Haiku Translations I

Haiku Translations I As the monks sip their morning tea, chrysanthemums quietly blossom. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch The fragrance of plum blossoms on a foggy path: the sun rising. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch The sea darkens... yet still faintly white the wild duck protests. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Pear tree blossoms whitened by moonlight: a young woman reading a letter. —Yosa Buson, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Outlined in the moonlight... who is that standing among the pear trees? —Yosa Buson, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Your coolness: the sound of the bell departing the bell. —Yosa Buson, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch As the moon flies west the flowers' shadows creep eastward. —Yosa Buson, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch By such pale moonlight even the wisteria's fragrance seems distant. —Yosa Buson, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Leaves like crows' shadows flirt with a lonely moon. Kaga no Chiyo, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Let me die covered with flowers and never again wake to this earthly dream! —Ochi Etsujin, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch To reveal how your heart flowers, sway like the summer grove. —Tagami Kikusha-Ni, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch In the thicket's shade a solitary woman sings the rice-planting song. Kobayashi Issa, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Unaware of these degenerate times, cherry blossoms abound! Kobayashi Issa, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch These silent summer nights even the stars seem to whisper. Kobayashi Issa, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The enormous firefly weaves its way, this way and that, as it passes by. Kobayashi Issa, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Composed like the Thinker, he sits contemplating the mountains: the sagacious frog! Kobayashi Issa, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch A fallen blossom returning to its bough? No, a butterfly! Arakida Moritake, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Illuminated by the harvest moon smoke is caught creeping across the water... Hattori Ransetsu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Keywords/Tags: haiku, nature, sea, animal, flower, tree, moon, stars, sun