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
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Napping at midday
Napping at midday
I hear the song of rice planters
and feel ashamed of myself.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Bush warbler
Bush warbler:
shits on the rice cakes
on the porch rail.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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That pretty girl
That pretty girl--
munching and rustling
the wrapped-up rice cake.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Wrapping the rice cakes
Wrapping the rice cakes,
with one hand
she fingers back her hair.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Listening to the moon
Listening to the moon,
gazing at the croaking of frogs
in a field of ripe rice.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Midfield
Midfield,
attached to nothing,
the skylark singing.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sparrow singing
Sparrow singing--
its tiny mouth
open.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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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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Ploughing the land
Ploughing the land--
not even a bird singing
in the mountain's shadow.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Winter garden
Winter garden,
the moon thinned to a thread,
insects singing.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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This moth saw brightness
This moth saw brightness
in a woman's chamber--
burnt to a crisp.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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White blossoms of the pear
White blossoms of the pear
and a woman in moonlight
reading a letter.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Bush warbler
again the bush warbler
perhaps another stroke
of good luck coming
inspired by
Bush warbler:
shits on the rice cakes
on the porch rail.
Translated by Robert Hass
Matsuo Basho
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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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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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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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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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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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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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