Matsuo Basho Haiku Translations

The first soft snow: leaves of the awed jonquil bow low —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Come, investigate loneliness! a solitary leaf clings to the Kiri tree —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch The cheerful-chirping cricket contends gray autumn's gay, contemptuous of frost —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Whistle on, twilight whippoorwill, solemn evangelist of loneliness —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch The sea darkening, the voices of the wild geese: my mysterious companions! —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch The first chill rain: poor monkey, you too could use a woven cape of straw —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch This snowy morning: cries of the crow I despise (ah, but so beautiful!) —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch I wish I could wash this perishing earth in its shimmering dew —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Dabbed with morning dew and splashed with mud, the melon looks wonderfully cool. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch The butterfly perfuming its wings fans the orchid —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Will we remain parted forever? Here at your grave: two flowerlike butterflies! —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Ballet in the air!— two butterflies, twice white, meet, mate, unite. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch A spring wind stirs willow leaves as a butterfly hovers unsteadily. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch As autumn deepens, a butterfly sips chrysanthemum dew. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Come, butterfly, it's late and we've a long way to go! —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch An ancient pond, the frog leaps: the silver plop and gurgle of water —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch An ancient pond sleeps... untroubled by sound or movement...until... suddenly a frog leaps! —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Explosion! The frog returns to its lily pad. —Michael R. Burch original haiku Lightning shatters the darkness— the night heron's shriek —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Let us arrange these lovely flowers in the bowl since there's no rice —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Like a heavy fragrance snowflakes settle: lilies on rocks —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch High-altitude rose petals falling falling falling: the melody of a waterfall. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Revered figure! I bow low to the rabbit-eared Iris. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Cold white azalea— a lone nun in her thatched straw hut —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Glimpsed on this high mountain trail, delighting my heart— wild violets —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch A simple man, content to breakfast with the morning glories— this is who I am. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Ah me, I waste my meager breakfast morning glory gazing! ?Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Morning glories blossom, reinforcing the old fence gate. ?Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch The morning glories, alas, also turned out not to embrace me ?Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Morning glories bloom, mending chinks in the old fence ?Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch I too have been accused of morning glory gazing... —original haiku by by Michael R. Burch Curious flower, watching us approach: meet Death, our famished donkey. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Spring has come: the nameless hill lies shrouded in mist —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch The legs of the cranes have been shortened by the summer rains. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch These brown summer grasses? The only remains of "invincible" warriors... —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch An empty road lonelier than abandonment: this autumn evening —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Autumn darkness descends on this road I travel alone —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Taming the rage of an unrelenting sun— autumn breeze. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch The sun sets, relentlessly red, yet autumn's in the wind. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch As autumn draws near, so too our hearts in this small tea room. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Late autumn: my neighbor, how does he continue? —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Winter in the air: my neighbor, how does he fare? ? Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Winter solitude: a world awash in white, the sound of the wind —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch The year's first day... thoughts come, and with them, loneliness; dusk approaches. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Graven images of long-departed gods, dry spiritless leaves: companions of the temple porch —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch The temple bells grow silent but the blossoms provide their incense? A perfect evening! —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch See: whose surviving sons visit the ancestral graves white-bearded, with trembling canes? —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Like a glorious shrine— on these green, budding leaves, the sun's intense radiance. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch A raven settles on a leafless branch: autumn nightfall ?Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch A solitary crow clings to a leafless branch: autumn twilight ?Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Except for a woodpecker tapping at a post, the house is silent. —Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Swallow flitting in the dusk, please spare my small friends buzzing among the flowers! ?Matsuo Basho translation by Michael R. Burch Keywords/Tags: haiku, Japan, Japanese, nature, season, seasons, life