Zen Death Haiku X

ZEN DEATH HAIKU X These are my modern English translations of Japanese Zen Death Haiku. Forbearing the night with its growing brilliance: the summer moon. —Tsukioka Yooshi (1839-1892) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Blow if you must, autumn wind, but the flowers have already faded. —Gansan (-1895) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Time to go... They say this journey is a long trek: this final change of robes. —Roshu (-1899) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch The moon departs; frost paralyzes the morning glories. — Kato (-1908) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Stumble, tumble, fall, slide down the slippery snow slope. — Getsurei (-1919) , loose translation/interpretation of his jisei (death poem) by Michael R. Burch Year after year, the face a monkey faces is a monkey face. —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Because it will not melt we dedicate this ice to the New Year's dawning sun —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Students with your copybooks: from whose satchel shall the New Year spring? —Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Basking beneath the New Year's sun: my grubby hut. —Kobayashi Issa, loose translation by Michael R. Burch Letting in torrents of New Year's rain: my leaky hut. —Kobayashi Issa, loose translation by Michael R. Burch O, God of the New Year, this year also, please have pity! —Kobayashi Issa, loose translation by Michael R. Burch These useless dreams, alas! Over fields of wilted grass winds whisper as they pass. —Uejima Onitsura (1660-1738) , loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch When a nightingale stops singing, it's just another bird. —Uejima Onitsura (1660-1738) , loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch A nightingale, when it ceases singing, is just another ordinary / unexceptional bird. —Uejima Onitsura (1660-1738) , loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The sincerity of snow, the moon and cherry blossoms is the truthfulness of art. —Uejima Onitsura (1660-1738) , loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Keywords/Tags: Haiku, Zen, Japan, Japanese, translation, life, death, aging, time, pain, sorrow, lament, age, analogy, angst, animal, anxiety, autumn