10 Best Famous Matsuo Basho Poems

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

• Matsuo Basho Poems
• Matsuo Basho Short Poems
• Matsuo Basho Biography

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

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

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

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

 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

 A bee
staggers out
 of the peony.

 Spring:
A hill without a name
Veiled in morning mist.

The beginning of autumn:
Sea and emerald paddy
Both the same green.

The winds of autumn
Blow: yet still green
The chestnut husks.

A flash of lightning:
Into the gloom
Goes the heron's cry.

In the cicada's cry
No sign can foretell
How soon it must die. 

 A monk sips morning tea,
it's quiet,
 the chrysanthemum's flowering.