Taneda Santōka, collected by Luca Aurelia

thistle bright morning: haiku by Taneda Santōka

Hiroaki Satō

Santoka: Grass and Tree Cairn

2002 • show hide

In pine winds at dawn and dusk striking the bell Matsukaze ni akekure no kane tsuite

I go in I go in still the blue mountains Wakeitte mo wakeitte mo aoi yama

In the midst of life and death the snow falls ceaselessly Seishi no naka no yuki furishikiru

Burning heaven on my head I beg I walk Enten o itadaite koi aruku

Alone being eaten up by mosquitoes Hitori de ka ni kuwareteiru

Letting the dragonfly stay on my hat I walk on Kasa ni tombo o tomarasete aruku

The road being straight lonesome Massuguna michi de samishii

Wordlessly I put on today's straw sandals Damatte kyo no zori haku

Fluttering drunk leaves scatter Horohoro youte ki no ha chiru

Winter shower I'm still not dead Shigururu ya shinanaideiru

The shadow in the water I am a traveler Mizu ni kage aru tabibito de aru

The snow falls falls as I watch the snow Yuki ga furu furu yuki miteoreba

I've received enough to eat the rain starts Taberu dake wa itadaita ame to nari

It having survived I'm scratching my body Ikinokotta karada o kaiteiru

The mountain I'll never see again grows distant Mata miru koto mo nai yama ga touzakaru

A shrike calls there's no place to dump my body Mozu naite mi no sute dokoro nashi

Hopeless I keep walking Dou shiyou mo nai watashi ga aruiteiru

The Daikan Peak I go in and the sound of water Wakeireba mizu no oto

I slip and fall the mountain hushed Subette koronde yama ga hissori

Maimai's Residence Ceaselessly dropping these large leaves Shikirini ochiru ookii ha kana

Completely withered they are now beans Sukkari karete mame to natteiru

On my tired leg a dragonfly has lighted Tsukareta ashi e tombo tomatta

A withered mountain with enough water to drink Kareyama nomu hodo no mizu wa arite

My monk's robe so torn grass seeds Houi konnani yaburete kusa no mi

That cloud dropped the rain I'm getting wet in Ano kumo ga otoshita ame ni nureteiru

Autumn's come I sit in the weeds Aki to natta zassou ni suwaru

Such delicious water overflowing Konnani umai mizu ga afureteiru

With the sound of water I've come down to a village Mizuoto to issho ni sato e oritekita

Absolutely no cloud I take off my hat Mattaku kumo ga nai kasa o nugi

Up to the graves in rows the waves rolling in Haka ga narande soko made nami ga oshiyosete

Drunk I'd been asleep with the crickets Youte kourogi to neteita

The sound of the rain dripping has also grown old Amadare no oto mo toshitotta

Holding out its branches a winter tree Eda o sashinobeteiru fuyuki

No more houses to beg at above the mountain clouds Mono kou ie mo nakunari yama ni wa kumo

Or I stop begging and am looking at the mountain6 Aruiwa kou koto o yamete yama o miteiru

Even my hat has started to leak I see Kasa mo moridashita ka

This frosty night's bed must be somewhere Shimoyo no nedoko ga dokoka ni aro

Your back in the winter shower you go away I see Ushiro sugata no shigurete yukuka

Into my iron alms bowl too hail Teppatsu no naka e mo arare

This the tooth that came out just like that Horori to nuketa ha de wa aru

Cold clouds hurry Samui kumo ga isogu

My hometown's distant tree buds Furusato wa toukushite ki no me

Thump on my hat was a camellia Kasa e pottori tsubaki datta

In autumn wind I pick up a stone Akikaze no ishi o hirou

Along today's road dandelions have bloomed Kyou no michi no tampopo saita

Rain falls in my hometown walk barefoot Ame furu furusato wa hadashi de aruku

To the kitchen moonlight alone Kuriya made tsukikage no hitori de

Morning glow rain falls I'll sow daikon Asayake ame furu daikon makou

Dew in grass seeds, trying to calm down Kusa no mi no tsuyu no, ochitsukou to suru

From the evening sky I accept one citron Yuuzora kara yuzu no hitotsu o morau

The moon risen I'm waiting for nothing in particular Tsuki ga nobotte nani o matsu de mo naku

With this and that to eat one windy day Arekore taberu mono wa atte kaze no ichinichi

The sound of water truly I've calmed down Mizuoto shinjitsu ochitsukimashita

The sense that someone's coming the sky cloudy loquat blossoms Dare ka kisou na sora ga kumotteiru biwa no hana

In the snowy sky I pick the last one Yukizora no saigo no hitotsu o mogu

Gochu snow falls as a solitary man I make a fire Gochu yuki furu hitori to shite hi o taku

A warm day, still have things to eat Nukui hi no, mada taberu mono wa aru

Through the moonlight's center I come back Tsukikage no mannaka o modoru

I'm in the quietness of snow falling on snow Yuki e yuki furu shizukesa ni oru

Snow falls one by one they go Yuki furu hitori hitori yuku

Moonlit night, so your gift was rice Tsukiyo, temiyage wa kome dattaka

Camellias open there's a grave Tsubaki hiraite haka ga aru

The noise a bird that's come to eat nuts in the morning perhaps Oto wa asa kara ki no mi o tabeni kita tori ka

I pull and pull yet I pull the grass's attachment Nuite mo nuite mo kusa no shuuchaku o nuku

Today I pick bog rhubarb I eat bog rhubarb Kyou wa fuki o tsumi fuki o tabe

Sparrows dance yeah dandelions scatter yeah Suzume odoru ya tampopo chiru ya

A butterfly from back to front fluttering Tefu tefu ura kara omote e hira hira

Today also all day no one came fireflies Kyou mo ichinichi dare mo konakatta hotaru

Dragonfly trying to light on my stark naked body are you Suppadaka e tombo tomarou to suruka

Rustling stirring a non-chirping insect has come Kasari kosori oto sasete nakanu mushi ga kita

Pine winds cool a man eats a horse eats Matsukaze suzushiku hito mo tabe uma mo tabe

Which is what everything's abloom Nani ga nani yara minna saiteiru

I walk and buttercups I sit and buttercups Arukeba kimpouge suwareba kimpouge

With the drips from the young leaves the drips from my hat Wakaba no shizuku de kasa no shizuku de

The temple's bamboo shoots have become bamboo O-tera no takenoko take ni natta

Alone I listen a woodpecker Hitori kiiteiru kitsutsuki

I'm waiting the cherries are ripening Matteiru sakurambo ureteiru

In the mountain's embrace I become naked Yama futokoro no hadaka to nari

On the mountain all day ants too are walking Yama no ichinichi ari mo aruiteiru

Clouds hurry and turn it into a good moon Kumo ga isoide yoi tsuki ni suru

Always alone and red dragonflies Itsumo hitori de akatombo

It moved was a bagworm Ugoite minomushi datta yo

Grass grows thick that's a place for burning the dead Kusa shigeru soko wa shinin o yaku tokoro

Morning dew sopping I go where I want Asatsuyu shittori ikitai hou e iku

Burning heaven with no place to hide the water flows toward me Enten kakusu tokoro naku mizu no nagarete kuru

The evening shower has washed the eggplants I pick 'em Yuudachi ga aratte itta nasu o mogu

Crickets there's just enough rice for tomorrow Kourogi yo asu no kome dake wa aru

I reach figs their ripeness Te ga todoku ichijiku no urezama

Memories the tides rise at the hometown ferry Omoide wa shio michitekuru furusato no watashiba

I see the sun off beyond the mountains and eat my meal Yama no anata e o-hi-sama o miokuri gohan ni suru

Noon too quiet flies know the fly-swatter Hiru mo shizukana hae ga haetataki o shitteiru

The misery of no longer being able to get drunk the crickets chirp Yoenakunatta mijimesa wa korogi ga naku

Was so good the evening shower the sounds of water here and there Honni yokatta yuudachi no mizuoto ga soko koko

Finally the mail came and now only ripe persimmons drop Yatto yuubin ga kite sorekara jukushi no ochiru dake

Each time a fruit ripens and drops I pick it up Urete wa ochiru mi o hirou

After seeing someone off I return alone through the quagmire Hito o miokuri hitori de kaeru nukarumi

Moonlit night, I wash all the rice I have Tsukiyo, aru dake no kome o togu

The sky's depth dead leaves sunk in the water Sora no fukasa wa ochiba shizundeiru mizu

With the moonlight from behind me I cross the water Ushiro kara tsuki no kage suru mizu o wataru

Broken with a snap bamboo among bamboo Pokiri to orete take ga take no naka

The moon goes behind it and there's the thicket's shadow Tsuki ga ura e mawareba yabukage

This year too this its last night sleet starts Kotoshi mo kon'ya giri no mizore to natta

Here like this I place myself winter night Koko ni koushite watashi oiteiru fuyuyo

I get sick and a blue heron comes near Yameba aosagi ga sokora made

I'm eating sake the mountain's withered Sake o tabeteiru yama wa kareteiru

The brightness of snow everywhere the quietness Yuki no akarusa ga ie ippai no shizukesa

Camellias fall the water flows Tsubaki no ochiru mizu no nagareru

I wake snow falls, not that I'm lonely Nezame yuki furu, sabishigaru dewa nai ga

The owl in the owl's way I in my way can't sleep Fukurou wa fukurou de watashi wa watashi de nemurenai

The moon goes behind it still the tree shadow Tsuki ga ura e mawattemo kokage

The bagworm too dripping spring has come yes Minomushi mo shizuku suru haru ga kita zo na

Grasses and trees alive I'm back they luxuriate Kusa ya ki ya ikite modotte shigetteiru

Ill alone a morning turns into evening green leaves Yamite hitori no asa ga yuube to nariyuku aoba

The persimmon's young leaves glitter in the sky I'm yet not dead Kaki no wakaba no kagayaku sora o shinazuni iru

Bees butterflies grasses so many blooming Hachi ga tefucho ga kusa ga nambo demo saite

Always chained the dog has no choice but to bark Itsumo tsunagarete hoeru hoka nai inu desu

Sprouting growing blooming happiness Haete nobite saiteiru koufuku

Their shadows distinct the young leaves Kage mo hakkiri to wakaba

Suddenly out of a hole a lizard is it Hyoito ana kara tokage ka yo

Peckers and pussies overflowing hot water Chimpoko mo ososo mo waite afureru yu

Alone hushed a bamboo shoot grows to become bamboo Hitori hissori takenoko take ni naru

A mountain peers from behind a mountain the rainy season's over Yama kara yama ga nozoite tsuyubare

With something to eat something to drink in the weeds rain Taberu mono wa atte you mono mo atte zassou no ame

Under burning heaven an endless line of ants Enten no hate mo naku ari no gyouretsu

The spider spreads his net I affirm myself Kumo wa ami haru watashi wa watashi o kouteisuru

Ready to die any moment grass blooms bears seeds Itsu de mo shineru kusa ga saitari minottari

The sun at its most intense one leaf falls Hizakari ochiru ha no ichimai

A cool wind passes so do bees so do dragonflies Kaze ga suzushiku fukinukeru node hachi mo tombo mo

Drink hometown's water bathe in the water Furusato no mizu o nomi mizu o abi

Make this the place to die grasses luxuriate luxuriate Koko o shini basho to shite kusa no shigeri ni shigeri

In an autumn wind, an angry praying mantis this Akikaze no, haratateteiru kamakiri de

Burdened with a heavy load he's blind Omoni o oute mekura de aru

The road where we parted straight Wakaretekita michi ga massugu

Wake from a nap whichever way I look mountains Hirune samete dochira o mite mo yama

A good inn mountains everywhere and a sake store in front Yoi yado de dochira mo yama de mae wa sakaya de

I sit and there's a wind autumn weeds Suwareba kaze ga aru aki no zassou

I decide to sleep here grass seeds spill Koko de neru to suru kusa no mi no koboreru

Bush clover and pampas grass are today's road Hagi ga susuki ga kyou no michi

Leaves fall fall into my alms bowl too Ki no ha furu furu hachinoko e mo

I walk and grass seeds I sit and grass seeds Arukeba kusa no mi suwareba kusa no mi

Now, which way shall I go the wind blows Sate, dochira e iko kaze ga fuku

There's only this road spring snow falls Kono michi shika nai haru no yuki furu

Because the mountain's quiet I take off my hat Yama shizuka nareba kasa o nugu

The two or three left become ripe persimmons clouds come and go Nokosareta futatsu mittsu ga jukushi to naru kumo no yukiki

No one comes cayenne peppers turn red Dare mo konai tougarashi akou naru

I take ill and the pickled plums' red Yameba umeboshi no akasa

No matter how I think it's all the same I step on dead leaves and walk on Nambo kangaete mo onnaji koto no ochiba fumi aruku

I lie down I get up leaves fall Netari okitari ochiba suru

Wide awake and feeling the moon right above Hokkari samete maue no tsuki o kanjiteiru

Withering grass I sit on its beauty Kareyuku kusa no utsukushisa ni suwaru

I live withdrawn and a wren Hissori kuraseba misosazai

Dangling the snow falling on a bagworm Burari to sagatte yuki furu minomushi

Just as they are weeds sprout Aru ga mama zassou to shite me o fuku

From the mountain white flowers to my desk Yama kara shiroi hana o tsukue ni

Into the sky young bamboo with no troubling thoughts Sora e wakatake no nayami mo nashi

Around me all grasses every one blooming Mi no mawari kusa darake minna saiteru

I roll on my back and there's the blue sky Korori nekorobeba aozora

Seeking what I go through the wind Nani o motomeru kaze no naka yuku

In the depths of the green leaves the path still then a grave Aoba no oku e nao michi ga atte haka

The moon before you know it brightens and katydids Tsuki ga itsushika akarukunareba kirigirisu

Butterflies entangling in the shadow in the sun Tefutefu motsuretsutsu kagehinata

Once you die, weeds rain falls Shindeshimaeba, zassou ame furu

Before death a cool breeze Shi o mae ni suzushii kaze

Even while wind chimes tinkle death sneaks up Fuurin no naru sae shi no shinobiyoru

Have no thoughts to leave the evening's sweet potato leaves aflutter Omoi oku koto wa nai yuube no imo no ha hirahira

The wound healing turning autumnal the wind blows Kizu ga ieyuku aki meita kaze to natte kaze fuku

I walk and cuckoos I hurry and cuckoos Arukeba kakkou isogeba kakkuu

Heart empty the rough waves rolling in rolling out Kokoro munashiku aranami no yosete wa kaeshi

Crouched on a dune today I still can't see Sado Sakyuu ni uzukumari kyou mo Sado wa mienai

Legs stretched toward the rough sea before and after the journey Araumi e ashi nagedashite tabi no atosaki

Having come this far I drink water and leave Koko made o koshi mizu nonde saru

A butterfly aflutter has gone over the roof tiles Tefutefu hirahira iraka o koeta

Sobering a wind sadly blows through me Yoizame no kaze no kanashiku fukinukeru

My heart calms down and the sound of the water Kokoro ochitsukeba mizu no oto

I follow the bright and dark sides of a wind Kaze no meian o tadoru

From the moon flutters down a persimmon leaf Tsuki kara hirari to kaki no ha

Waiting for what day by day dead leaves grow deep Nani o matsu hi ni hi ni ochiba fukounaru

Drying up the water's clarity Karetekuru mizu no sumi yo

Wash 'em and daikon grow even more white Araeba daikon iyoiyo shiroshi

With a shadow too desultorily late night I'm eating Kage mo bosoboso yofuke no watashi ga tabeteiru

I know the footfalls stepping on the fallen leaves coming closer Ochiba fumikuru sono ashioto wa shitteiru

After all being alone's lonesome the withered grass Yappari hitori wa samishii karekusa

Leaves fallen all the more intimate my neighbor's light Ochiba shite sarani shitashiku otonari no hi no

Out of the wind caw caw crows Kaze no naka kara kaakaa karasu

The leaves fallen no more leaves to fall the sun Ha no ochite ochiru ha wa nai taiyou

Snow falls I have things to eat snow falls Yuki furu taberu mono wa atte yuki furu

Moon's brightness I wonder where they're bombing Tsuki no akarusa wa doko o bakugeki shiteiru koto ka

Snow falling on snow battle is about to begin they say Yuki e yuki furu tatakai wa kore kara da to iu

The town's festive you've returned as bones have you Machi wa omatsuri o-hone to natte kaeraretaka

Horse too requisitioned grandpa grandma Uma mo mesarete ojiisan obasan

Legs and arms left in China you are back to Japan Ashi wa te wa Shina ni nokoshite futatabi Nihon ni

Wordlessly playing a single bird in the blossoms Damatte asubu tori no ichiwa ga hana no naka

The spring wind's bagworm has taken a sudden peek Harukaze no minomushi hyoito nozoita

Taking a sudden peek the bagworm doesn't cry Hyoito nozoite minomushi wa nakanai

The green of the grass I return barefoot Kusa no aosa yo hadashi de modoru

In rows bamboo shoots turning into bamboo Narande takenoko take ni naritsutsu

In the wind I walk blaming myself Kaze no naka onore o semetsutsu aruku

Winter shower all the rice I got cooked good Shigururu ya aru dake no gohan yo taketa

Death held tight the cayenne pepper scarlet Shi o hishi to tougarashi makka na

Death's stillness is the clear sky a leafless tree Shi no shizukesa wa harete ha no nai ki

There in front of death I put the moon Soko ni tsuki o shi no mae ni oku

I open the window the spring filling the window Mado akete mado ippai no haru

Stillness, bamboo shoots have all turned into bamboo Shizukesa, takenoko minna take ni natta

Living alone and green green is the grass Hitori sumeba aoao to shite kusa

A hop a single red frog Tonde ippiki akagaeru

Near my body water comes flowing Mi no chikaku mizu no nagarete kuru

From somewhere clouds appear autumn clouds Doko kara tomo naku kumo ga detekite aki no kumo

Autumn wind, whichever way I want to go as far as I can go Akikaze, ikitai hou e ikeru tokoro made

Since I stopped coming across people the mountain butterflies Hito ni awanakunarite yori yama no tefutefu

With this body that can die any place spring wind Doko demo shineru karada de shumpuu

Balmy the butterfly is dead Uraura chou wa shindeiru

Cherry blossoms at their peak a prison Sakura mankai ni shite keimusho

Of the house where I was born no trace left fireflies Umareta ie wa atokata mo nai hotaru

Water's delicious frog croak Mizu no umasa o kawazu naku

Letting the moon as far as my bed I decide to sleep Nedoko made tsuki o ire neru koto ni suru

The darkness of the rice trusty I wash it Kome no kurosa mo tanomoshiku arau

My bellybutton a pool of sweat Heso ga ase tameteiru

Walls crumbling from there vine grass Kabe ga kuzurete soko kara tsurugusa

That's a pre-death butterfly dance Sore wa shi no mae no tefutefu no mai

Autumn's end-turned-fly crawls about Aki mo owari no hae to nari haiaruku

Moon invisible moonlit water brimming Tsuki wa mienai tsukiakari no mizu manman

Cawing a crow, flapping a crow, with no place to settle down Naite karasu no, tonde karasu no, ochitsuku tokoro ga nai

The sound of water today too alone I travel Mizuoto kyou mo hitori tabi yuku

Mountain's quietness the white flower Yama no shizukesa wa shiroi hana

Can't calm down the futon heavy I sleep Ochitsukenai futon omotaku neru

Under burning heaven the railway track straight Enten no reeru massugu

A crow flies away I'll cross the water Karasu tondeyuku mizu o wataro

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Scott Watson

The Santoka: Versions

2005 • show hide

forsaken still something in these legs

it's come to these tired legs to stop this dragonsly

slipping and falling mountain silence

getting just enough to eat: rain (*by begging that is)

no matter news is good or bad—spring snow

taking it easy, taking a piss-weeds bud all over

no sake. drink in the moon

certain days stop begging to take in the mountains

rock shadow water gushing sure as I live

Milky Way middle night drunkard dancing

this robe this worn this weedy fruition

autumn-sitting in weeds

peckers and pussies a hot bath over-flowing

still alive a body for a body to scratch

naked conversation abounds

jazz noise won't get you there a sutra will

straight ahead out-reaching loneliness road.

if we walk: the cuckoo. if we hurry: the cuckoo.

walking: buttercups sitting: buttercups

traveling endlessly clipping my nails

grilling a fish even singeing a hand —single life

a weed. a- lone. all right.

wind blows its way to sea. deep in night. alone

jazz noise won't get you where a sutra will

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Scott Watson

Walking By My Self Again

2011 • show hide

over morning noises a long bridge spans

all day today too no one came fireflies

until my clothes dry / this grassy breeze

spider spins its web I affirm my self

drizzling. / undying.

no matter news is / good or bad / spring snow

with the crowd around / a dead body / a sky without clouds

air raid sirens / one after another / persimmons are red

falling leaves / deep deep seeing / Buddha

as if someone is coming loquat leaf falling

wanting something to do grass blades stirring

in a cool / pine wind / people / eating / horses / eating

intimate / mountain / meadow / bush warbler / cries

tip tap comes a bug with no buzz

long away / come back: bamboo / shoots shooting

waiting / cherries / ripening

whatever it all is it all is blossoming

walking: grasses in seed. / sitting: grasses in seed.

there is only thisroad spring snow falling

after a rain a thistle clear morning

spring has come water sounds go where they do

neither waiting / nor not waiting / moonlight weeds

settled / down / persimmons / ripen / already

looking down all the small stones

spider makes its web I affirm my self

this day this far sandals come off

well now. / which way to go. / wind blowing.

nothing to wait on: / the risen moon

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Gilles Fabre

Haiku Spirit: Santoka

unknown • show hide

The path straight ahead solitude

Silently I put on today's straw sandals

Today again soaken wet walking on a strange path

Today I pick buttercups I eat buttercups

No inn for the night the moon shows the way

Spring I walk holding my begging bowl up to where?

Light-hearted I taste water

My meal today water

In the water my reflection as a pilgrim

In my begging bowl the glaring whiteness of rice

On my own attacked by mosquitos

I slap flies I slap mosquitos I slap myself

With a dragonfly on my bamboo hat walking

On my tired feet a dragonfly has settled

From now on I won't wear any watch evening rain

Autumn rain mountains more mountains mountains I don't know

Just like this it rains I am soaken wet I walk

Soaken wet the milestone showing the way

I've just been given something to eat falling rain

This body that has survived I am scratching it

Far faraway birds fly over snowy mountains

My skull freshly shaved really reflects the sunlight

Now that I don't meet anyone mountain butterflies

In the mountain all day long these ants too walk

Some days sometimes I don't beg and gaze at the mountains

Getting further from these mountains I'll never see again

Not one cloud I take off my bamboo hat

This cloud there let the rain down that soaked me

Far from my home village budding trees

Someone speaks with a voice like my father's sad while travelling

At last some mail from now on ripe persimmons will fall

Postman He brings me my mail eats a persimmon and then leaves

Everything may be happy or sad grass grows

Falling leaves they also fall in my begging bowl

Under the quilt I sleep dreaming of my home village

Now that no one comes anymore chillis have gone red

Picking up a flower I don't know I offer it to Buddha

Up to the rows of graves the waves break

Today I am still alive I stretch my legs

In public baths Naked the discussion gets heated

Something's missing a tooth fell out I hurl it into the night

At the foot of the mountain in the sun's heat in line five or six graves

Heavy rain the postman comes from so far

This my face in the cold mirror?

Making fun of me my figure seen from behind going away in the autumn rain?

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Cid Corman

Walking Into the Wind

1997 • show hide

where the walls are falling apart the vines the grass

men women and the shadows too dancing

the waves sound sometimes close and sometimes far away how much more of life

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Emiko Miyashita, Fumiko Yamamoto

Santôka

2006 • show hide

washed / the daikon absolutely white araeba daikon iyoiyo shiroshi

cherry tree / cherry blossoms / cherry blossoms scatter / cherry tree sakura sakura saku sakura chiru sakura

as my mind calms down / the sound of water kokoro ochitsukeba mizu no oto

the owl is the owl / whereas I am I and can't sleep fukurô wa fukurô de watashi wa watashi denemurenai

passing through passing through yet still green mountains wakeittemo wakeittemo aoi yama

into the begging bowl, too / a hailstone teppatsu no naka e mo arare

my hangover clears / the blinking stars yoizame no hoshi ga matataite iru

I emerge from a good hot spring / to the good moon yoi yu kara yoi tsuki e deta

death's hush is the serene leafless tree shi no shizukesa wa harete ha no nai ki

which is which / everything's blooming nani ga nani yara minna saite iru

the last dahlia / about to wither / and beautiful as it is nagori dariya karentoshite utsukushii

today again all day long nobody has come / fireflies kyô mo ichinichi dare mo konakatta hôtaru

the grass so green / I return barefoot kusa no aosa yo hadashi de modoru

this is the only path / spring snow falling kono michi shika nai haru no yuki furu

a crow caws / I also am alone karasu naite watashi mo hitori

unworthy I am walking dô shiyô mo nai watashi ga aruite iru

The road's so straight it's lonely massugu na michi de samishii

fluttery but a butterfly can't sing hirahira chô wa utaenai

I'm composed / the persimmons are mellowing, too ochitsuite kaki mo urete kuru

awaiting you / the fire burns well anata o matte iru hi no yô moeru

so badly weakened / even when I step on fallen leaves konnanimo yowatte shimatta ochiba fumu sae

rustling rustling / a mute cricket has come kasari kosori otosasete nakanu mushi ga kita

a good inn / mountains on both sides / and facing a sake shop yoi yado de dochira mo yama de mae wa sakaya de

I'm used to being alone / the red dragonflies itsumo hitori de akatonbo

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Dennis Keene

Rain in the Wind

1990 • show hide

Rain in late autumn / managing not yet / to die shigururu ya / shinanaide iru

Rain in late autumn / walking in the hills / with the autumn rain shigururu ya shigururu yama e ayumi iru

Whose back going / into the autumn rain / fading ushiro sugata no shigurete yuku ka

Rain in late autumn / all the rice I have / nicely cooked shigururu ya aru dake no gohan yô yaketa

Dôgo Spa The morning bath / water swiftly overflows / me in it asayu konkon afururu mannaka no watakushi

On the dead / straight road / alone massugu na michi de samishii

Going barefoot / about my home village / as the rain falls ame furu furusato wa hadashi de aruku

The sound of autumn rain? oto wa shigure ka

Light rain since morning / the beauty of / the persimmon leaves asa kara shigurete kaki no ha no utsukushisa wa

Wet in the rain / and the awaited / person comes shigurete nurete matsu hito ga kita

Today spent alone / and at its close / the rain comes on watashi hitori no kyô no owari no shigurete kita

Walking through the rain of / the village where I have / no place to stay tomete kurenai mura no shigure o aruku

The rain comes down / the road / makes one straight line shigururu ya michi wa hitosuji

Before the shrine the / mandarin tree its fruit / wet in the autumn rain ukon no tachibana no mi no shigururu ya

The great camphor tree / and me and the dog / soaked in the rain ôkusu mo watashi mo inu mo shiguretsutsu

Temple among pines as / rain comes on here I shall / spend the night matsu no otera shigure to natte tomarimasu

Floating drifting / the wandering water / I taste hyôhyô to shite mizu o ajiwau

With the sound of falling / water to the / village I came down mizu oto to issho ni sato e kudarite kita

Soaked in the / rain that cloud there / has let fall ano kumo ga otoshita ame ni nurete iru

Across the water the / lights in the house of women / lit once more mizu wo hedatete / onagoya no hi ga / matataki dashita

The Public Bath Cocks cunts all / boiling and the bath / water flows over chimpoko mo ososo mo waite afureru yu

Having got this far / I drink some water / then leave koko made o kishi mizu nonde saru

I shall cross this / water the crow / flies over karasu tonde yuku mizu o watarô

In the early morning / a cold rain falls / I light the fire asa hayaku shigururu hi o taite iru

Rain falling and / the postman has / travelled far for me shigururu ya Y?binya-san tôku kite kureta

A moonlit night / falling rain the sound / of spring approaching tsukiyo shigurete haru chikaku naru oto

Rain falling on my bamboo / hat I go next door / to get some water shigure kasa de otonari e mizu o morai ni

Rain falling on the / persimmon its autumn leaves / finally beautiful shigurete kaki no ha no iyo-iyo utsukushiku

Caught by the rain / the woman with her load / hurries onwards otata shigurete suta suta isogu

It rains and I / follow after / the footprints shigururu ashiato o tadoriyuku

The sound of waves / in the rain / in the sunlight nami oto shigurete harete

Rain falling on / the pine tree and / the pine tree matsu no ki matsu no ki to shigurete iru

In the falling rain / my way barred by / a dog shigururu ya inu to mukiatte iru

Bright light of the moon / does it know where they / are bombing tonight tsuki no akarusa wa doko o bakugeki shite iru koto ka

Beaten by the wind even / a house like this has given / both sons as the signs show kogarashi no hi no maru futatsu futari mo dashite iru

We must win all / burgeoning together / through the great earth kataneba naranai daichi issei ni mebukô to suru

Marching firmly on the / earth their feet will / never tread again futatabi wa fumamai tsuchi o fumishimete iku

All I can do is / walk the autumn rain / falls furiously aruku hoka nai aki no ame furitsunoru

Soaked through in the autumn / rain I wring out my / travel garment and go on shigurete nurete tabigoromo shibotte wa yuku

Unable yet to die / flowers of the other shore / in bloom nakanaka shinenai higanbana saku

Hurrying on to / death the water / tastes so good shi o hishi hishi to mizu no umasa kana

Rain falls on one then / another mountain / unknown mountains shigurete yama o mata yama o shiranai yama

Striding out urging / my body onwards cold / rain falls on the mountain karada nagedashite shigururu yama

In the cold rain / the signpost and I / cannot read it shigurete michi shirube sono ji ga yomenai

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Okami

Weeds, Falling Rain

unknown • show hide

Unpleasant days: days I don't walk, days without booze, haikuless days.

Sake for flesh, haiku for soul: sake is the haiku of the flesh haiku is the sake of the soul.

Walking on and on - my only course.

So this is what he calls his "tea grove" - one miserable bush!

No water but that trickling from the farmer in the dry ricefield.

The thistles - fresh and sparkling after morning rain.

At the mountain-foot many graves resting in the warm sunlight.

This road straight - and empty of company.

Going deeper and still deeper into green mountains.

The sunshine freshly reflecting from my freshly-shaven head.

Begging: I accept the burning sun.

One pot is enough; I wash the rice.

Shining brightly in the sunshine: my little bowl of rice.

Within life and death snow ceaselessly falls.

I have no home; autumn gets bleaker.

Worn and torn daily and falling in shreds: my cloak for travelling.

The giant camphor-tree: the dog and I completely soaked.

Nice road leading to a nice building: a crematorium.

Rain in my eyes: I can't read the signpost.

The sky at sunset - a little alcohol would taste so good.

The long night: made even longer by a barking dog.

The louse I've caught is warmer than I am!

Nonchalantly pissing off the road soaking the young weeds.

Winter rain clouds - soldiers off to China to be blown to bits.

Marching together on the ground their feet will never pound again.

Leaving hands and feet behind in China: Japanese soldiers come home.

Will the municipality stage a banner day for those brought back as bones?

Baggage I can't throw off so heavy front and back.

In the calm stillness after the rainstorm: flies.

Slowly but surely I adopt the vices of my dead father.

Sweat: collecting in my navel.

Today's lunch: just water.

Breaking the dead branches thinking of nothing.

Today again no letters. Only butterflies.

At last! The mail's arrived. Soon ripe fruit will fall.

The leaves fall. From now on water will taste better and better.

A little woozy, leaves fall one by one.

My begging-bowl accepts the falling leaves.

Hailstones also drop into my begging-bowl.

If I sell my rags and buy some alcohol—will there still be loneliness?

Twilight - the sound of a sad letter dropping into a postbox.

Goallessly I walk amongst tombstones.

Slowly, slowly falling apart: my final autumn.

I've become a real beggar now: one towel.

The few flies that remain find me familiar.

Pissing blood - how long will I be able to carry on?

Coughing, coughing - and nobody to slap my back.

No money, no possessions, no teeth - all alone.

My heart's exhausted - the mountains, the sea are too beautiful.

Mountains I'll never see again fade in the distance.

When I die: weeds, falling rain.

Some life remains: I scratch my belly...

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Stephen Addiss

Haiku: An Anthology of Japanese Poems

2009 • show hide

Endless scorching sun- / the wind blows enten hateshinaki kaze fuku

Snow / falls on snow- / and remains silent yuki e yuki furu shizukesa ni oru

Dragonfly on a rock- / absorbed in / a daydream ishi ni tombo wa mahiru no yume miru

Alone, silently- / the bamboo shoot hitori hissori takenoko take ni naru

To the mountain quietude / the quiet / rain yama no shizukasa e shizuka naru ame

The sound / of the raindrops / also grown older amadare no oto mo toshi totta

Winter rain- / I am not dead yet shigururu ya shinanaide iru

Tired heart- / mountains and ocean / too much beauty kokoro tsukarete yama ga umi ga utsukushisugiru

When I finally die- / weeds / falling rain shinde shimaeba zassô ame furu

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Akira Yamamoto

Long Dream: Santoka

2012 • show hide

From deep beneath my hometown soil a gong is struck ふるさとの土の底から鉦たたき

Sweat collects in my belly button へそが汗ためてゐる

Can’t stop coughing No hand to tap me on the back 咳がやまない背中をたたく手がない

Chewing on eggplant washed clean by rain 夕立が洗つていつた茄子をもぐ

Spring snowfall She is truly a beautiful woman 春の雪ふる女はまことうつくしい

No one came by today, either, little firefly けふもいちにち誰も来なかつたほうたる

returning to the center of the moonlight 月かげのまんなかをもどる

A pleasant road leads to a pleasant building, a crematorium よい道がよい建物へ、焼場です

drizzling rain – I’m not dead yet しぐるるや死なないでゐる

Tree leaves fall Walking just to walk 木の葉散る歩きつめる

The road ahead is lonesome まつすぐな道でさみしい

walking, downhill running, downhill あるけばかつこういそげばかつこう

This is the only road Snowfall in spring この道しかない春の雪ふる

A dragonfly on my straw hat, I walk on 笠にとんぼをとまらせてあるく

Firefly, come, come We’ve made it to my hometown ほうたるこいこいふるさとにきた

rain falls and falls walking barefoot through my hometown 雨ふるふるふるさとははだしであるく

In the cracks between the buildings I can see the blue of the mountains ビルとビルとのすきまから見えて山の青さよ

Cuckoo, tomorrow let’s climb over that mountain ほととぎすあすはあの山こえて行かう

The owl, being an owl, and I, being me, can’t sleep ふくろふはふくろふでわたしはわたしでねむれない

Nothing else I can do I’ll just keep on walking どうしようもないわたしが歩いてゐる

The moon rises A flower blooming Before my eyes 月が昇れりわがまへの花ひらくべし

rising high high higher walking toward the clouds もりもりもりあがる雲へ歩む

A dragonfly landed at my weary feet つかれた脚へとんぼとまった

Even the sound of the rain has grown old 雨だれの音も年とった

Whatever you wish for blows away in the wind 何を求める風の中ゆく

Open the window and the window is filled with Spring 窓あけて窓いっぱいの春

Snow falls endlessly between life and death 生死の中の雪ふりしきる

I keep on walking and the red spider lily keeps on blooming 歩きつづける彼岸花咲きつづける

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R. H. Blyth

Santoka

1964 • show hide

My back view as I go, / Wetted with the winter rain? Ushiro-sugata no shigurete yuku ka

Up to the very end, it is journeying, / And cutting our (toe-) nails. Itsumademo tabi wo suru koto no tsume wo kiru

My native place / Far away: / The buds on the trees. Furusato wa tokushite ki no me

Into the iron bowl also, / Hailstones. Tetsubachi no naka e mo arare

Plop on my kasa / The flower of the camellia! Kasa e pottori tsubaki datta

I have gratefully received it; / It was enough; / I lay down my chopsticks. Itadaite tarife hitori no hashi wo oku

The road became quiet and solitary; / Dokudami is budding. Shizukana michi to nari dokudami no me

A crow is cawing; / I also am by myself. Karasu naite watashi mo hitori

Going further into them, / And further into them, / Still more green mountains. Wake-itte mo wake-itte mo aoi yama

This is the stone, / Drenched with rain, / That marks the way. Shitodo ni nurete kore wa michishirube no ishi

Rained upon / For all our sakes, / Hotoke Sama. Hito no tame ni shigurete hotoke sama

Leaves of the trees fall; / Walking on and on. Ko-no-ha chiru aruki-tsumeru

The snow of life and death / Falls incessantly. Sei-shi no naka no yuki furi-shikiru

Walking through / The bush clover, the pampas grass, / Walking on through them. Fumi-wakeru hagi yo susuki yo

Buoyantly we go / Like the wind, / Tasting water. Hyo-hyo to shite mizu wo ajiwau

I am bitten by mosquitoes, / Quite alone. Hitori de ka ni kuwarete iru

I walk along, / Letting the dragon-fly / Perch on my kasa. Kasa ni tombo wo tomarasete aruku

Cold winter rain; / I am still alive. Shigururu ya shinanaide iru

I am walking; / It cannot be otherwise. Do shiyo mo nai watashi ga aruite oru

Crossing over / A dried up river. Kare-kitta kawa wo wataru

Quite withered up, / It is just beans. Sukkari karete mame to natte iru

I can't throw it away, / But how heavy my pack, / Before and behind! Sutekirenai nimotsu no omosa mae ushiro

I am wet / By the rain / From that cloud. Ano kumo ga otoshita ame ni nurete iru

The grasses / That have become autumn,— / Sitting down in them. Aki to natta zasso ni suwaru

Seeds of grasses; / My monkish robe / Is so worn! Hoi konna ni yaburete kusa no mi

As I grow old, / I yearn for my native place: / Tsukutsukuboshi! Toshi toreba kokyo koishii tsukutsuku-boshi

Together with the sound of the water, / I came down to my native village. Mizuoto to issho ni sato e orite kita

Intently / I eat my meal / Of boiled rice only. Shimi-jimi taberu meshi bakari no meshi de aru

Not a single cloud in the sky; / I take off my kasa. Mattaku kumo ga nai kasa wo nugi

The sound of the rain-drops also / Has grown older. Amadare no oto mo toshi-totta

No house more to beg from; / Clouds over the mountains. Mono kou ie mo naku nari yama ni wa kumo

Has my kasa too / Begun to leak? Kasa mo moridashita ka

The grasses I tread, / Uncertain and fickle, / Are all withered away. Ate mo naku fumiaruku kusa mina karetari

In the warm sunlight / At the foot of the hill, standing side by side, / A few graves. Yama-suso atataka na hi ni narabu haka sukoshi kana

I was silent all day: / Facing the sea, / The tide came up. Ichi-nichi mono iwazu umi ni mukaeba shio michite kinu

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James Abrams

Hail in the Begging Bowl

1977 • show hide

A soft whirling drunk a scattering of leaves. Horohoro yoppaute ki no ha chiru.

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William J. Higginson

Thistle Brilliant Morning

1973 • show hide

further in yet / further in yet / green hills

taking a leisurely pee / in lush sprouting grass

tree leaves fall / walking on and on

on a rock the dragonfly / looks at midday dreams

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Takashi Nonin

Grass Tree Stupa (Somokutoh)

unknown • show hide

Pine trees With branches all drooping—Namu-kanzeon sutra. Matsu wa mina / eda tarete / namu-kanzeon

Ringing the temple-bell To the sound of pine trees; Mornings and evenings. Matsukaze ni / ake kure no / kane tsuite

Sweeping the yard for a change, Flowers in the hedge are in bloom. Hisashiburini haku / kakine no hana ga saita

Getting further and further Into the mountains, But still deep blue mountains. Wakeittemo / wakeittemo / aoi yama

Soaked and Soggy to the core, It's a milestone. Shitodo ni nurete / korewa michishirube no ishi

Under the canopy of scorching heaven I walk and beg. Enten wo itadaite / koi aruku

Lone crow is cawing; I'm alone too. Karasu naite / watashi mo hitori

In the midst of life and death Snow's falling thick and fast. Shoji no naka no / yuki furishikiru

Leaves are falling; I walk and walk. Konoha chiru / aruki tsumeru

All alone, Letting mosquitoes bite my flesh. Hitoride / ka ni kuwareteiru

Stretching my legs To the light of a westering sun. Nagedashite / mada hi no aru ashi

Walking with a dragonfly Resting on my sedge-hat. Kasa ni tombo wo / tomarasete / aruku

It's a straight road That makes me feel lonely. It's a lonely road that has no turning.

In silence I put on straw sandals for today. Damatte / kyo no waraji haku

Late autumn rain's falling; I have yet to die. Shigururu ya / shinanai de iru

My shadow on the water, Traveler I am. Mizu ni kage aru / tabibito de aru

Late autumn rain's falling Into the mountain, Towards which I go on walking. Shigururu ya / shigururu yama e / ayumi iru

Buds of trees, Buds of grasses, I keep on walking. Kinome / kusanome / aruki tsuzukeru

I've survived—Scratching my body. Iki nokotta karada / kaite iru

Mountains I've left for good Are going out of sight. Mata miru koto mo nai yama ga / toozakaru

Crickets are chirping, Chirping to me all the time. Koorogi ni / nakarete bakari

Shrike is chirping; No place to throw away myself. Mozu maite / mi no sutedokoro nashi

Slipped, tumbled, Mountain is quiet and alone. Subette koronde / yama ga hissori

My tired legs—Dragonfly landed on one. Tsukareta ashi e / tombo tomatta

Monk-robe Threadbare so—Grass seeds. Houe / konnani yaburete / kusa no mi

Behind the rocks, Sure enough, a fountain; Eureka! Yuwa kage / masashiku / mizu ga waite iru

Those clouds threw a rain shower; I'm wet through. Ano kumo ga / otoshita ane ni / nurete iru

Autumn is come; Sitting on the weeds. Aki to natta / zasso ni suwaru

Water so tasty, Flowing all over. Konnani umai mizu ga / afurete iru

Have come down to the village With the sound of water. Mizuoto to isshoni / sato e orite kita

No clouds whatsoe'er, I took off my sedge-hat. Mattaku kumo ga nai / kasa wo nugi

Drunk, Found myself sleeping with crickets. Youte / koorogi to / nete itayo

Sound of raindrops, You're getting old, too. Amadare no oto mo / toshi totta

No more doors to beg, Clouds o'er the mountains. Mono gou ie mo nakunari / yama niwa kumo

—Reminiscence—My sedge-hat Getting leaky at last. Kasa mo / moridashita ka

—Self-ridicule—I'm leaving With my backside wet In late autumn rain. Ushiro sugata no / shigurete yuku ka

Into begging bowl of iron Down came the hailstones. Teppachu no naka e mo arare

My native town Far, far away—Burgeoning trees. Furusato wa / tooku shite / ki no me

Getting out of a nice bath Into lovely moonlight. Yoi yu kara / yoi tsuki e deta

Among budding trees Birds are now singing. Haya mebuku ki de / naite iru

Something fell on my sedge-hat—Camellia. Kasa e pottori / tsubaki datta

Eating fully enough with thanks, I put down chopsticks; All alone. Itadaite / tarite hitori no / hashi wo oku

In autumn wind I pick up a pebble. Akikaze no / ishi wo hirou

Alongside today's road Dandelions in bloom. Kyo nomichi no / tampopo saita

It's raining in my hometown; I'm walking barefoot. Ame furu furusato wa / hadashi de aruku

Having moved in and settled down, I'm surrounded by flowers of the opposite shore/ flowers of the autumnal equinox.* Utsuri kite / o-higanbana no / hana zakari

Glory of the morning sky Heralds the coming of rain; Must sow the seeds of radish. Asayake / ame furu / daikon makou

Out of the evening sky I pick and pluck a yuzu-citrus.* Yuuzora kara / yuzu no hitotsu wo morau

Tea-blossoms keep falling—Let them fall as they do. Cha-no-hana no / chiru bakari / chirashite oku

Winter is come; Sticks of wood, Sticks of bamboo. Fuyu ga kiteiru / kigire / takegire

The moon has risen; I'm awaiting nobody and nothing. Tsuki ga nobotte / nani wo matsu deno naku

There's something to eat, This and that—Windy all day. Are kore / taberumo wa atte / kaze no ichinichi

Sound of water—I'm truly settled down and relaxed. Mizuoto / shinjitsu / ochitsuki mashita

Falling leaves—Far beyond, I see Buddha. Ochiba furu oku fukaku / mi-hotoke wo miru

Snow is falling All around Gochu hermitage; I build a fire as a lonely self. Gochu yuki furu / hitori to shite / hi wo taku

Warm day, I have something more to eat. Nukui hi no / mada taberumono wa aru

Snow's falling on snow, I'm in quietude. Yuki e yuki furu / shizukesa ni oru

Moonlit night, He came with a handout gift; I found 'twas rice. tsukiyo / temiyage wa / kome datta-ka

Camellias are in bloom; There are tombstones. Tsubaki hiraite / haka ga aru

A tiny vase, A twig of camellia in it. Ichirin-zashi no / tsubaki ichirin

What's that sound—Must be a bird Eating berries since morning. Oto wa / asa kara kinomi wo tabe ni kita tori ka

Uprooted many a time, Diehard is the weed; I pull out its tenacity. Nuitemo / nuitemo / kusa no shuuchaku wo nuku

Today I picked butterburrs, Ate butterburrs. Kyo wa / fuki wo tsumi / fuki wo tabe

Sparrows dance, Dandelions fall. Suzume odoru ya / tanpopo chiru ya

Morn is about to dawn, Windows just opened—Fresh young leaves. Mou ake souna / mado akete / aoba

Long hair... Gray. Nagai ke ga / shiraga

I'm true and obedient to my mind; Rice has just been cooked well. kokoro sunaoni / gohan ga fuita

It's good after all To be all by myself—Weeds. Yappari / hitori ga yoroshii / zasso

Whole day long No one has come today—Firelies. Kyo mo ichinichi / dare mo konakatta / houtaru

Stark naked I am, Dragonfly trying to land on me. Suppadaka e / tombo tomarou to suru ka

Making a rustling sound, Mute insect has come. Kasari kosori / oto sasete / nakanu mushi ga kita

Wind through the pines; Cool—People eat, horses eat. matsukaze suzushiku / hito mo tabe / uma mo tabe

All day long, today I have walked in the wind. Kyo mo ichinichi / Kaze wo aruite kita

What's this? What's that? Everything is blooming. Nani ga nani yara / minna saite iru

When I walk, I see buttercups; When I sit, I see buttercups. Arukeba kinpohge / suwareba kinpohge

Thistles—Bright in the morning After the rain. Azami azayakana / asa no ame agari

Hanging down my head, I see nothing but pebbles. Utsumuite / ishikoro bakari

Drippings from young leaves, Drippings from my bamboo-hat. Wakaba no shizuku de / kasa no shizuku de

Come on, fireflies, come on; I've come to my native town. Houtaru koi koi / furusato ni kita

Bamboo sprouts of the temple Have grown into bamboos. Otera no takenoko / take ni natta

Wind through the pines, Shadows of the pines; I'm lying down in the shade. Matsukaze matsukage / nekoronde

Day is breaking; I whet a sickle. Akete kuru / kama wo togu

I'm listening alone—Woodpecker. Hitori kiite ite / kitsutsuki

The spa—Gushing out and overflowing: I immerse my body in it. Waite afureru nakani / neteiru

I'm waiting; Cherries are ripe. Matte iru / sakuranbo urete iru

Nestling down in the mountain (spa), I doff my clothes. Yama futokoro no / hadaka to nari

A whole day in the mountains; Ants are walking, too. Yama no ichinichi / ari mo aruite iru

Clouds are sailing fast To make the moon look better. Kumo ga isoide / yoi tsuki ni suru

I'm always alone, Red dragonfly. Itsumo hitori de / akatombo

I'm on travel; Until my monk's robe dries up, Wind comes from the weeds. Tabi no houe ga / kawaku made / zasso no kaze

It wiggles; A bagworm. Ugoite / minomushi datta yo

Across the water Lights of the brothels Began to twinkle. Mizu wo hedatete / onagoya no hi ga / matataki dashita

The mountains Hazed and overlapped—My home town. Kasunde Kasanatte / yama ga furusato

In the spring breeze One begging-bowl is there. Harukaze no / hachinoko hitotsu

—Returning to my hermitage—I'm home after a long absence; Bamboo sprouts are shooting forth Everywhere. Hisabisa modoreba / takenoko nyoki nyoki

Soaked with rain and sweat, Plough-horse gets many a scolding. Bisshori nurete / shiro kaku uma wa / shikararete bakari

Rain and shine—The fields have turned Into green paddies. Haretari futtari / aota ni natta

A thicket—That's the place Corpses are cremated. kusa shigeru / soko wa shinin wo / yaku tokoro

Wet with morning dew, I take a wayward course. Asatsuyu shittori / Ikitai hou e iku

Little cuckoos—I will go beyond That mountain morrow. Hototogisu / asu wa ano yama / koete ikou

Doffing my bamboo-hat, I'm thoroughly wet. Kasa wo nugi / shimizimi to nure

cockroach! your whiskers are long and so are mine Aburamushi / omae no hige mo / nobite iru

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Jesse Glass

Santoka Translations

2005 • show hide

This journey without goal weeping locust.

Between life death / snow still falling.

Road no end loneliness.

On my straw hat dragonfly clings keep walking.

In this blizzard try to sleep, not die.

Rain falling on home country walk barefoot / here.

Push apart step thru push apart step thru blue-green mountain.

These my hands these my feet warm inside

All night long dogs bark, I walk.

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Kametaro

Santôka

1980 • show hide

One washes rice in a metal pot; only one pot, that's enough for me. Hitotsu areba koto taru nabeno kome o togu.

I wash rice in a metal pot; one pot's enough. Hitotsu areba koto taru nabeno kome o togu.

Washing rice in a metal pot; one pot's enough. Hitotsu areba koto taru nabeno kome o togu.

Oh cricket! there is enough rice, at least for tomorrow. Korogi yo, asu no kome dake wa aru.

In your company going this way and that... the smoke of train. Anta to ko-shite kisha ga itta ri kitari suru kemuri.

The old home in the rain... I walk barefooted. Ame furu furu-sato wa hadashi de aruku.

Into my begging bowl, i too, hailstones. Teppatsu no naka e mo arare.

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Michael Hoffman

The Poetry of Santoka

1988 • show hide

No path but this one—I walk alone.

Walking into the wind, heaping abuse upon myself.

Stretching out my feet; Some daylight still remains.

A steady autumn drizzle, one road, straight ahead.

At the tobacco shop no cigarettes, a cold rain falls.

The deep, cool moon Appears between the buildings.

Going deeper, And still deeper—The green mountains.

I push my way through, push my way through, green mountains

Thinking of nothing, I walk among A forest of withered trees.

soppy with morning dew / I go off / in any direction I please

drizzly rain / only one road / to go by

husband and wife quarreling / night / spiders dangle down

as muddy water flows / it becomes clear

hurry down the road / never look back

no help / for the likes of me / I go on walking

get drunk / you hear all sorts of voices / winter rain

Heaven / doesn't kill me / it makes me write poems

even in / my iron begging bowl / hailstones

autumn wind / for all my walking / for all my walking

stretching out my feet / they touch the man from Shikoku

tree fallen over / sitting on it

on the road / a tooth / about to come loose

cold clouds / hurrying

not a cloud in sight / off comes my hat

camellia / I turned to look back at / red

nearly run over / by a car / cold cold road

the deeper I go / the deeper I go / green mountains

even in my iron begging bowl hailstones

a drink would be nice now sunset sky

all day in the mountains ants too are walking

autumn wind for all my walking—- for all my walking—-

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Sean Somers

Taneda Santôka

2007 • show hide

the Hotei statue: / rubbed rather bald, but laughing still. sukkari hagete hotei wa waraitsuzuketeiru

A great harvest, / sighs, the moon content. yoi o-minori no sayasaya o-tsuki-sama

Roadside, taking a piss, / soaking the scrub-grass. nonbiri shito suru kusa no me darake

Winter's rain, I scale the / slick stone steps... / Santa Maria. fuyu ame no ishidan o noboru santa maria

The moon so luminous — / and showing where / the bombs will fall? tsuki no akarusa wa doko o bakugeki shite iru koto ka

From behind, going: shape soaked in winter-rain. ushiro-sugata no shigurete yuku ka

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John Stevens

The 5th Season

2007 • show hide

wordless / i put on my waraji / for today damatte kyô no waraji haku

lips clenched / i put on today's footwear damatte kyô no waraji haku

New Year's Eve / is dumb and New Year's / even dumber ômisoka oroka nari ganjitsu nao oraoka nari

this morning / i guess i'll clip the nails / of the new year asu wa ganjitsu no tsume demo kirô

i guess i'll clip / my new year nails / this morning asu wa ganjitsu no tsume demo kirô

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John Stevens

Cherry Blossom Epiphany

2007 • show hide

the blossoms / have become leaves so / tokyo, i leave hana ga ha ni naru tôkyô yo sayônara

hey, tokyo / your blossoms are leaves: / good-bye! hana ga ha ni naru tôkyô yo sayônara

well, the cherries / they blossomed in a wink / we meet, we part itsu to naku sakura ga saite atte wa wakareru

i almost missed / the cherry's bloom: soon as / we meet we part itsu to naku sakura ga saite atte wa wakareru

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