Not knowing
Not knowing
it's a tub they're in
the fish cooling at the gate.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Old well
Old well,
a fish leaps--
dark sound.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Dawn
Dawn--
fish the cormorants haven't caught
swimming in the shallows.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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What fish feel
What fish feel,
birds feel, I don't know--
the year ending.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Asked how old he was
Asked how old he was,
the boy in the new kimono
stretched out all five fingers.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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How admirable
How admirable!
to see lightning and not think
life is fleeting.
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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A huge frog and I
A huge frog and I,
staring at each other,
neither of us moves.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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