HAIKU BY YOSA BUSON
Walking on dishes
the rat’s feet make the music
of shivering cold
Buson – tr. Sam Hamill – The Sound of Water (Shambhala, 2000)
This cold winter night
that old wooden-head buddha
would make a nice fire
Buson – tr. Sam Hamill – The Sound of Water (Shambhala, 2000)
The ferry departs
as the tardy man stands in
the first winter rain
Buson – tr. Sam Hamill – The Sound of Water (Shambhala, 2000)
Head pillowed on arm,
such affection for myself!
and this smoky moon
Buson – tr. Sam Hamill – The Sound of Water (Shambhala, 2000)
Fallen red blossoms
from plum trees burst into flame
among the horse turds
Buson – tr. Sam Hamill – The Sound of Water (Shambhala, 2000)
Only the shoots
of new green leaves, white water,
and yellow barley
Buson – tr. Sam Hamill – The Sound of Water (Shambhala, 2000)
The short night is through:
on the hairy caterpillar,
little beads of dew.
Buson – tr. Harold G. Henderson – An Introduction to Haiku (Doubleday, 1958)
These morning airs—
one can see them stirring
caterpillar hairs!
Buson – tr. Harold G. Henderson – An Introduction to Haiku (Doubleday, 1958)
Morning haze:
as in a painting of a dream,
men go their ways.
Buson – tr. Harold G. Henderson – An Introduction to Haiku (Doubleday, 1958)