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The Classic Tradition of Haiku
AN ANTHOLOGY
By FAUBION BOWERS Dover Publications, Inc.
Copyright © 1996 Faubion Bowers
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-486-11333-3
CHAPTER 1
Iio Sogi (1421-1502)
yuki nagara / yamamoto kasumu / yube kana
Snow yet remaining The mountain slopes are misty — An evening in spring DK
* * *
Despite some snow the base of hills spreads with haze the twilight scene EM
morokoshi mo / ame shita to ya / tsurakaran
Does not China also lie beneath this selfsame sky bound in misery EM
sumeba nodokeki / hi no moto mo nashi
yet even in the sun's own land anyone who lives will suffer EM
yama kawa mo / kimi ni yoru yo o / itsuka min
shall we ever see the time your reign brings lasting peace to all hills and streams EM
ayafuki kuni ya / tami mo kurushiki
and will the land not fall in ruin with its commoners in distress EM
iyashiki mo / mi o osamuru wa / aritsubeshi
Among the lowborn too must be some who spend their time in tranquillity. SDC
However low one may be it is in holding oneself in sway that is imperative EM
yo ni furu mo / sara ni shigure no / yadori kana
passing through the world indeed this is just a shelter from the shower WJH
mono goto ni / oi wa kokoro no / ato mo nashi
everything that was has vanished from my aged heart leaving not a trace EM
Socho (1448–1532)
Sogi: nao nani nare ya / hito no koishiki
Socho: kimi o okite / akazu mo tareo / omou ran
What could be the cause of it — that I should feel such love again? While I still have you, why think of anyone else? Why this discontent? SDC
* * *
For what reason can it be that you should seem so dear apart from you who else appeals forever and holds my love EM
Yamazaki Sokan (1464–1552)
koe nakaba / sagi koso yuki no / hitotsurane
If only noiseless they would go, The herons flying by Were but a line of snow Across the sky CHP
tsuki ni e o / sashitaraba yoki / uchiwa kana
O Moon! —if we Should put a handle to you, What a fan you'd be! HGH
te o tsuite / uta moshiaguru / kawazu kana
hands to the floor offering up a song the frog ... WJH
* * *
O thou obsequious frog, With hands spread on the ground, And croaking flatteries of such solemn sound. CHP
waga oya no / shinuru toki ni mo / he o kokite
Even at the time When my father lay dying I still kept farting. DK
Arakida Moritake (1472–1549)
rakka eda ni / kaeru to mireba / kocho kana
A fallen blossom returning to the bough, I thought — But no, a butterfly. SDC
aoyagi no / mayu kaku kishi no / hitai kana
Green willows Paint eyebrows on the face of the cliff CAC
asagao ni / kyo wa miyuran / waga yo kana
My span of years Today appears A morning-glory's hour. CHP
Matsunaga Teitoku (1571–1653)
mina hito no / hirune no tone ya / natsu no tsuki
For all alike the cause of noontime napping is the summer moon EM
setsugekka / ichido ni miyuru / utsugi kana
It lets one see Snow, moon, and blossoms —all at once, oh, utsugi! HGH
kesa taruru / tsurara ya yodare no / ushi no toshi
This morning, how Icicles drip! — Slobbering Year of the Cow! HGH
Matsue Shigeyori [Ishu] (1596–1670)
yaa shibaraku / hana ni taishite / kane tsuku koto
Hey there, wait a moment, Before you strike the temple bell At the cherry blossoms. DK
Yasuhara Teishitsu (1609–1673)
kore wa kore wa / to bakari hana no / yoshino yama
Uttering only "Oh! Oh! Oh!" I roam over Yoshino hill ablow. IN
* * *
Look at that! and that! Is all I can say of the blossoms At Yoshino Mountain. DK
Nishiyama Soin (1605–1682)
ikani ikani / hana mo koyoi no / tsuki ichirin
No, no, not even the cherry blooms, can equal the moon of tonight. AM
sake hitotsu / nodo toru ma ni / tsuki idete
While a shot of sake passes the throat, the moon appears HS
hototogisu / ikani kijin mo / tashika ni kike
'Tis the cuckoo — Listen well! How much soever gods ye be! WGA
yo no naka ya / chocho tomo are / kaku mo are
Life Is like a butterfly Whatever it is. AK
Ihara Saikaku (1642–1693)
kokoro koko ni / naki ka nakanu ka / hototogisu
Is my mind elsewhere Or has it simply not sung? Hototogisu DK
tai wa hana / wa minu sato mo ari / kyo no tsuki
Villages may lack Sea bream or flowers but they all have tonight's moon. AK
Yoshiwara de / budo shori o / ezaru koto
In the Yoshiwara The way of the warrior Cannot conquer IMo
ukiyo no tsuki / misugoshini keri / sue ninen
I have gazed at it now For two years too long — The Moon of the Floating World. IMo
* * *
I had two last years of extra gazing at The moon of the Floating World. AK
Yamaguchi Sodo (1642–1716)
me ni wa aoba / yama hototogisu / hatsugatsuo
A view of greenery, a wild cuckoo, the first bonito EGS
yado no haru / nani mo naki koso / nani mo are
In my hut this spring, There is nothing – There is everything! RHB
ume no kaze / haikai koko ni / sakan nari
A plum scented wind In the land of haikai Blows triumphant. DK
Ichikawa Danjuro I (1660–1704)
shigamitsuku / satogo ya toko no / kirigirisu
Is it a foster child clinging to me? The cricket in my bedding. LK
Kitamura Kigin (1623–1705)
natsuyase to / kotaete ato wa / namida kana
"Oh my thinness is caused by summer heat," I answered, and burst into tears. AM
* * *
"Summer thinness dear," I replied to him, and then could not check a tear. KY
HojoDansui (1662–1711)
miyuki ni mo / amigasa nuganu / kagashi kana
The scarecrow does not uncover Even to His Imperial Majesty. AM
Matsuo Basho (1644–1694)
basho uete / mazu nikumu ogi no / futaba kana
Having planted a plantain, at once / hate two stalks of reed HS
I plant a banana tree But first see only two stalks Of dreaded weeds. AK
* * *
by my new banana plant the first sign of something I loathe – a miscanthus bud MU
kareeda ni / karasu no tomari keri / aki no kure
On dead branches crows remain perched at autumn's end HS
* * *
on a barren branch a raven has perched — autumn dusk WJH
* * *
On a leafless bough A crow is sitting: —autumn, Darkening now — HGH
furuike ya / kawazu tobikomu / mizu no oto Old Pond — frogs jumped in — sound of water LH
* * *
A lonely pond in age-old stillness sleeps ... Apart, unstirred by sound or motion ... till Suddenly into it a lithe frog leaps. CHP
* * *
The quiet pond A frog leaps in, The sound of water EGS
* * *
old pond ... a frog leaps in water's sound WJH
Th'old pond —a frog jumps in. Kerplunk! AG
* * *
frog pond ... a leaf falls in without a sound BLE
inazuma ni / satorenu hito no / totosa yo
A flash of lightning but still benighted Oh worthy man! FB
horohoro to / yamabuki chiru ka / taki no oto
Do the yellow-rose petals Tremble and fall At the rapid's roar? NGS
umi kurete / kamo no koe / honoka ni shiroshi
The waters fade and the wild ducks' cries are faintly white JBe
hiru neburu / aosagi no mi no / totosa yo
sleeping at noon the body of the blue heron poised in nobility EM
shizukasa ya / iwa ni shimiiru / semi no koe
How still it is! Stinging into the stones, The locusts' trill. DK
* * *
Quietness: seeping into the rocks, the cicada's voice HS
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Classic Tradition of Haiku by FAUBION BOWERS. Copyright © 1996 Faubion Bowers. Excerpted by permission of Dover Publications, Inc..
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