Plum Blossom Haiku I

These are my modern English translations of haiku about plum blossoms, plums and plum trees. Picking autumn plums my wrinkled hands once again grow fragrant —Yosa Buson, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Clinging to the plum tree: one blossom's worth of warmth… —Hattori Ransetsu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch On adjacent branches the plum tree blossoms bloom petal by petal?love! ?Yosa Buson, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch White plum blossoms? Though the hour grows late, a glimpse of dawn —Yosa Buson, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch; this is believed to be Buson's death poem and he is said to have died before dawn Lately the nights dawn plum-blossom white. —Yosa Buson, loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch A shy maiden: the loveliness of the lone plum blossoming —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Longing for plum blossoms: bowing before the deutzia, weeping. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Moonlit plum tree, tarry! Spring will return soon. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The plum blossom’s fragrance warms winter’s frigid embrace. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch White plum blossoms: have the cranes gone undercover? —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Suddenly, the scent of plums on a mountain path: sunrise! —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Warm sun unfolds the plum blossom’s scent: a mountain path. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The fragrance of plum blossoms on a foggy path: the sun rising. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The plum in full bloom must not be disturbed by the wind. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The plum's fragrance: the past holds such pathos. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Are you the butterfly and I the dreaming heart of Soshi? —Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch *kimi ya cho / ware ya shoshi no / yume gokoro* Keywords/Tags: haiku, translation, Japanese, Japan, Oriental, plum, plums, plum blossom, plum blossoms, plum trees, spring, good luck, good fortune, love, purity, refinement, nobility, nature