Yosa Buson Poems

A collection of select Yosa Buson famous poems that were written by Yosa Buson or written about the poet by other famous poets. PoetrySoup is a comprehensive educational resource of the greatest poems and poets on history.

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Harvest moon

by Yosa Buson
 Harvest moon--
called at his house,
he was digging potatoes....Read more of this...

The end of spring

by Yosa Buson
 The end of spring--
the poet is brooding
 about editors....Read more of this...

Sparrow singing

by Yosa Buson
 Sparrow singing--
its tiny mouth
 open....Read more of this...

Lighting one candle

by Yosa Buson
 Lighting one candle
with another candle--
 spring evening....Read more of this...

Coolness

by Yosa Buson
 Coolness--
the sound of the bell
 as it leaves the bell....Read more of this...

Ploughing the land

by Yosa Buson
 Ploughing the land--
not even a bird singing
in the mountain's shadow....Read more of this...

Variations on The short night

by Yosa Buson
 Below are eleven Buson haiku
beginning with the phrase
'The short night--'


The short night--
on the hairy caterpillar
beads of dew.

The short night--
patrolmen
washing in the river.

The short night--
bubbles of crab froth
among the river reeds.

The short night--
a broom thrown away
on the beach.

The short night--
the Oi River
has sunk two feet.

The short night--
on the outskirts of the village
a small shop opening.

The short night--
broken, in the shallows,
a...Read more of this...

Blown from the west

by Yosa Buson
 Blown from the west,
fallen leaves gather
 in the east....Read more of this...

Dawn

by Yosa Buson
 Dawn--
fish the cormorants haven't caught
swimming in the shallows....Read more of this...

Blow of an ax

by Yosa Buson
 Blow of an ax,
pine scent,
the winter woods....Read more of this...

Not quite dark yet

by Yosa Buson
 Not quite dark yet
and the stars shining
above the withered fields....Read more of this...

The willow leaves fallen

by Yosa Buson
 The willow leaves fallen,
the spring gone dry,
 rocks here and there....Read more of this...

Washing the hoe

by Yosa Buson
 Washing the hoe--
ripples on the water;
 far off, wild ducks....Read more of this...

My arm for a pillow

by Yosa Buson
 My arm for a pillow,
I really like myself
under the hazy moon....Read more of this...

Calligraphy of geese

by Yosa Buson
 Calligraphy of geese
against the sky--
 the moon seals it....Read more of this...

His Holiness the Abbot

by Yosa Buson
 His Holiness the Abbot
is shitting
in the withered fields....Read more of this...

Hes on the porch

by Yosa Buson
 He's on the porch,
to escape the wife and kids--
how hot it is!...Read more of this...

Buying leeks

by Yosa Buson
 Buying leeks
and walking home
 under the bare trees....Read more of this...

The behavior of the pigeon

by Yosa Buson
 The behavior of the pigeon
is beyond reproach,
but the mountain cuckoo?...Read more of this...

White blossoms of the pear

by Yosa Buson
 White blossoms of the pear
and a woman in moonlight
 reading a letter....Read more of this...

Dawn

by Yosa Buson
 STILL as the holy of holies breathes the vast,
Within its crystal depths the stars grow dim;
Fire on the altar of the hills at last
 Burns on the shadowy rim.


Moment that holds all moments; white upon
The verge it trembles; then like mists of flowers
Break from the fairy fountain of the dawn
 The hues of many hours.


Thrown downward from that high...Read more of this...

The old man

by Yosa Buson
 The old man
cutting barley--
bent like a sickle....Read more of this...

Before the white chrysanthemum

by Yosa Buson
 Before the white chrysanthemum
the scissors hesitate
 a moment....Read more of this...

Listening to the moon

by Yosa Buson
 Listening to the moon,
gazing at the croaking of frogs
in a field of ripe rice....Read more of this...

The spring sea rising

by Yosa Buson
 The spring sea rising
and falling, rising
 and falling all day....Read more of this...

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