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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Related quotes
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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Blow of an ax
Blow of an ax,
pine scent,
the winter woods.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
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Winter solitude
Winter solitude--
in a world of one color
the sound of wind.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
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
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In spring rain
In spring rain
a pretty girl
yawning.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
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Early summer rain
Early summer rain--
houses facing the river,
two of them.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
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Spring rain
Spring rain
leaking through the roof
dripping from the wasps' nest.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
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Winter downpour
Winter downpour -
even the monkey
needs a raincoat.
poem by Matsuo Basho
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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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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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Napped half the day
Napped half the day;
no one
punished me!
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
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
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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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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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Visiting the graves
Visiting the graves,
the old dog
leads the way.
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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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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