Dawn

Dawn--
fish the cormorants haven't caught
swimming in the shallows.


Translated by Robert Hass

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Kobayashi Issa

Children imitating cormorants

Children imitating cormorants
are even more wonderful
than cormorants.


Translated by Robert Hass

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Old well

Old well,
a fish leaps--
dark sound.

Translated by Robert Hass

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Kobayashi Issa

Not knowing

Not knowing
it's a tub they're in
the fish cooling at the gate.


Translated by Robert Hass

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Kobayashi Issa

With my father

With my father
I would watch dawn
over green fields.


Translated by Robert Hass

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Matsuo Basho

What fish feel

What fish feel,
birds feel, I don't know--
the year ending.

Translated by Robert Hass

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Does a Fish go Pee?

Does a fish go pee
when it's swimming in the sea?
Does it ever get the notion
when it's swimming in the ocean?
Does a fish take a leak
when it's swimming in the creek?
Do they do it in a muddle
when you see them in a puddle?
Does a fish ever miss when it's taking a @! &%
and they find urination
in the farmer's irrigation?
Do you think they're rather fond
of going potty in the pond...
and then, for goodness sake,
do they go while in the lake?
Do they tinkle at all
while in the waterfall?
Could you see a yellow gleam
as they do it in the stream?
Now take a little quiz:
Does a fish ever whiz?

Does a fish go pee
when it's swimming in the sea?

(Written in 1990)

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Aquarium Fun

Have you ever seen an aquarium
With fancy fish swimming around?
Well I saw the most wonderful
Aquarium that I’ve ever found

Every color you can imagine
You’d find in a fish tank were there
Beautiful background for those fish
Not a single thing was spared

The cat fish were so enormous
You could imagine them in a pan
Fryin’ up so crispy brown
So tasty they’d never be bland

But instead we just enjoyed
Watching these fish on display
Swimming ‘round and ‘round
I once even saw them in play

I hope sometime if you haven’t
Been to an aquarium like this
Can observe their beauty as I did
These delightful and colorful fish!

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Kobayashi Issa

Even with insects

Even with insects--
some can sing,
some can't.

Translated by Robert Hass

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Matsuo Basho

A bee

A bee
staggers out
of the peony.


Translated by Robert Hass

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Kobayashi Issa

These sea slugs

These sea slugs,
they just don't seem
Japanese.


Translated by Robert Hass

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Kobayashi Issa

That wren

That wren--
looking here, looking there.
You lose something?

Translated by Robert Hass

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Kobayashi Issa

How much

How much
are you enjying yourself,
tiger moth?

Translated by Robert Hass

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Kobayashi Issa

Seen

Seen
through a telescope:
ten cents worth of fog.


Translated by Robert Hass

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Kobayashi Issa

The toad! It looks like

The toad! It looks like
it could belch
a cloud.

Translated by Robert Hass

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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

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They end their flight

They end their flight
one by one---
crows at dusk.


Translated by Robert Hass

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Kobayashi Issa

Visiting the graves

Visiting the graves,
the old dog
leads the way.


Translated by Robert Hass

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Kobayashi Issa

Napped half the day

Napped half the day;
no one
punished me!

Translated by Robert Hass

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Kobayashi Issa

Hey, sparrow!

Hey, sparrow!
out of the way,
Horse is coming.

Translated by Robert Hass

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Matsuo Basho

First day of spring

First day of spring--
I keep thinking about
the end of autumn.


Translated by Robert Hass

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