Matsuo Basho New Haiku Translations

Matsuo Basho New Haiku Translations Air ballet: twin butterflies, twice white, meet, match & mate —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Denied transformation into a butterfly, autumn worsens for the worm —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Dusk-gliding swallow, please spare my small friends flitting among the flowers! —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Up and at ’em! The sky goes bright! Let’s hit the road again, Companion Butterfly! —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Higher than a skylark, resting on the breast of heaven: mountain pass. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Farewell, my cloud-parting friend! Wild goose migrating. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch A crow settles on a leafless branch: autumn nightfall. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch An exciting struggle with such a sad ending: cormorant fishing. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Secretly, by the light of the moon, a worm bores into a chestnut. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch This strange flower investigated by butterflies and birds: the autumn sky —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Where’s the moon tonight? Like the temple bell: lost at sea. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Spring departs; birds wail; the pale eyes of fish moisten. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The moon still appears, though far from home: summer vagrant. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Cooling the pitiless sun’s bright red flames: autumn wind. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Saying farewell to others while being told farewell: departing autumn. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Traveling this road alone: autumn evening. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Thin from its journey and not yet recovered: late harvest moon. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Occasional clouds bless tired eyes with rest from moon-viewing. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The farmboy rests from husking rice to reach for the moon. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The moon aside, no one here has such a lovely face. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The moon having set, all that remains are the four corners of his desk. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The moon so bright a wandering monk carries it lightly on his shoulder. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The Festival of Souls is obscured by smoke from the crematory. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The Festival of Souls! Smoke from the crematory? —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Family reunion: those with white hair and canes visiting graves. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch One who is no more left embroidered clothes for a summer airing. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch What am I doing, writing haiku on the threshold of death? Hush, a bird’s song! —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Fallen ill on a final tour, in dreams I go roving earth’s flowerless moor. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Striken ill on a senseless tour, still in dreams I go roving earth’s withered moor. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Stricken ill on a journey, in dreams I go wandering withered moors. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Keywords/Tags: Basho, haiku, translation, translations, Japan, Japanese, nature, life, death, animals, love, compassion, empathy