Sea Firefly Poems

Haiku Translations II

Illuminated by the harvest moon
smoke is caught creeping
across the water...
Hattori Ransetsu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Fanning its tail flamboyantly
with every excuse of...

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flickering fireflies

faerie spirits of the land,

I cry to see you...

but when I embrace the sea,

she washes those tears away.


(Tanka)


6/01/2021...

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Driving down a country road one sultry summer evening, with headlights sweeping through the little clouds of dust ahead, 
Caused by cars that led the...

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There was a time when the world was still,
The road was narrow, there were no hills.
The days were long, the sun was bright,
There was comfort...

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I wish to be the gentle breeze
Sweeping tearful eyes
Of the weary midday flower.
Or to be the horrid shadow
Casting fearful darkness
For a passer-by to rest.
A rippling...

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downcast moonless night 
bewitched firefly flitting through 
victim moaning sea

3/16/2020...

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Yamaguchi Seishi haiku modern English translations

Grasses wilt:
the braking locomotive
grinds to a halt.
—Yamaguchi Seishi, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

Ceaseless chaos—
ice floes clash
in the Soya straits.
—Yamaguchi...

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