
Windy fall
At my daughter's grave, thirty days
after her death:
Windy fall--
these are the scarlet flowers
she liked to pick.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

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Under the image of Buddha
Under the image of Buddha
all these spring flowers
seem a little tiresome.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

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In this world
In this world
we walk on the roof of hell,
gazing at flowers.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

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A caterpillar
A caterpillar,
this deep in fall--
still not a butterfly.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho

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A cool fall night
At a hermitage:
A cool fall night--
getting dinner, we peeled
eggplants, cucumbers.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho

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A bath when you're born
His death poem:
A bath when you're born,
a bath when you die,
how stupid.
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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These sea slugs
These sea slugs,
they just don't seem
Japanese.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

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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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Seen
Seen
through a telescope:
ten cents worth of fog.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

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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

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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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Napped half the day
Napped half the day;
no one
punished me!
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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Hey, sparrow!
Hey, sparrow!
out of the way,
Horse is coming.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

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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

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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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How much
How much
are you enjying yourself,
tiger moth?
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

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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

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First winter rain
First winter rain--
even the monkey
seems to want a raincoat.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho

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