
This old village
This old village--
not a single house
without persimmon trees.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes

This old village
This old village-
not a single house
without persimmon trees.
poem by Matsuo Basho

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

The snow is melting
The snow is melting
and the village is flooded
with children.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Don't know about the people
Approaching my village:
Don't know about the people,
but all the scarecrows
are crooked.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Under my house
Under my house
an inchworm
measuring the joists.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Don't worry, spiders
Don't worry, spiders,
I keep house
casually.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Buying leeks
Buying leeks
and walking home
under the bare trees.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Harvest moon
Harvest moon--
called at his house,
he was digging potatoes.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

These sea slugs
These sea slugs,
they just don't seem
Japanese.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

That wren
That wren--
looking here, looking there.
You lose something?
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

A bee
A bee
staggers out
of the peony.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Even with insects
Even with insects--
some can sing,
some can't.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

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
Vote! | Copy!

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
Vote! | Copy!
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
Vote! | Copy!

Visiting the graves
Visiting the graves,
the old dog
leads the way.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Napped half the day
Napped half the day;
no one
punished me!
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

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

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

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

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
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
Vote! | Copy!

Hey, sparrow!
Hey, sparrow!
out of the way,
Horse is coming.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!