White blossoms of the pear
White blossoms of the pear
and a woman in moonlight
reading a letter.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
A bat flits
A bat flits
in moonlight
above the plum blossoms.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The oak tree
The oak tree:
not interested
in cherry blossoms.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Blossoms at night
Blossoms at night,
and the faces of people
moved by music.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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What a strange thing
What a strange thing!
to be alive
beneath cherry blossoms.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Autumn moonlight
Autumn moonlight--
a worm digs silently
into the chestnut.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Moonlight slanting
Moonlight slanting
through the bamboo grove;
a cuckoo crying.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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This moth saw brightness
This moth saw brightness
in a woman's chamber--
burnt to a crisp.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Before the white chrysanthemum
Before the white chrysanthemum
the scissors hesitate
a moment.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Yosa Buson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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In the thicket's shade
In the thicket's shade
a woman by herself
singing the rice-planting song.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Even with insects
Even with insects--
some can sing,
some can't.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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These sea slugs
These sea slugs,
they just don't seem
Japanese.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A bee
A bee
staggers out
of the peony.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Matsuo Basho
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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That wren
That wren--
looking here, looking there.
You lose something?
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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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
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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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
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
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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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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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
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Visiting the graves
Visiting the graves,
the old dog
leads the way.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Napped half the day
Napped half the day;
no one
punished me!
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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