Old well
Old well,
a fish leaps--
dark sound.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson

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Not knowing
Not knowing
it's a tub they're in
the fish cooling at the gate.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

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

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Awake at night
Awake at night--
the sound of the water jar
cracking in the cold.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho

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What fish feel
What fish feel,
birds feel, I don't know--
the year ending.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho

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Not quite dark yet
Not quite dark yet
and the stars shining
above the withered fields.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson

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Coolness
Coolness--
the sound of the bell
as it leaves the bell.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson

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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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Even with insects
Even with insects--
some can sing,
some can't.
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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How much
How much
are you enjying yourself,
tiger moth?
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

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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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Seen
Seen
through a telescope:
ten cents worth of fog.
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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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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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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