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Japanese Haiku Masters
O snail
climb Mount Fuji,
but slowly, slowly
Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827)
since it turns out
I am all by myself
I make friends
with the harvest moon
Yosa Buson (1716-1784)
even in Kyoto
hearing the cuckoo’s cry,
I long for Kyoto
Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828)
one by one
everyone has left—
autumn wind
Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828)
行春や 鳥啼き魚の 目は泪
Yuku haru ya/ Tori naki uwo no/ Me ha namida
spring´s end—
birds cry and fish eyes
fill with tears
Matsuo Bashō (松尾 芭蕉, 1644–1694) (translation by Corine Timmer)
perfuming the man who broke its branch—plum blossoms
—Chiyo-Ni (1701-1775) (translation by Jim Kacian)
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