Takaha Shugyo Haiku and Tanka Translations
These are my modern English translations of Takaha Shugyo haiku and tanka...
hatogata horarete ichiju haya mebuku
A single tree
with a heart carved into its trunk
blossoms prematurely
—Takaha Shugyo, loose translation by Michael R. Burch
dôkefuku nugazu tentômushi no shi yo
Still clad in its clown's costume—
the dead ladybird.
—Takaha Shugyo, loose translation by Michael R. Burch
ochitsubaki ware naraba kyuryu e otsu
Oh, fallen camellias,
if I were you,
I'd leap into the torrent!
—Takaha Shugyo, loose translation by Michael R. Burch
kari sugishi ato zenten o miseitari
Wild geese pass
leaving the emptiness of heaven
revealed
—Takaha Shugyo, loose translation by Michael R. Burch
kurumi waru kurumi no naka ni tsukawanu heya
Inside the cracked shell
of a walnut:
one empty room
—Takaha Shugyo, loose translation by Michael R. Burch
Michinoku no hoshiiri tsurara ware ni kure yo
Bring me an icicle
sparkling with the stars
of the deep north
—Takaha Shugyo, loose translation by Michael R. Burch
matenro yori shinryoku ga paseri hodo
Seen from the skyscraper
the trees' fresh greenery:
sprigs of parsley
—Takaha Shugyo, loose translation by Michael R. Burch
Our life here on earth:
to what shall we compare it?
It is not like a rowboat
departing at daybreak,
leaving no trace of us in its wake?
—Takaha Shugyo, loose translation by Michael R. Burch
Are the geese flying south?
The candle continues to flicker...
?Takaha Shugyo, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
Such gloom!
Inside the walnut's cracked shell:
one empty room
?Takaha Shugyo, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
Tree crickets chirping—
after I've judged
a thousand verses today!
?Takaha Shugyo, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
Crickets chirping discordantly—
how to judge
ten thousand verses?
?Takaha Shugyo, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
Original Haiku
Dark-bosomed clouds
pregnant with heavy thunder ...
the water breaks
?Michael R. Burch
Am I really this old,
so many ghosts
beckoning?
—Michael R. Burch
Brittle autumn leaf,
how was I to know
you were my life?
—Michael R. Burch
Sleepyheads!
I recite my haiku
to the inattentive lilies.
—Michael R. Burch
Early robins
get the worms,
cats waiting to pounce.
—Michael R. Burch
Fireflies
thinking to illuminate the darkness?
Poets!
?Michael R. Burch
Keywords/Tags: Takaha Shugyo, haiku, translation, English, nature, camellias, ladybug, geese, walnut, tree, rowboat
Copyright © Michael Burch | Year Posted 2020
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment