Matsuo Basho translations

[michaelrburch]

Lightning

shatters the darkness―

the night heron's shriek

―Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch



The first soft snow:

leaves of the awed jonquil

bow low

—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch



Come, investigate loneliness!

a solitary leaf

clings to the Kiri tree

—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch


Graven images of long-departed gods,

dry spiritless leaves:

companions of the temple porch

—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch



See: whose surviving sons

visit the ancestral graves

white-bearded, with trembling canes?


This darkening autumn:

my neighbor,

how does he continue?

—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch



Let us arrange

these lovely flowers in the bowl

since there's no rice

—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch



The first chill rain:

poor monkey, you too could use

a woven cape of straw

—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch



This snowy morning:

cries of the crow I despise

(ah, but so beautiful!)

—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch



Like a heavy fragrance

snow-flakes settle:

lilies on rocks

—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch



The cheerful-chirping cricket

contends gray autumn's gay,

contemptuous of frost

—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch



Whistle on, twilight whippoorwill,

solemn evangelist

of loneliness

—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch



The sea darkening,

the voices of the wild geese:

my mysterious companions!

—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch



Will we meet again?

Here at your flowering grave:

two white butterflies

—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch



Ah me,

I waste my meager breakfast

morning glory gazing!

―Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch


The butterfly

perfuming its wings

fans the orchid

—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch


The legs of the cranes

have been shortened

by the summer rains.

―Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch



A solitary crow

clings to a leafless branch:

autumn twilight

―Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

[Just Fred]

Very nice and very boring.