Zen Death Haiku Ix

ZEN DEATH HAIKU VIII These are my modern English translations of Japanese Zen Death Haiku. Since I was born, I must die, and so … —Kisei (1688-1764) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Let us arise and go, following the path of the clear dew. —Fojo (-1764) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Depths of the cold, unfathomable ocean's roar. —Kasenjo (-1776) , loose translation/interpretation of her jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Things never stand still, not even for a second: consider the trees' colors. —Seiju (-1776) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Bitter winter winds! But later, river willow, reopen your buds... —Senryu (-1790) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Who cares where aimless clouds are drifting? —Bufu (-1792) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch What does it matter how long I live, when a tortoise lives many times as long? —Issa (-1827) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Like a lotus leaf's evaporating dew, I too... vanish. —Senryu (-1827) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Man's end: this mound of albescent bones, this brief flowering sure to fade... —Hamei (-1837) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch When I kick the bucket, bury me beneath a tavern's cellar wine barrel; with a little luck the cask will leak. —Moriya Sen'an (-1838) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Frost on a balmy day: all I leave is the water that washed my brush. —Tanaka Shutei (1810-1858, loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Though moss may overgrow my useless corpse, the seeds of patriotism shall never decay. —Nomura Boto (1806-1867) , loose translation/interpretation of her jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch My aging body: a drop of dew bulging at the leaf-cliff. —Kiba (-1868) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Keywords/Tags: Haiku, Zen, Japan, Japanese, translation, life, death, aging, time, pain, sorrow, lament, age, analogy, angst, animal, anxiety, autumn