A field of cotton

A field of cotton--
as if the moon
had flowered.

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Matsuo Basho
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Chilling autumn rains

Chilling autumn rains
curtain Mount Fuji, then make it
more beautiful to see

poem by Matsuo Basho
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Sleep on horseback

Sleep on horseback,
The far moon in a continuing dream,
Steam of roasting tea.

poem by Matsuo Basho
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the men of old; seek what they sought.

classic quote by Matsuo Basho
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy! | In Spanish | In Italian | In Romanian

Midfield

Midfield,
attached to nothing,
the skylark singing.

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Matsuo Basho
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

As they begin to rise again

As they begin to rise again
Chrysanthemums faintly smell,
After the flooding rain

poem by Matsuo Basho
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

On Buddha's deathday

On Buddha's deathday,
wrinkled tough old hands pray –
the prayer beads' sound

poem by Matsuo Basho
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Stillness

Stillness--
the cicada's cry
drills into the rocks.

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Matsuo Basho
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

A snowy morning

A snowy morning--
by myself,
chewing on dried salmon.

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Matsuo Basho
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

The morning glory also

The morning glory also
turns out
not to be my friend.

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Matsuo Basho
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!