Don't know about the people
Approaching my village:
Don't know about the people,
but all the scarecrows
are crooked.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
This old village
This old village--
not a single house
without persimmon trees.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The snow is melting
The snow is melting
and the village is flooded
with children.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Blossoms at night
Blossoms at night,
and the faces of people
moved by music.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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These sea slugs
These sea slugs,
they just don't seem
Japanese.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Even with insects
Even with insects--
some can sing,
some can't.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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That wren
That wren--
looking here, looking there.
You lose something?
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A bee
A bee
staggers out
of the peony.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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My arm for a pillow
My arm for a pillow,
I really like myself
under the hazy moon.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Napped half the day
Napped half the day;
no one
punished me!
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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They end their flight
They end their flight
one by one---
crows at dusk.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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First day of spring
First day of spring--
I keep thinking about
the end of autumn.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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How much
How much
are you enjying yourself,
tiger moth?
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Hey, sparrow!
Hey, sparrow!
out of the way,
Horse is coming.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Visiting the graves
Visiting the graves,
the old dog
leads the way.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The toad! It looks like
The toad! It looks like
it could belch
a cloud.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Seen
Seen
through a telescope:
ten cents worth of fog.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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When the winter chrysanthemums go
When the winter chrysanthemums go,
there's nothing to write about
but radishes.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The pheasant cries
The pheasant cries
as if it just noticed
the mountain.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Writing shit about new snow
Writing shit about new snow
for the rich
is not art.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Having slept, the cat gets up
Having slept, the cat gets up,
yawns, goes out
to make love.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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