Famous Matsuo Poems by Famous Poets

These are examples of famous Matsuo poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous matsuo poems. These examples illustrate what a famous matsuo poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).

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The squid sellers call

by Matsuo Basho
 The squid seller's call
mingles with the voice
 of the cuckoo....Read more of this...

First winter rain

by Matsuo Basho
 First winter rain--
even the monkey
 seems to want a raincoat....Read more of this...

In the cicada's cry

by Matsuo Basho
In the cicada's cry
No sign can foretell
How soon it must die. ...Read more of this...

Awake at night

by Matsuo Basho
 Awake at night--
the sound of the water jar
 cracking in the cold....Read more of this...

Staying at an inn

by Matsuo Basho
 Staying at an inn
where prostitutes are also sleeping--
 bush clover and the moon....Read more of this...

In the twilight rain

by Matsuo Basho
In the twilight rain
these brilliant-hued hibiscus . . .
A lovely sunset...Read more of this...

This old village

by Matsuo Basho
 This old village--
not a single house
 without persimmon trees....Read more of this...

A bee

by Matsuo Basho
 A bee
staggers out
 of the peony....Read more of this...

A snowy morning

by Matsuo Basho
 A snowy morning--
by myself,
 chewing on dried salmon....Read more of this...

Moonlight slanting

by Matsuo Basho
 Moonlight slanting
through the bamboo grove;
 a cuckoo crying....Read more of this...

How admirable

by Matsuo Basho
 How admirable!
to see lightning and not think
 life is fleeting....Read more of this...

A caterpillar

by Matsuo Basho
 A caterpillar,
this deep in fall--
 still not a butterfly....Read more of this...

Teeth sensitive to the sand

by Matsuo Basho
 Teeth sensitive to the sand
in salad greens--
 I'm getting old....Read more of this...

The oak tree

by Matsuo Basho
 The oak tree:
not interested
 in cherry blossoms....Read more of this...

The dragonfly

by Matsuo Basho
 The dragonfly
can't quite land
 on that blade of grass....Read more of this...

A monk sips morning tea

by Matsuo Basho
 A monk sips morning tea,
it's quiet,
 the chrysanthemum's flowering....Read more of this...

An old silent pond..

by Matsuo Basho
An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again. ...Read more of this...

Blowing stones

by Matsuo Basho
 Blowing stones
along the road on Mount Asama,
 the autumn wind....Read more of this...

First snow

by Matsuo Basho
 First snow
falling
 on the half-finished bridge....Read more of this...

Bush warbler

by Matsuo Basho
 Bush warbler:
shits on the rice cakes
 on the porch rail....Read more of this...

From time to time

by Matsuo Basho
From time to time
The clouds give rest
To the moon-beholders....Read more of this...

Winter solitude

by Matsuo Basho
 Winter solitude--
in a world of one color
 the sound of wind....Read more of this...

What fish feel

by Matsuo Basho
 What fish feel,
birds feel, I don't know--
 the year ending....Read more of this...

The morning glory also

by Matsuo Basho
 The morning glory also
turns out
 not to be my friend....Read more of this...

Heat waves shimmering

by Matsuo Basho
 Heat waves shimmering
one or two inches
 above the dead grass....Read more of this...

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