Michael Burch Poet Haiku

Zen Death Haiku Vi

ZEN DEATH HAIKU VI

These are my modern English translations of Japanese Zen Death Haiku.

Both victor and vanquished are dewdrops:
flashes of light
briefly illuminating the void.
—Ouchi Yoaka, loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) 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 by Michael R. Burch

The moon having set, 
all that remains
are the four corners of his desk.
—Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

The moon so bright
a wandering monk carries it
lightly on his shoulder.
—Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

The Festival of Souls
is obscured 
by smoke from the crematory.
—Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

The Festival of Souls! 
Smoke from the crematory? 
—Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

Family reunion: 
those with white hair and canes
visiting graves.
—Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

One who is no more
left embroidered clothes
for a summer airing.
—Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

What am I doing, 
writing haiku here on the threshold of death? 
Hush, a bird's song! 
—Matsuo Basho, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

Fallen ill on a final tour, 
in dreams I go roving
earth's flowerless moor.
—Matsuo Basho, loose translation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch

Stricken ill on a senseless tour, 
still in dreams I go roving
earth's withered moor.
—Matsuo Basho, loose translation 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

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