Zen Death Haiku V

ZEN DEATH HAIKU V These are my modern English translations of Japanese Zen Death Haiku. A cat in heat can't catch a mouse? — pathetic! —Kinpu, loose translation by Michael R. Burch It's getting to the point of sucking on fish bones— old age. —Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch I murder an ant then realize my three children were watching. —Shuson Kato, loose translation by Michael R. Burch My three children watched me murder an ant. —Shuson Kato, loose translation by Michael R. Burch As the moon rises the rooftop tomcat philosophizes. Ikuyo Yoshimura, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Changing my lipstick's pastels— spring rain. Ikuyo Yoshimura, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Air ballet: twin butterflies, twice white, meet, match & mate —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Denied transformation into a butterfly, autumn worsens for the worm —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Dusk-gliding swallow, please spare my small friends flitting among the flowers! —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Up and at 'em! The sky goes bright! Let's hit the road again, Companion Butterfly! —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Higher than a skylark, resting on the breast of heaven: this mountain pass. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Farewell, my cloud-parting friend! Wild goose migrating. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch A crow settles on a leafless branch: nightfall. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch An exciting struggle with such a sad ending: cormorant fishing. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Secretly, by the light of the moon, a worm bores into a chestnut. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch This strange flower investigated by butterflies and birds: the autumn sky —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Where's the moon tonight? Like the temple bell: lost at sea. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Spring departs; birds wail; the pale eyes of fish moisten. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch The moon still appears, though far from home: summer vagrant. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Keywords/Tags: Haiku, Zen, Japan, Japanese, translation, life, death, aging, time, pain, sorrow, lament, age, angst, animal, anxiety, analogy