R. Burch It fills me with anger, this moon; it fills me and makes me whole —Takea Shizunojo, loose translation by Michael R. Burch War stood at the end of the hall in the long shadows —Watanabe Hakusen, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Because he is slow to wrath, I tackle him, then wring his neck in the long grass —Shimazu Ryoh, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Pale mountain sky: cherry petals play as they tumble earthward —Kusama Tokihiko, loose translation by Michael R. Burch The frozen moon, the frozen lake: two oval mirrors reflecting each other. —Hashimoto Takako, loose translation by Michael R. Burch The bitter winter wind ends here with the frozen sea —Ikenishi Gonsui, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Bitter winter wind, why bellow so when there's no leaves to blow? —Natsume Soseki, loose translation by Michael R. Burch The lamp extinguished, once-distant stars enter my window. —Natsume Soseki, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Winter waves roil their own shadows —Tominaga Fûsei, loose translation by Michael R. Burch No sky, no land: just snow eternally falling... —Kajiwara Hashin, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Along with spring leaves my child's teeth take root, blossom —Nakamura Kusatao, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Stillness: a single chestnut leaf glides on brilliant water —Ryuin, loose translation by Michael R. Burch The snake slipped away but his eyes, holding mine, still stare in the grass —Kyoshi Takahama, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Girls gather rice sprouts: reflections of the water flicker on the backs of their hats —Kyoshi Takahama, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Murmurs follow the hay cart this blossoming summer day —Ippekiro Nakatsuka, loose translation by Michael R. Burch May I be with my mother wearing her summer kimono by the morning window —Ippekiro Nakatsuka, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Keywords/Tags: Haiku, Zen, death, Japan, Japanese, translation, English, life, nature, angst, animal, life, sorrow, time, spring, clouds, peony, fire, embers, moon, light, dewdrops, summer