Haiku Translations

Japanese Haiku English Translations

-- by Jan Walls

speechless,

guest, host,

white chrysanthemums

-- Ryōta (もの言わず客と亭主と白菊と mono iwazu kyaku to teishu to shiragiku to)

a camellia falls,

a cock crows, and again

a camellia falls.

-- Sakurai Baishitsu (椿落ち鶏鳴き椿又落ちる tsubaki ochi tori naki tsubaki mata ochiru)

into the darkness

of the old well falls

a camellia

-- Buson (古井戸の暗きに落る椿かな furu ido no kuraki ni otsuru tsubaki kana)

white camellias --

nothing but their falling sound

on this moonlit night.

-- Rankō (白椿落つる音のみ月夜かな shirotsubaki otsuru oto nomi tsukiyo kana)

in this endless rain

even dried up seaweed

comes to life again

-- Buson (長雨に生き帰りたる若布かな nagaame ni iki kaeritaru wakame kana)

on the temple bell

stopping and falling asleep

a butterfly

-- Buson (釣鐘に止まりて眠る胡蝶かな tsurigane ni tomarite nemuru kochō kana)

it's a dewdrop world,

nothing but a dewdrop world,

this is true, and yet...

-- Issa (露の世は露の世ながらさりながら tsuyu no yo wa tsuyu no yo nagara sari nagara)

in every dewdrop

in this dewdrop world there is

raucous squabbling

— Issa (露の世の露の中にて喧嘩かな tsuyu no yo no tsuyu no naka nite kenka kana)

take your time, snail,

you are, after all,

climbing Mount Fuji

— Issa (蝸牛そろそろ登れる富士の山 katatsuburi soro-soro nobore fuji no yama)

Imperial Shrine

but he acts like he owns it

that arrogant snail

— Issa (御旅所を吾もの顔やかたつぶり o-tabisho wo waga mono-gao ya katatsuburi)

when did this happen,

your arrival at my feet,

little snail?

— Issa (足下へ何時来たりしよ蝸牛 ashi moto e itsu kitarishi yo katatsuburi)

does the glow of dawn

make you feel delighted too

little snail?

— Issa (朝焼けが喜ばしいか蝸牛 asayake ga yorokobashii ka katatsuburi)

in the snail's eyes

a butterfly flutters by

in a breathless rush.

— Issa （蝸牛蝶は息急き騒ぐなり katatsuburi chô wa ikiseki sawagu nari)

grumpy grumbling

griping from the other side

of the paper door

-- Issa (ぶつぶつと襖のうちの小言かな butsu-butsu to fusuma no uchi no kogoto kana)

first the fleas and lice,

now I hear a horse pissing

next to my pillow

-- Basho (蚤蝨馬のしとする枕もと nomi shirami uma no shitosuru makura moto)

we are in a world

just above the underworld

viewing sakura

— Issa (世の中は地獄の上の花見哉 yo no naka wa jigoku no ue no hanami kana)

summer grass

is all that remains today

of brave warriors’ dreams.

-- Basho (夏草や強者どもが夢の跡 natsu gusa ya tsuwa mono domo ga yume no ato)

that bush warbler

on the porch just had to poop

right on my rice cake

— Basho (鶯や餅に糞する縁の先 uguisu ya mochi ni funsuru en no saki)

refinement begins

deep in the hinterlands

with rice-planting songs

— Bashō (風流の始めやおくの田植うた fūryū no hajime ya oku no ta ue uta)

this is nothing but

night enlightened into dawn

by white plum blossoms.

— one of Buson’s "final poems", composed just before he passed away (白梅に明くる夜ばかりと成りけり shiraume ni akuru yo bakari to nari ni keri)

dining by the tree,

soup and pickled veggies topped

with cherry blossoms

-- Basho (木のもとに汁も膾も桜かな ki no moto ni shiru mo namasu mo sakura kana)

in the spring rain

Kamakura sparrows chirp

about this and that

— Issa (春雨や鎌倉雀何となく harusame ya kamakura suzume nan to naku)

spring rains

drawing out the sagebrush

on this grassy road.

--- Basho (春雨や蓬をのばす草の道 harusame ya yomogi o nobasu kusa no michi)

spring rains:

pitter-patter dialogue

on raincoats and hats.

-- Buson (春雨や物語行く蓑と笠 harusame ya monogatari yuku mino to kasa)

spring rains

fall on a thatched rooftop

and a flower blooms

-- Ranko (春雨や屋ねの小草に花咲きぬ harusame ya yane no ogusa ni hana sakinu)

spring rains

and together, side by side,

whispering pines

-- Issa (春雨や相に相生の松の聲 harusame ya ai ni aioi no matsu no koe)

spring rains

a discarded letter blown

into the thicket.

-- Issa (春雨や薮に吹かるる捨て手紙 harusame ya yabu ni fukaruru sute tegami)

spring rain

and a chasmic yawn

on her lovely face.

-- Issa (春雨に大欠する美人かな harusame ni ōakubi suru bijin kana)

the passing of spring

birds cry and even fish

eyes shed tears

-- Bashō (行春や 鳥啼魚の 目は泪 yuku haru ya tori naki uo no me wa namida)

under this same roof,

the harlots are sleeping too --

clover and moonlight.

-- Bashō (一家に 遊女もねたり 萩と月 hitotsuya ni yûjo mo netari hagi to tsuki)

glistening dewdrops

they appear and disappear

large and small alike.

— Issa (白露の身にも大玉小玉から shira tsuyu no mi ni mo ōtama ko tama kara)

people and scarecrows

who can stay upright for long

are nonexistent.

— Issa (人はいさ直な案山子もなかりけり hito wa isa suguna kagashi mo nakari keri)

now that I've grown old

facing even a scarecrow

is embarrassing

— Issa (老の身やかがしの前も恥しき oi no mi ya kagashi no mae mo hazukashiki)

through the spring mist

all morning long the racket

of those stupid crows

-- Issa (霞とや朝からさはぐ馬鹿烏 kasumu to ya asa kara sawagu baka karasu)

blossoms scatter

and birds flinch when the dust flies

from the old koto

— Basho (散る花や鳥も驚く琴の塵 chiru hana ya tori mo odoroku koto no chiri)

a crow's feather lights

upon a toasted rice cake

in the spring rain.

-- Issa (焼餅に烏の羽や春の雨 yakimochi ni karasu no hane ya haru no ame)

now and then a cloud

gives our eyes a chance to rest

from the moon viewing.

-- Basho (雲折々人を休める月見かな kumo oriori hito o yasumeru tsukimi kana)

the little children

and crows mingle together

gathering chestnuts.

— Issa (子どもらや烏も交る栗拾ひ kodomora ya karasu mo majiru kuri hiroi)

bird hunters

being laughed at by a crow

on the temple roof

— Issa (追鳥を烏笑ふや堂の屋根 oi-dori wo karasu warau ya dō no yane)

voices in the wind

blowing over withered fields

are coming from crows.

— Issa (吹風に声も枯野の烏かな fuku kaze ni koe mo kareno no karasu kana)

shut up, crow!

you’re interrupting

the cuckoo’s song!

— Issa (山烏邪魔ひろぐなよほととぎす yama-garasu jama hirogu na yo hototogisu)

hopping aside,

the crow just laughs

at the snowball.

Issa — (飛のいて烏笑ふや雪礫 tobinoite karasu warau ya yukitsubete)

I wish I had that

scarecrow's padded sleeves to sleep

through the midnight frost.

— Basho (借りて寝ん案山子の袖や夜半の霜 karite nen kakashi no sode ya yowa no shimo)

the old capital

only scarecrows now stand

as gatekeepers

-- Issa (鎌倉や今はかがしの屋敷守 kamakura ya ima wa kagashi no yashiki mori)

just hearing the sound

of a one-foot waterfall

cools the evening down

— Issa (一尺の滝も音して夕涼み isshaku no taki mo oto shite yū suzumi)

tossed out of the ring,

the sumō joins the others

under the moonlight

— Issa (投られし角力も交じる月よ哉 nagarareshi sumō mo majiru tsuki yo kana)

comfortingly cool,

the sound of the temple bell

leaves the bell behind

— Buson (涼しさや鐘を離るるかねの声 suzushisa ya kane wo hanaruru kane no koe)

the escaping bird looks back for her children and looks back again

-- Issa (逃鳥や子をふり返りふり返り nige tori ya ko wo furikaeri furikaeri)

tell me, squawking crow,

will this early summer rain

peter out today?

— Issa (鳴烏けふ五月雨の降りあくか naku karasu kyō samidare no furiaku ka)

even the scarecrow

turns its back

on my little hut.

— Issa (案山子にもうしろ向かれし栖哉 kagashi ni mo ushiro mukareshi sumika kana)

the crow steals away

also under the cover

of the spring mist

— Issa (盗する烏よそれも春がすみ nusumi suru karasu yo sore mo harugasumi)

on my grilled rice cake

there’s a feather from a crow

in the spring rain

— Issa (焼餅に烏の羽や春の雨 yakimochi ni karasu no hane ya haru no ame)

in the end,

the falling red leaf

sticks to the scarecrow

— Issa (とうとうと紅葉吹つけるかがし哉 tōtō to momiji fuki-tsukeru kagashi kana)

having left the woods

in the hands of wild crows,

the skylark sings.

— Issa (野烏に藪を任せて鳴雲雀 no-garasu ni yabu wo makasete naku hibari)

thanks to the scarecrow

not a single family

is without rice cakes

— Issa (かがし立て餅なき家はなかりけり kagashi tatte mochi naki ie wa nakari keri)

standing facing me

there is one sopping wet

scarecrow

— Issa (我方へ向てしぐるるかがし哉 waga hō e mukete shigururu kagashi kana)

scarecrow in twilight

just a twilight scarecrow but

such a human face

-- Issa (かがし暮かがし暮けり人の顔 kagashi kure kagashi kure keri hito no kao)

cherry blossom shade

it’s like living in a song

napping on the road

— Basho (花の陰謡に似たる旅寝哉 hana no kage utai ni nitaru tabine kana)

in the summer rain

even the crow looks down

on my thatched home

--Issa (五月雨や烏あなどる草の家 samidare ya karasu anadoru kusa no ie)

for all people

and for all scarecrows too

the sun is setting.

-- Issa (人に人かがしにかがし日の暮るる hito ni hito kagashi ni kagashi hi no kururu)

on the veranda

avoiding the wife and kids

in the summer heat

-- Buson (端居して妻子を避る暑かな hashii shite saishi wo sakuru atsusa kana)

a creeping vine

appears at my window

in the summer heat

— Issa (青蔓の窓へ顔出す暑哉 aozuru no mado e kao dasu atsusa kana)

through the summer night

I lie here counting my fleas

until daylight

— Ryōkan (なつのよや のみをかぞへて あかしけり natsu no yo ya nomi o kazoete akashikeri)

our summer floating by on the ripples

of a lake — Basho (世の夏や湖水に浮む浪の上 yo no natsu ya kosui ni ukamu nami no ue)

bamboo shoots

shadows crossing the river

with the rising sun

— Issa (竹の子の影の川こす旭哉 takenoko no kage no kawa kosu asahi kana)

the nightingale

sings in the same voice for me

and the Emperor

— Issa (鶯や御前へ出ても同じ声 uguisu ya gozen e dete mo onaji koe)

the nightingale

relieves itself as it chants

the Lotus Sutra

— Issa (鶯や尿しながらもほっけ経 uguisu ya shito shi nagara mo hokkekyō)

a cool breeze

fills the void with voices

of pine trees

— Onitsura (涼風や虚空にみちて松の声 suzukaze ya kokuu ni michite matsu no koe)

a secluded house,

a hot bath, and cicadas

chirring in the pines.

-- Issa (かくれ家は浴過けり松の蝉 kakurega wa yuami sugi keri matsu no semi)

in my alms bowl

enough rice for tomorrow

cools the evening down

— Ryōkan (鉄鉢に 明日の米あり 夕涼 teppatsu ni asu no kome ari yūsuzumi)

wrinkled hands

all I can see through the night

in the autumn rain

Issa (手の皺の一夜に見ゆる秋の雨 te no shiwa no hito ya ni miyuru aki no ame)

a colt has been sold

it looks back at its mother

in the autumn rain

-- Issa (売馬の親かへり見る秋の雨 uri uma no oya kaeri miru aki no ame)

the temple bell too

seems to pick up the rhythm

the cicada chirrs

— Bashō (撞鐘もひびくやうなり蝉の声 tsuki gane mo hibiku yō nari semi no koe)

into the river

fleas are driven by the dawn

of a brand new day

— Issa (川中へ蚤を飛ばする旦哉 kawa naka e nomi wo tobasuru ashita kana)

summer evening breeze

feels so good it even moves

white rose petals

— Shiki (夕風や白薔薇の花皆動く yūkaze ya shirobara no hana mina ugoku)

its loneliness

extends even to the crane,

poor scarecrow!

— Issa (淋さを鶴に及ぼすかがし哉 sabishisa wo tsuru ni oyobosu kagashi kana)

in the ancient pond

floating by upside down

a cicada shell

— Shiki (古池やさかさに浮かぶ蝉のから furuike ya sakasa ni ukabu semi no kara)

a river breeze

and an unlined gown

cool the evening down

— Basho (川風や薄柿着たる夕涼み kawa kaze ya usugaki kitaru yū suzumi)

winter must be here

perching on the scarecrow

there’s a crow

— Kikaku (冬来ては案山子のとまる鴉かな fuyu kite wa kakashi no tomaru karasu kana)

the sound of something

collapsing all alone

must be a scarecrow

— Bonchō (物の音ひとりたふるゝ案山子哉 mono no oto hitori taoruru kakashi kana)

waking up

with such a huge yawn

the amorous cat

— Issa (寝て起て大欠して猫の恋 nete okite ōakubi shite neko no koi)

waking up

with such a huge yawn ...

cherry blossoms!

-- Issa (寝て起て大欠して桜哉 nete okite ōakubi shite sakura kana)

a stray cat

turns the Buddha's lap

into a pillow

-- Issa (のら猫が仏のひざを枕哉 nora neko ga hotoke no hiza wo makura kana)

the cat's mating call

by the river is answered

from the other shore

-- Issa (恋猫や答へる声は川むかふ koi neko ya kotaeru koe wa kawa mukau)

in the cold moonlight

all alone I cross the bridge

echoing footsteps

— Anon.

just being themselves

petals also flutter down

the way petals do

— Issa (只たのめ花もはらはらあの通りtada tanome hana mo hara hara ano toori)

we are in a world,

hovering just above hell,

viewing cherry blossoms

— Issa (世の中は地獄の上の花見哉 yo no naka wa jigoku no ue no hanami kana)

dozing on horseback,

fading dream, a distant moon,

smoke from breakfast tea.

-- Basho (馬に寝て残夢月遠し茶の煙 uma ni nete zanmu tsuki tōshi cha no kemuri)

along this river

upstream, downstream, all become

moon viewing friends

— Bashō (川上とこの川下や月の友 kawa kami to kono kawa shimo ya tsuki no tomo)

it just feels cooler

even only ankle deep

in this little stream

-- Issa (涼しさは黒節だけの小川哉 suzushisa wa kurobushi dake no kogawa kana)

in the autumn mist

pinks along the riverside

as far as eyes can see

-- Issa (秋霧や河原なでしこ見ゆる迄 akigiri ya kawara nadeshiko miyuru made)

oceanic dusk,

even the call of the duck

is sounding pale

— Basho (海暮れて鴨の声ほのかに白し umi kurete kamo no koe honoka ni shiroshi)

when the west wind blows

they are gathered in the east,

poor fallen leaves

— Buson (西吹けば東にたまる落葉かな nishi fukeba higashi ni tamaru ochiba kana)

like wind through the pines

rustling the fallen leaves,

the water sounds cool

Bashō (松風の落葉か水の音涼し matsu kaze no ochiba ka mizu no oto suzushi)

there’s a young pond

and a frog leaps into it

without a sound

— Ryōkan (新いけやかはずとびこむ音もなし araike ya, kawazu tobikomu, oto mo nashi)

by the riverside

suddenly a moonlit night

on a ridge of clouds

— Issa (川縁ははや月夜也雲の峰 kawabuchi wa, haya tsuki yo nari, kumo no mine)

their purple so deep

just a shade away from black,

these grapes!

— Shiki (黒きまでに紫深し葡萄かな kuroki madeni murasaki fukashi budō kana)

a leafless willow

by a by a dried up spring,

here and there, some stones

-- Buson (柳ちり清水かれ石ところどころ yanagi chiri shimizu kare ishi tokorodokoro)

the cuckoo's call

skims

across the river

— Basho (郭公声横たふや水の上 hototogisu koe yokotau ya mizu no ue)

take the summer sun

all the way to the sea,

Mogami River

— Basho (暑き日を海に入れたり最上川 atsuki hi o umi ni iretari Mogamigawa)

on a withered branch

a crow has alighted

in the autumn dusk

— Basho (枯朶に烏のとまりけり秋の暮 kare eda ni, karasu no tomarikeri, aki no kure)

along this road

not a single person walks

in the autumn dusk

— Bashō (此の道や行く人なしに秋の暮れ kono michi ya iku hito nashi ni aki no kure)

hey there, autumn wind!

here we are, still alive,

and we meet again

— Shiki (秋風や生きて会ひ見る汝れと我 akikaze ya ikite aimiru nare to ware)

a cicada chirrs

calling to the autumn night

with no tomorrow

— Issa (夕蝉の翌ない秋をひたと鳴く yū semi no yoku nai aki wo hita to naku)

from a tree top

emptiness drops

a cicada shell

Basho (梢よりあだに落ちけり蝉の殻 kozue yori ada ni ochi keri, semi no kara)

a thunderstorm clears

the sun sets behind a tree

a cicada sings

― Shiki (雷晴れて 一樹の夕日 蝉の声 rai harete ichiju no yūhi semi no koe)

in the ancient pond

floating upside down

a cicada's shell

— Shiki (古池やさかさに浮かぶ蝉のから furuike ya sakasa ni ukabu semi no kara)

flutter by

drifting with the wind

butterfly

— Shiki (ひらひらと 風に流れて蝶一つ hira-hira to kaze ni nagarete chō hitotsu)

on a full moon night

nothing but the mountain there

in the autumn rain

-- Issa (十五夜もただの山也秋の雨 jūgoya mo, tada no yama nari, aki no ame)

the burglar stole

everything but left behind

the window framed moon

— Ryōkan (盗人に取り残されし窓の月 nusubito ni torinokosareshi mado no tsuki)

Casanova cat

still licking his lips

on the way back home

-- Issa (恋猫や口なめづりをしてもどる koi neko ya kuchi namezuri wo shite modoru)

don't abandon hope

skinny little frog

Issa is here

-- Issa (痩せ蛙負けるな一茶ここにあり yasegaeru makeru na Issa koko ni ari)

wait, don't hit him!

the fly is wringing his hands

wringing his feet

-- Issa (やる打つな蠅が手を擦る足を擦る yaru-utsu na hae ga te wo suru ashi wo suru)

dewdrops disappear

knowing in this messy world

there’s no use for them.

-- Issa (露散るやむさい此の世に用なしと tsuyu chiru ya musai kono yo ni yō nashi to)

when they are touched

leaves on the oak tree move

in the clear water

-- Sō-in (結ぶ手に樫の葉動く清水かな musubu te ni kashi no ha ugoku shimizu kana)

I possess nothing

but a mind that is at peace

and I feel so cool.

-- Issa (何も無いが心安さよ涼しさよ nani mo nai ga kokoro yasusa yo suzushi sa yo)

so pleasantly cool

this must be the entry

to paradise

-- Issa (涼しさやここ極楽の入り口 suzushisa ya koko gokuraku no hairiguchi)

into the silence

of the crystal clear water

a chestnut leaf sinks

-- Shōhaku (静かさは栗の葉沈む清水かな shizukasa wa kuri no ha shizumu shimizu kana)

this autumn thing

what is aging all about

birds in drifting clouds

— Basho (この秋は 何で年寄る 雲に鳥 kono aki wa, nan de toshiyoru, kumo ni tori)

autumn loneliness

a sigh in the distant toll

of a temple bell

-- Yūsui (秋淋しため息やつく遠寺の鐘 aki sabishi tameiki ya tsuku tōdera no kane)

one arrives alone

to visit another one

in the autumn dusk

— Buson (一人来て一人を訪ふや秋のくれ hitori kite, hitori wo tou ya, aki no kure)

in the autumn dusk

there’s a crow too

just passing through

— Kishū (秋の暮れからすもなかで通りけり aki no kure, karasu mo naka de tōri keri)

there's a kind of joy

also in the loneliness

of the autumn dusk

-- Buson (淋しさのうれしくもあり秋の暮れ sabishisa no ureshiku mo ari, aki no kure)

my grouchy partner

if only she could be here

for this moon tonight

-- Issa (小言いふ相手もあればけふの月 kogoto iu aite mo areba kyō no tsuki)

nothing but a wall

remains to hear me complain

in the autumn dusk

-- Issa (小言いふ相手は壁ぞ秋の暮れ kogoto iu aite wa kabe zo aki no kure)

it's really something

being born as a human --

autumn dusk

— Issa (中々に人と生まれて秋の暮れ nakanaka ni hito to umarete aki no kure)

in my humble view

the netherworld must be like this —

autumn twilight

— Bashō (愚案ずるに冥途も斯くや秋の暮れ gu anzuru ni meido mo kaku ya aki no kure)

early morning mist

a painting of a dream

people passing through

-- Buson (朝霧や畫に書く夢の人通り asagiri ya e ni kaku yume no hito dōri)

again and again

it breaks up then reappears --

moon in the river

-- Chōshū (砕けても砕けてもあり水の月 kudakete mo kudakete mo ari mizu no tsuki)

bright moonlight

shining on the tatami

pine tree shadows

-- Kikaku (名月や畳の上に松の影 meigetsu ya tatami no ue ni matsu no kage)

bright moonlight

shining on the mist that creeps

along the river

-- Ransetsu (名月や煙這ひゆく水の上 meigetsu ya kemuri haiyuku mizu no ue)

the waterfowl

pecks at the shivering

moon in the ripples

-- Zuiryu (水鳥のつつきくだくや浪の月 mizutori no tsutsuki kudaku ya nami no tsuki)

a bright autumn moon

is circling the pond too

all through the night

-- Bashō (名月や池もめぐりて夜もすがら meigetsu ya ike mo megurite yo mo sugara)

paler than the stones

up on Stony Mountain

the autumn wind

— Bashō (石山の石より白し秋の風 ishiyama no ishi yori shiroshi aki no kaze)

how sad

is that fishing line trembling

in the autumn wind

— Buson (かなしさや釣の糸ふく秋の風 kanashisa ya tsuri no ito fuku aki no kaze)

moon reflections

scooped up and spilled back again

in the wash-basin

-- Ryuho (月影を汲みこばしけり手水鉢 tsukikage wo kumi koboshi keri chōzubachi)

moonwatching

hanging it on a pine tree

then unhanging it

-- Hokushi (月を松に掛けたり外しても見たり tsuki wo matsu ni kaketari hazushite mo mitari)

when we approach them

there is not a single pine

without a full moon

-- Atsujin (立ちよれば名月もたぬ松もなし tachi yoreba meigetsu motanu matsu mo nashi)

hello autumn wind

we greet each other, still alive,

you and I

-- Shiki (秋風や生きて相見る汝と我 aki kaze ya, ikite aimiru nare to ware)

apprehension grows

with a gathering storm

in the twilight

-- Shiki (心細く野分のつのる日暮れかな kokorobosoku nowaki no tsunoru higure kana)

on this stormy night

I try to read but my mind

won’t settle down

-- Shiki (野分の夜文よむ心定まらず nowaki no yo fumi yomu kokoro sadamarazu)

in the cowshed

mosquito buzzing grows weak

in the autumn wind

— Bashō (牛部屋に蚊の声よわし秋の風 ushibeya ni ka no koe yowashi aki no kaze)

how beautiful

they become after a storm

these red peppers

— Buson (美しや野分のあとの唐辛子 utsukushi ya nowaki no ato no tōgarashi)

exposed skeleton

is the feeling when the wind

seeps into the heart

-- Bashō (野ざらしを心に風の沁む身哉 nozarashi wo kokoro ni kaze no shimu mi kana)

one bright red berry

not yet fallen, all alone

in the garden frost

Bashō（赤き実一つこぼれぬ霜の庭 akaki mi hitotsu koborenu shimo no niwa)

in the autumn dew

four or five homes appear

a little village

— Shiki (白露に四五軒の小村哉 shira tsuyu ni shigo ken no komura kana)

with the morning dew

smoke from cooking breakfast

creeps across the grass

— Shiki (朝露や飯たくけむり草を這う asa tsuyu ya meshi taku kemuri kusa wo kau)

just enjoy yourself

while you’re on that blade of grass,

little dewdrop

— Ransetsu（草の葉を遊びありけよ露の玉 kusa no ha wo asobiarike yo tsuyu no tama)

dewdrops disappear

as if they have had enough

of this messy world.

— Issa (露ちるやむさい此の世に用なしと tsuyu saru ya musai kono yo ni yō nashi to)

in every dewdrop

there’s a tinge of loneliness

worth remembering

— Bashō（白露に寂しき味を忘るるな shiratsuyu ni sabishiki aji wo wasururu na）

“It’s cold this morning”

say the voices setting out

from the roadside inn

-- Taigi（朝寒や旅の宿たつ人の声 asa samu ya tabi no yado tatsu hito no koe)

a sunset clearing

lines them up in fading rows

mountains in the fall

— Issa (夕晴や浅黄に並ぶ秋の山 yūbare ya asagi ni narabu aki no yama)

on autumn mountains

columns of smoke here and there

rising in the air

— Gyōdai (秋の山ところどころに煙立つ aki no yama tokoro-dokoro ni kemuri tatsu)

lanterns blowing out

the sound of the wind

through plantain leaves.

— Shiki（灯籠消えて芭蕉に風のわたる声 tourou kiete bashou ni kaze no wataru koe)

the scent of the sea

fishing village moonlight

dancing

— Shiki（生臭き漁村の月の踊りかな namagusaki gyoson no tsuki no odori kana)

the long awaited

sound of footsteps from afar

over fallen leaves

— Buson (待ち人の足音遠き落ち葉かな machibito no ashioto touki ochiba kana)

in the world out there

it must be rice harvest time

I tell my thatched hut

— Basho (世の中は稲かる頃か草の庵 yo no naka wa inekaru koro ka kusa no io)

right under his feet

beans are being stolen,

some scarecrow!

— Yayū (足下の豆盗まるる案山子かな ashimoto no mame nusumaruru kakashi kana)

cold autumn winds

blow into the very bones

of the poor scarecrow

— Chōi (秋の風骨まで通る案山子かな aki no kaze hone made tōru kakashi kana)

a perfect full moon

and the scarecrow just stands there

unimpressed

— Issa (名月にけろりて立ちしかかし哉 meigetsu ni kerorite tachi shi kakashi kana)

wild geese flying low

Kishamichi Promenade

on a moonlit night

— Shiki (汽車道に低くかり飛ぶ月夜かな kishamichi ni kikuku kari tobu tsukiyo kana)

now my home town too

is a lodging for the night

to migrating birds

— Kyorai (故郷も今は借寝や渡り鳥 furusato mo ima wa karine ya wataridori)

destined to pass by

Fujisawa Temple’s

red autumn leaves

— Buson (よらで過ぎる藤沢寺の紅葉かな yorade sugiru, fujisawadera no momiji kana)

on a garbage heap

morning glories are blooming

late into autumn

— Taigi (塵塚に朝顔咲きぬ暮の秋 chirizuka ni asagao sakinu kure no aki)

just remember me

as one who loved persimmons

as well as haiku

— Shiki (柿食いの発句好きと伝うべし kaki kui no hokku suki to tsutau beshi)

my own voice

is turning into the wind

hunting mushrooms

-- Shiki (我が声の風になりけり菌狩り wa ga koe no kaze ni narikeri kinokogari)

the suspension bridge

and our lives are intertwined

by creeping vines

-- Basho (桟やいのちを絡む蔦かつら kakehashi ya inochi wo karamu tsuta katsura)

the mother

eats the bitterest parts

of the persimmon

-- Issa (渋いとこ母が食いけり山の柿 shibui toko haha ga kuikeri yama no kaki)

in this old village

not a single house without

a persimmon tree

-- Basho (里ふりて柿の木持たぬ家もなし sato furite kaki no ki motanu ie mo nashi)

the woods grow dark

a berry drops from a tree

and the water sounds

-- Shiki (木立くらく何の実落つる水の音 kodatsu kuraku nan no mi otsuru mizu no oto)

peeling a pear

little drops of sweetness

trickle down the blade

-- Shiki (梨むくや甘き雫の刃をたるる nashi muku ya amaki shizuku no ha wo taruru)

white chrysanthemums

make the scissors hesitate

for just a moment

— Buson (白菊にしばしたゆたふはさみかな shiragiku ni shibashi tayutou hasami kana)

they’ve seen it before,

but eyes still come back to view

white chrysanthemums

— Isshō (見尽した目は白菊に戻りけり mitsukushita me wa shiragiku ni modori keri)

white chrysanthemums!

they manage to please the eye

and with no makeup

— Buson (白菊やかかる目出度色はなくて shiragiku ya, kakaru medetabi iro wa nakute)

in the autumn wind

fish are hanging out to dry

on beach house eaves

-- Buson (秋風や干魚かけたる濱庇 akikaze ya hiuo kaketaru hamabisashi)

one could do without

all blooms except yellow and

white chrysanthemums

— Ransetsu (黄菊白菊、其の外の名は 無くもがな kigiku shiragiku, sono hoka no na wa naku mo gana)

white chrysanthemums!

everything around them now

becomes beautiful

— Chora (白菊や、あたりもともに 麗はしき shiragiku ya, atari mo tomoni uruwashiki)

as a bird sings

a red berry on a tree

tumbles to the ground

-- Shiki (鳥鳴いて、赤き木の実を こぼしけり tori naite, akaki konomi wo koboshi keri)

the night is so long

thoughts are uttered by the sound

of flowing water

— Gochiku (長き夜や、思うこと言う 水の音 nagaki yo ya, omou koto iu mizu no oto)

my eyes are fixed

through the endless night

on that pillow

— Teitoku (くくり目を見つつ夜長き枕かな kukurime wo mitsutsu yo nagaki makura kana)

mountain birds roost

on one foot then the other

the night is so long

— Buson (山鳥の 枝踏みかゆる、夜長かな yamadori no eda fumikayuru, yonaga kana)

battered chrysanthemum,

I look in on it alone

well into the night

— Issa (負け菊をひとり見直す夕かな makegiku wo hitori minaosu yūbe kana)

to chrysanthemums

I am nothing but a slave

trimming and pruning

— Shukuzan (けふ菊の奴僕となりしていれかな kyō kiku no doboku to narishi teire kana)

in the winter storm

now just twenty-four a trick

at the pleasure house

— Issa (凩や二十四文の遊女小屋 一 茶 kogarashi ya niju-shi-mon no yūjo goya)

nights are getting short

dewdrops are appearing on

caterpillar hairs

-- Buson (短夜や 毛虫の上に 露の玉 mijikayo ni kemushi no ue ni tsuyu no tama)

into the old pond

a straw sandal sinks

in the falling sleet.

— Buson (古池に草履沈みてみぞれかな furuike ni zōri shizumite, mizore kana)

for you fleas as well

this night must go on and on,

and feel lonely too.

— Issa (蚤どもも夜永だろうぞ淋しかろ nomi-domo mo yonaga darou zo sabishi karo)

up the balustrade

slowly rising shadows

of chrysanthemums

— Kyoroku (欄干に昇るや菊の影法師 rankan ni noboru ya kiku no kagebōshi)

“Privy's over here!”

the horse seems to be calling

through the cold night air

— Issa (小便所ここと馬よぶ夜寒かな shōbenjo koko to uma yobu yosamu kana)

nothing else to do,

listening to my neighbors

on this winter night

— Kikaku (何となく冬夜隣の聞かれけり nan to naku fuyu yo tonari no kikarekeri)

the sound of a saw

is the sound of poverty

winter at midnight

— Buson (鋸の音貧しさよ夜半の冬 nokogiri no oto mazushisa yo yowa no fuyu)

on Eki River

a leek drifting with the flow

amplifies the cold

— Buson (易水にねぶか流るる寒さかな ekisui ni nebuka nagaruru samusa kana)

the sound of a mouse

skittering across a plate

feels so cold!

— Buson (皿を踏む鼠の音の寒さかな sara wo fumu nezumi no oto no samusa kana)

mums are withering

socks are drying on the fence

it’s a lovely day!

— Shiki (菊枯れて垣に足袋干す日和かな kiku karete kaki ni tabi hosu hiyori kana)

this is disturbing

to the pilgrim’s peace of mind

a portable stove

— Basho (住み着かぬ旅のこころや置き炬燵 sumi tsukanu tabi no kokoro ya okigotatsu)

charcoal flames

and our years diminish and

that's the way it goes

— Issa (炭の火やよわいの減るもあの通り sumi no hi ya, yowai no heru mo ano tōri)

winter confinement

listening through the night

to mountainous rain

— Issa (冬籠りその夜に聞くや山の雨 fuyugomori sono yo ni kiku no yama no ame)

on our behalf

he stays out there in cold rain,

merciful Buddha!

— Issa (人の為時雨れておはす仏かな hito no tame shigurete owasu hotoke kana)

hanging from the nose

of the Buddha in the field

there's an icicle

— Issa (野仏の 鼻の先から,つららかな nobotoke no hana no saki kara tsurara kana)

the eminent monk

casually takes a poop

on the withered field

— Buson (大徳の糞ひりおはす枯野かな daitoku no fun hiriowasu kareno kana)

a village boy

leads a dog on their walk

through the withered field

— Shiki (里の子の犬引いて行く枯野哉 sato no ko no inu hiite yuku kareno kana)

a distant lantern

enters into someone’s home

by a withered field

— Shiki (提灯のひとつ家に入る枯野かな chōchin no hitotsu ya ni iru kareno kana)

a single bird

is my travel companion

through this withered field

— Senna (鳥一羽道ずれにして枯野かな tori ichiwa michizure ni shite kareno kana)

a bird takes flight

startling the pack-horse

in the withered field

— Shiki (鳥飛んで荷馬驚く枯野哉 tori tonde niuma odoroku, kareno kana)

a gigantic tree

towers up among the clouds

over withered fields

— Shiki (大木の雲にそびゆる枯野哉 taiboku no kumo ni sobiyuru kareno kana)

nothing but the gate

of a temple now remains

on the winter field

— Shiki (門ばかり残る冬野の伽藍哉 mon bakari nokoru fuyuno no garan kana)

down the winter stream

flowers offered to Buddha

come drifting

— Buson (冬川や仏の花の流れ来る fuyugawa ya hotoke no hana no nagare kuru)

the sick traveler

dreams of wandering alone

on a withered field

— Basho (旅に病んで夢は枯野をかけめぐる tabi ni yande yume wa kareno wo kakemeguru)

a traveler walks

eating a tangerine

through the withered field

— Shiki (旅人の 蜜柑食い行く、枯野かな tabibito no mikan kuiyuku, kareno kana)

winter withering

the whole world is one color

in the sound of wind

-- Bashō (冬枯れや、世は一色に 風の音 fuyugare ya, yo wa hito iro ni kaze no oto)

Fukugawa River

calling to the other shore

“Happy New Year!”

— Issa (深川や川向ふにて御慶いふ fukugawa ya kawa mukau nite gyokei iu)

a reed warbler sings

and the great river flows on

in silence

— Issa (行々し大河しんと流れけり gyōgyōshi taiga shin to nagare keri)

desolation is

the sun sinking into rocks

on a withered plain.

— Buson (蕭条として石に日の入る枯野かな shōjō to shite ishi ni hi no iru kareno kana)

in the winter storm

I hide in a bamboo grove

nursing depression

— Bashō (木枯らしや竹に隠れて沈まれぬ kogarashi ya take ni kakurete shizumarenu)

I’m wondering why

among all the icicles,

some are long, some short?

— Onitsura (何故に長みじかある、氷柱ぞや nani yue ni nagamijika aru, tsurara zoya)

a water jug bursts

in the freezing cold of night

and I lie awake

— Bashō (瓶われる夜の氷の寝覚めかな kame wareru yoru no kōri no nezame kana)

on Stone Mountain

mountain stones ricochet

pelting hail stones

— Bashō (石山の石にたばしる霰かな ishiyama ni ishi ni tabashiru arare kana)

in the mountain temple

an inkwell already reveals

the first freeze of the year

— Buson (山寺の硯にはやし初氷 yamadera no suzuri ni hayashi hatsugōri)

a lone umbrella

passes by

in the evening snow

— Yaha (からかさの一つ過ぎ行く雪の暮 karakasa no hitotsu sugiyuku yuki no kure)

“A room for the night!”

tossing down his sword he enters

from the blowing snow

— Buson (宿かせと刀投げ出す吹雪かな yadokase to katana nagedasu fubuki kana)

from the deck outside

the sound of pelting hail

falling in the dark

— Shiki (甲板に霰の音のくらさかな kampan ni arare no oto no kurasa kana)

“Coming! I’m coming!”

but the knocking continues

on the snowbound gate

— Kyorai (応応と言えど叩くや雪の門 ōō to iedo tataku ya yuki no mon)

when I think of it

as my snow, it feels lighter

on my umbrella.

— Kikaku (我雪と思えば軽し傘の上 waga yuki to omoeba karushi kasa no ue)

when I’m standing still

the snowfall is heavier

on the road at night

— Kitō (たたずめば猶降る雪の夜道かな tatazumeba nao furu yuki no yomichi kana)

look how straight it is!

the hole you make when peeing

on the snow outside

— Issa (真直ぐな 小便穴や 門の雪 massugu na shōben ana ya kado no yuki)

even the crow,

usually hateful, but

in the morning snow...

— Bashō (日頃にくき烏も雪のあしたかな higoro nikuki karasu mo yuki no ashita kana)

on and on

the river stretches over

a snow covered plain

— Bonchō (長々と川一筋や雪の原 naganaga to kawa hitosuji ya yuki no hara)

mountains and plains

all surrender to the snow

nothing else remains

— Jōsō (野も山も雪に取られてなにもなし no mo yaya mo yuki ni torarete nani mo nashi)

never to grow old

used to be my goal but now

the temple bell sounds

— Jokun (年とらぬつもりなりしが鐘の鳴る toshi toranu tsumori narishi ga kane no naru)

desolate feelings

drawn up from deep down inside

fall again as sleet

— Jōsō (淋しさの底ぬけて降る霙かな sabishisa no soko nukete furu mizore kana)

who is that person

by the sleepless lantern light

in the late night rain?

— Ryōta（何人の寝ぬ灯火ぞ小夜時雨 nanibito no nenu tomoshibi zo sayo shigure)

in the late night rain,

the sound of an umbrella

returning next door

— Ranran (小夜時雨隣へはいる傘の音 sayo shigure tonari e hairu kasa no oto)

winter drizzle

a little mouse skitters

across a zither

— Buson (しぐるるや鼠のわたる琴の上 shigururu ya nezumi no wataru koto no ue)

rain falls everywhere

especially wherever

I may spend the night.

— Sōgi (世に降るは更に時雨れの宿り哀 yo ni furu wa sara ni shigure no yadori kana)

cold evening rain —

the sound of a croaking toad

makes me worry too

— Buson (夕時雨蟇ひそみ音に愁ふかな yūshigure gama hisomi ne ni ureu kana)

late autumn rain

drizzles with the rooster’s crow

in the cowshed

— Bashō (鶏の声にしぐるる牛屋かな niwatori no koe ni shigururu ushiya kana)

with no umbrella

I am soaking in the rain

how about that!

— Bashō (笠もなき我を時雨れるか何となんと kasa mo naki ware wo shigureru ka nan to nan to)

camphor tree roots

are serenely soaking in

this cold drizzle

— Buson (楠の根を静かに濡らす時雨かな kusu no ne wo shizuka ni nurasu shigure kana)

stars above the pond

once again are shivering

in the cold rain

— Sora (池の星又はらはらと時雨かな ike no hoshi mata harahara to shigure kana)

the fisherman’s

frightening intensity

in the cold night rain

— Buson (釣り人の情の怖さよ夕時雨 tsuribito no jō no kowasa yo, yūshigure)

winter wind so strong

even falling raindrops

don’t reach the ground

— Kyorai (凩の地にも落とさぬ時雨かな kogarashi no chi ni mo otosanu, shigure kana)

my umbrella

is trying to push me back

into the cold rain

— Shisei-jo (傘におしもどさるる時雨かな karakasa ni oshimodosaruru shigure kana)

waking up alive

in this world is joyful

even in cold rain

— Shōha (生きて世に寝覚め嬉しき時雨かな ikite yo ni mezame ureshiki shigure kana)

mournful!

cold rain staining words

on a tombstone

— Rōka (悲しさや時雨に染まる墓の文字 kanashisa ya shigure ni somaru haka no moji)

winter moon

and river wind

sharpen rocks

— Baishitsu (冬の月川風岩を削るかな fuyu no tsuki kawakaze iwa wo kezuru kana)

geese are descending

on the ancient rushes

of this famed resort

Issa (雁おりよ昔の芦の名所也 kari ori yo mukashi no ashi no meisho nari)

colder than the snow

falling on white hair

is this winter moon.

— Jōsō (雪よりも寒し白髪に冬の月 yuki yori mo samushi shiraga ni fuyu no tsuki)

this wooden gate

it can lock out everything

but the winter moon

— Kikaku (此の木戸や鎖のさされて冬のつき kono kido ya, kusari no sasarete fuyu no tsuki)

a cold moon

a temple with no gate

heaven high above

— Buson (寒月や門なき寺の天高し kangetsu ya, mon naki tera no ten takashi)

a stray cat

dashes from beneath the eaves

winter moonlight

— Jōsō (野良猫の駆け出す軒や冬の月 noro neko no kakedasu noki ya, fuyu no tsuki)

in the cold moonlight

shadow of a tombstone

shadow of a pine

— Buson (寒月に石塔の影松の影 kangetsu ni sekitou no kage matsu no kage)

in the cold moonlight

only the sound of shoes

disturbing pebbles

— Buson (寒月や小石のさわる沓の音 kangetsu ya koishi no sawaru kutsu no oto)

under a cold moon

bare-legged Deva statues

guard the temple gate

— Issa (寒月に立つや仁王のからっすね kangetsu ni tatsu ya niō no karassune)

under a cold moon

I walk alone with a sound

footsteps on the bridge

— Taigi (寒月や我一人行く橋の音 kangetsu ya ware hitori yuku hashi no oto)

my own shadow moves

among the tree shadows

in winter moonlight

— Shiki (木の影や我が影動く冬の月 ki no kage ya wa ga kage ugoku fuyu no tsuki)

chilling wintry wind

a single moon rolls

through an empty sky

— Meisetsu (木枯らしや空にころがる月一つ kogarashi ya sora ni korogaru tsuki hitotsu)

I’m alone I said

registering at the inn

it’s cold tonight

— Issa (一人と帳面につく夜寒かな hitori to chōmen ni tsuku yosamu kana)

the brighter the light

the colder they appear --

these shadows!

— Issa (ひいき目に見てさへ寒き影法師 hiikime ni mite sae samuki kagebōshi)

the sound of voices

passing by at midnight

feels so cold

— Yaha (人声の夜半を過ぐる寒さかな hitogoe no yowa wo suguru samusa kana)

just a bag of bones

wrapped up in a futon

this frosty night

— Buson (我が骨の布団にさわる霜夜かな wa ga hone no futon ni sawaru shimoyo kana)

they must hate me

neighbors rattling pots and pans

on such a cold night

— Buson (我を厭う隣家寒夜に鍋を鳴らす ware wo itou rinka kanya ni nabe wo narasu)

Ekisui River

a leek drifts by

in the cold

— Buson (易水にねぶか流るる寒さかな ekisui ni nebuka nagaruru samusa kana)

the little kitten

casually pounces

on a fallen leaf

— Issa (猫の子のちょいと押える木の葉かな neko no ko no chiyoi to osaeru ki no ha kana)

embers smoldering

late at night comes a sound

knocking on the door

— Kyoroku (埋火や夜深けて門を叩く音 umorebi ya yo fukete mon wo tataku oto)

on the gilded screen

a pine tree is aging --

winter seclusion

— Bashō (金屏風松の古びや、冬籠り kinbyōbu matsu no furubi ya, fuyugomori)

my late mother!

every time I see the sea,

every time I see...

— Issa (なき母や、海見るたびに 見るたびに naki haha ya, umi miru tabi ni miru tabi ni)

on this winter day

frozen on horseback

there is my shadow

— Basho (冬の日や馬上に氷る影法師 fuyu no hi ya bajō ni kōru kagebōshi)

fading away

with the moon at dawn

plovers on the beach

— Chora (消えてもせむ有明月の浜千鳥 kiete mo sen ariake tsuki no hamachidori)

the waterfowl

rests its beak upon its breast

drifting into sleep

— Ginkō (水鳥の胸に嘴置く浮き寝かな mizutori no mune ni kuchi oku ukine kana)

far away

from palatial courtyard lights

waterfowl sleep

— Shiki (みやしろや、庭火に遠き 浮き寝鳥 miyashiro ya, niwabi ni tōki ukinedori)

daybreak

ramparts are surrounded by

voices of wild ducks

— Kyoroku (明けがたや城をとりまく鴨の声 akegata ya shiro wo torimaku kamo no koe)

as the sea darkens

even voices of wild ducks

are becoming pale

— Basho (海暮れて 鴨の声ほのかに 白し umi kurete kamo no koe honoka ni shiroshi)

the turnip puller

pointing with a turnip

shows me the way

— Issa (大根引き大根で道を教えけり daikohiki daiko de michi wo oshiekeri)

sowing barley seeds

shadows growing longer

in the setting sun

— Buson (麦まきの影法師ながき夕日かな mugimaki no kagebōshi nagaki yūhi kana)

a mountain village

beneath the long winter snow

the sound of water

— Shiki (山里や雪積む下の水の音 yama sato ya yuki tsumu shita no mizu no oto)

the winter grove

resonating even now

sounds of long ago

— Issa (冬木立昔々の音すなり fuyukodachi mukashi mukashi no oto sunari)

among the narcissus

foxes are playing around

under bright moonlight

— Buson (水仙に狐遊ぶやよい月夜 suisen ni kitsune asobu ya, yoi tsukiyo)

this is my spring too

luckiest of lucky signs,

a blossoming plum

— Issa (我が春も上々吉の梅の花 wa ga haru mo jō jō kichi no ume no hana)

the horny cat’s howl

by the river is answered

from the other shore

— Issa (恋猫や答へる声は川むかふ koi neko ya kotaeru koe wa kawa mukau)

my spring residence

contains nothing at all

and has everything

— Sodō (宿の春何もなきこそ何もあれ yado no haru nani mo naki koso nani mo are)

feeling so serene

the fast pace of life these days

is forgotten

— Taigi (長閑さや早き月日を忘れたりnodokasa ya hayaki tsukihi wo wasuretari)

a crossroad sermon

is such gibberish and yet

it feels so serene

— Issa (辻談義ちんぷんかんも長閑かな tsuji dangi chinpunkan mo nodoka kana)

dusk approaches, then

the insanity of spring --

it starts hailing

— Kitō (暮れんとす春の狂いや霰降る kuren to su haru no kurui ya arare furu)

on this spring evening

a man without a wife

what does he read?

— Shiki (春の夜や妻なき男何を読む？haru no yo ya tsuma naki otoko nani wo yomu?)

a canary

flies away into the dusk

of a spring day

— Shiki (カナリヤは逃げて春の日 暮れにけり kanariya wa nigete haru no hi kure ni keri)

candle in hand,

garden strolling, they lament

the passing of spring

— Buson (手燭して庭ふむ人や春惜しむ teshoku shite niwa fumu hito ya, haru oshimu)

a new day dawns

on the tips of barley leaves

a touch of spring frost

— Onitsura (曙や麦の葉末の春の霜 akebono ya mugi no hazue no haru no shimo)

on the tender grass

left there by a lovely lass

there is a bum print

-- Issa (若草や今の小町が尻の跡 wakakusa ya ima no komachi ga shiri no ato)

by a shallow stream

in the hand rinsing a pan

the spring moon

— Issa (浅川や鍋すすぐてに春の月 asakawa ya nabe susugu te ni haru no tsuki)

blossoming plum

fragrance rising in the air —

halo of the moon

— Buson (梅が香の立ち上り手や月の笠 ume ga ka no tachinoborite ya tsuki no kasa)

from downstream

the splash of a fishing net

under moonlit mist

— Taigi (川下に網打つ音やおぼろ月 kawa-shimo ni ami utsu oto ya oborozuki)

first it forks and then

fades away into the mist

this prairie river

— Shirao (二股に成りて霞める野川かな futamata ni narite kasumeru nokawa kana)

slow footsteps

approaching through heavy mist

who might this be?

— Issa (ほくほくと霞んでくるはどなたかな hoku-hoku to kasunde kuru wa donata kana)

spring is here!

an anonymous mountain

in the morning mist

— Bashō (春なれや名もなき山の朝霞み haru nare ya na mo naki yama no asagasumi)

turn around and see

someone met along the road

fading in the mist

— Shiki (かへり見れば行き会ひし人霞けり kaerimireba yuki-aishi hito kasumi-keri)

grasses under mist

the river flows in silence

at nightfall

— Buson (草霞水に声なき日暮れかな kusa kasumi mizu ni koe naki higure kana)

today, today too

I am living in the mist

of this little home

— Issa (今日も今日も霞んで暮らす小家かな kyō mo kyō mo kasunde kurasu koie kana)

a cow has been sold

and is leaving the village

into the mist

— Hyakuchi (売り牛の村を離るる霞かな uri-ushi no mura wo hanaruru kasumi kana)

a spring breeze

flows through the barley field

making liquid sounds

— Mokudō (春風や麦の中行く水の音 haru kaze ya mugi no naka yuku mizu no oto)

the evening mist

stands like a screen between

now and long ago

— Kitō (夕霞思へばへだつ昔かな yūgasumi omoeba hedatsu mukashi kana)

come from far away

the sound of a temple bell

passes through spring mist

— Onitsura (遠う来たる鐘のあゆみや春霞み tōkitaru kane no ayumi ya, haru kasumi)

early morning breeze

blows the kite seller’s door

open for business

— Shōha (朝東風に凧売る店を開きけり asa kochi ni tako uru mise wo hiraki keri)

a passing spring breeze

leaves a flawless beauty

feeling so angry!

— Gyōdai (春風におさるる美女の怒りかな harukaze ni osaruru bijo no ikari kana)

a summer breeze,

in a crowd of green mountains

one temple

— Shiki (薫風や千山の緑寺一つ kunpū ya senzan no midori tera hitotsu)