Zen Death Haiku Vi

ZEN DEATH HAIKU VI These are my modern English translations of Japanese Zen Death Haiku. Both victor and vanquished are dewdrops: flashes of light briefly illuminating the void. —Ouchi Yoaka, loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Cooling the pitiless sun's bright red flames: autumn wind. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Saying farewell to others while being told farewell: departing autumn. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Traveling this road alone: autumn evening. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Thin from its journey and not yet recovered: late harvest moon. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Occasional clouds bless tired eyes with rest from moon-viewing. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The farmboy rests from husking rice to reach for the moon. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The moon aside, no one here has such a lovely face. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch The moon having set, all that remains are the four corners of his desk. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch The moon so bright a wandering monk carries it lightly on his shoulder. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch The Festival of Souls is obscured by smoke from the crematory. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch The Festival of Souls! Smoke from the crematory? —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Family reunion: those with white hair and canes visiting graves. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch One who is no more left embroidered clothes for a summer airing. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch What am I doing, writing haiku here on the threshold of death? Hush, a bird's song! —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Fallen ill on a final tour, in dreams I go roving earth's flowerless moor. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Stricken ill on a senseless tour, still in dreams I go roving earth's withered moor. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Keywords/Tags: Haiku, Zen, Japan, Japanese, translation, life, death, aging, time, pain, sorrow, lament, age, analogy, angst, animal, anxiety, autumn