My translation: All around, The waterfall’s sound. A leaf, so young. Or: Near and far, I hear The sound of water falling: A leaf, so young. Yosa Buson’s original Japanese をちこちに滝の音きく若葉かな Pronunciation Google Translator: press speaker button to listen Ochikochi ni Taki no oto kiku …
Read MoreHearing the lark sing
This is a cute little haiku from Basho observing the non-stop singing of the lark, which he never gets tired of listening to, and the lark also never gets tired of singing, no matter how long the day (it’s a double meaning). My Translation Endless …
Read MoreJapanese poem: Autumn in the Field (in the tanka form)
This poem is attributed to the Emperor Tenji in the famous 1235 AD anthology of Japanese poetry, One Hundred People, One Verse Each, but it is unlikely to have actually been written by him and is more likely taken from a folk song. Like all …
Read MoreCaught in the Rain (Basho)
My Translation Missing my hat, Caught in the cold rain. What the hell… Original Japanese 笠もなきわれを時雨るるかこは何と Pronunciation GoogleTranslator: press speaker button to listen Kasa mo naki Ware wo shigururu ka Ko ha nan-to Literal Hat also none I am in a wintry shower What a …
Read MoreBeware the cat in heat!
This cute little haiku from Basho tells the story of a well-meaning dog that made the mistake of disturbing a cat in heat, and paid the price for it J. It also has the connotation that a cat in love no longer fears the dog …
Read MoreBasho’s poetic philosophy #1
From Basho: My Translation From the pine, Learn the pine, From bamboo, Learn bamboo. Original 松の事は松に習へ、竹の事は竹に習へ Pronunciation Matsu no koto wa Matsu ni narae, Take no koto wa Take ni narae! Literal translation About a pine, Learn the pine, About a bamboo, Learn the …
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