- • •
Uguisu ya
doroashi nuguu
ume no hana
|
A bush warbler comes—
and starts to wipe his muddy feet
among the blossoming plums.
|
- • •
Tōyama no
medama ni utsuru
tombo kana
|
In its eye
the far-off hills are mirrored—
dragonfly!
|
Agasao no
hana de fuitaru
iori kana
|
A morning-glory vine
in its full bloom, has thatched
this hut of mine.
|
Utsukushi ya
shōji no ana no
ama-no-gawa
|
A lovely thing to see:
through the paper window’s holes
the Galaxy.
|
Ware to kite
asobe yo oya no
nai suzume
|
Come to me—with each other
let’s play—little sparrow
without any mother.
|
Furusato ya
yoru mo sawaru mo
ibara no hana
|
The place where I was born:
all I come to—all I touch—
blossoms of the thorn!
|
Toshikasa wo
urayamaretaru
samusa kana
|
When one is old
one is envied by people—
oh, but it’s cold!
|
Kobayashi Issa (1763–1828)
Translated by Harold G. Henderson
