Even on the smallest islands
Even on the smallest islands,
they are tilling the fields,
skylarks singing.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
The crow
The crow
walks along there
as if it were tilling the field.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Midfield
Midfield,
attached to nothing,
the skylark singing.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
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With my father
With my father
I would watch dawn
over green fields.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
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Not quite dark yet
Not quite dark yet
and the stars shining
above the withered fields.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
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His Holiness the Abbot
His Holiness the Abbot
is shitting
in the withered fields.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
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Sparrow singing
Sparrow singing--
its tiny mouth
open.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
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Ploughing the land
Ploughing the land--
not even a bird singing
in the mountain's shadow.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
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Winter garden
Winter garden,
the moon thinned to a thread,
insects singing.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
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In the thicket's shade
In the thicket's shade
a woman by herself
singing the rice-planting song.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
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A bee
A bee
staggers out
of the peony.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
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That wren
That wren--
looking here, looking there.
You lose something?
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
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Even with insects
Even with insects--
some can sing,
some can't.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
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These sea slugs
These sea slugs,
they just don't seem
Japanese.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
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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
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Napped half the day
Napped half the day;
no one
punished me!
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
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Visiting the graves
Visiting the graves,
the old dog
leads the way.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
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How much
How much
are you enjying yourself,
tiger moth?
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
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Hey, sparrow!
Hey, sparrow!
out of the way,
Horse is coming.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
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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
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Seen
Seen
through a telescope:
ten cents worth of fog.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
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