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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In spring rain
In spring rain
a pretty girl
yawning.
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
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
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The end of spring
The end of spring--
the poet is brooding
about editors.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
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The willow leaves fallen
The willow leaves fallen,
the spring gone dry,
rocks here and there.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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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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Face of the spring moon
Face of the spring moon--
about twelve years old,
I'd say.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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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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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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Lighting one candle
Lighting one candle
with another candle--
spring evening.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
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A Nest of Wasps
Closing the garage door
a wasp was flying past my head
but strangely it didn’t come for me
and for the first time
I saw a nest on the door
where there were plenty more,
some more small red stinging wasps.
At first I thought that the nest
was empty and when I reach for it
six more wasps flew past my head
and I drew my hand back instead.
By careful inspection
I saw many more wasps
sitting at the back of the nest
and these pests
were sure to sting somebody
time and time again,
but why they were avoiding me
I still do not know.
I couldn’t leave the nest there
and had to get them all dead
and yet somehow I pitied it
and which I could just instead
let them be.
poem by Gert Strydom
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The spring sea rising
The spring sea rising
and falling, rising
and falling all day.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
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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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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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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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Napped half the day
Napped half the day;
no one
punished me!
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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Hey, sparrow!
Hey, sparrow!
out of the way,
Horse is coming.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
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