What a strange thing

What a strange thing!
to be alive
beneath cherry blossoms.

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Kobayashi Issa
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Don't Kill That Fly!

Look, don't kill that fly!
It is making a prayer to you
By rubbing its hands and feet.

poem by Kobayashi Issa
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New Year's morning

New Year's morning:
the ducks on the pond
quack and quack.

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Kobayashi Issa
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Summer night

Summer night--
even the stars
are whispering to each other.

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Kobayashi Issa
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Blossoms at night

Blossoms at night,
and the faces of people
moved by music.

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Kobayashi Issa
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Face of the spring moon

Face of the spring moon--
about twelve years old,
I'd say.

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Kobayashi Issa
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The crow

The crow
walks along there
as if it were tilling the field.

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Kobayashi Issa
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All the time I pray to Buddha

All the time I pray to Buddha
I keep on
killing mosquitoes.

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Kobayashi Issa
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That wren

That wren--
looking here, looking there.
You lose something?

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Kobayashi Issa
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The snow is melting

The snow is melting
and the village is flooded
with children.

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Kobayashi Issa
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