10 Best Famous Haiku Poems

Here is a collection of the top 10 all-time best famous Haiku poems. This is a select list of the best famous Haiku poetry. Reading, writing, and enjoying famous Haiku poetry (as well as classical and contemporary poems) is a great past time. These top poems are the best examples of haiku poems.

• All Famous Haiku Poems

In the twilight rain
these brilliant-hued hibiscus . . .
A lovely sunset

From time to time
The clouds give rest
To the moon-beholders.

 The taste
 of rain
—Why kneel?

An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again. 

 Autumn moonlight--
 a worm digs silently
 into the chestnut.

Toward those short trees
We saw a hawk descending
On a day in spring

 First winter rain--
even the monkey
 seems to want a raincoat.

 Following are several translations
of the 'Old Pond' poem, which may be
the most famous of all haiku:

Furuike ya 
kawazu tobikomu 
mizu no oto

 -- Basho



Literal Translation

Fu-ru (old) i-ke (pond) ya, 
ka-wa-zu (frog) to-bi-ko-mu (jumping into) 
mi-zu (water) no o-to (sound)






 The old pond--
a frog jumps in,
 sound of water.


Translated by Robert Hass



Old pond...
a frog jumps in
water's sound.


Translated by William J. Higginson



An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.


Translated by Harry Behn



There is the old pond!
Lo, into it jumps a frog:
hark, water's music!


Translated by John Bryan



The silent old pond
a mirror of ancient calm,
a frog-leaps-in splash.


Translated by Dion O'Donnol



old pond
frog leaping
splash


Translated by Cid Corman



Antic pond--
frantic frog jumps in--
gigantic sound.


Translated by Bernard Lionel Einbond 



MAFIA HIT MAN POET: NOTE FOUND PINNED TO LAPEL 
OF DROWNED VICTIM'S DOUBLE-BREASTED SUIT!!! 

'Dere wasa dis frogg
Gone jumpa offa da logg
Now he inna bogg.'

 -- Anonymous


Translated by George M. Young, Jr.



Old pond 
leap -- splash 
a frog. 


Translated by Lucien Stryck



The old pond,
A frog jumps in:.
Plop! 


Translated by Allan Watts



The old pond, yes, and
A frog is jumping into
The water, and splash.

Translated by G.S. Fraser

 In spring rain
a pretty girl
 yawning.

 Birds singing
 in the dark
—Rainy dawn.