Part 4

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Sacred Texts Japan

Japanese Haiku, by Peter Beilenson, [1955], at sacred-texts.com

p. 36

LADY BUTTERFLY PERFUMES HER WINGS BY FLOATING OVER THE ORCHID
BASHO

IF STRANGERS THREATEN TURN INTO FAT GREEN BULLFROGS... POND-COOLING MELONS
ISSA

YELLOW EVENING SUN ... LONG SHADOW OF THE SCARECROW REACHES TO THE ROAD
SHOHA

A CAMELLIA DROPPED DOWN INTO STILL WATERS OF A DEEP DARK WELL
BUSON

p. 37

FOR THE EMPEROR HIMSELF HE WILL NOT LIFT HIS HAT ... A STIFF-BACKED SCARECROW
DANSUI

IN THE HOLY DUSK NIGHTINGALES BEGIN THEIR PSALM... GOOD! THE DINNER-GONG!
BUSON

LIVE IN SIMPLE FAITH ... JUST AS THIS TRUSTING CHERRY FLOWERS, FADES, AND FALLS
ISSA

NIGHT IS BRIGHT WITH STARS ... SILLY WOMAN, WHIMPERING: SHALL I LIGHT THE LAMP?
ETSUJIN

p. 38

BLACK DESOLATE MOOR... I BOW BEFORE THE BUDDHA LIGHTED IN THUNDER
KAKEI

DIRTY BATH-WATER WHERE CAN I POUR YOU? ... INSECTS SINGING IN THE GRASS
ONITSURA

WEE BITTER CRICKET CRYING ALL THIS SUNNY DAY ... OR IS HE LAUGHING?
OEMARU

A SHORT SUMMER NIGHT... BUT IN THIS SOLEMN DARKNESS ONE PEONY BLOOMED
BUSON

p. 39

LONG THE SUMMER DAY ... PATTERNS ON THE OCEAN SAND... OUR IDLE FOOTPRINTS
SHIKI

ANGRY I STRODE HOME... BUT STOOPING IN MY GARDEN CALM OLD WILLOW-TREE
RYOTA

OH DO NOT SWAT THEM ... UNHAPPY FLIES FOREVER WRINGING THEIR THIN HANDS
ISSA

SEE ... THE HEAVY LEAF ON THE SILENT WINDLESS DAY ... FALLS OF ITS OWN WILL
BONCHO

p. 40

RASH TOM-CAT LOVER... CARELESS EVEN OF THAT RICE STUCK IN YOUR WHISKERS
TAIGI

MOON SO BRIGHT FOR LOVE! OH, HEAR THE FARMER BY THAT LIGHT... FLAILING HIS LOVELY RICE!
ETSUJIN

NOW THE SWINGING BRIDGE IS QUIETED WITH CREEPERS... LIKE OUR TENDRILLED LIFE
BASHO

DANCING IN MY SILKS MONEY TOSSED ITSELF AWAY... PRETTY, THIS PAPER DRESS!
SONO-JO

p. 41

THE SEA DARKENING... OH VOICES OF THE WILD DUCKS CRYING, WHIRLING, WHITE
BASHO

WHITE MOTH, FLUTTER OFF: FLY BACK INTO MY BREAST NOW QUICKLY, MY OWN SOUL!
WAFU

NINE TIMES ARISING TO SEE THE MOON... WHOSE SOLEMN PACE MARKS ONLY MIDNIGHT YET
BASHO

WATCHING, I WONDER WHAT POET COULD PUT DOWN HIS QUILL... A PLUPERFECT MOON!
ONITSURA

p. 42

DO YOUR WORST, OLD FROST YOU CAN NO LONGER WOUND ME ... LAST CHRYSANTHEMUM I
OEMARU

PEBBLES SHINING CLEAR, AND CLEAR SIX SILENT FISHES... DEEP AUTUMN WATER
BUSON

A BRIGHT AUTUMN MOON... IN THE SHADOW OF EACH GRASS AN INSECT CHIRPING
BUSON

YOU TURN AND SUDDENLY THERE IN PURPLING AUTUMN SKY ... WHITE FUJIAMI
ONITSURA

p. 43

HERE, WHERE A THOUSAND CAPTAINS SWORE GRAND CONQUEST ... TALL GRASS THEIR MONUMENT
BASHO

YELLOW AUTUMN MOON... UNIMPRESSED THE SCARECROW STANDS SIMPLY LOOKING BORED
ISSA

WHITE CHRYSANTHEMUM ... BEFORE THAT PERFECT FLOWER SCISSORS HESITATE
BUSON

CRUEL AUTUMN WIND CUTTING TO THE VERY BONES... OF MY POOR SCARECROW
ISSA

p. 44

NOW IN LATE AUTUMN LOOK, ON MY OLD RUBBISH-HEAP ... BLUE MORNING-GLORY
TAIGI

A SINGLE CRICKET CHIRPS, CHIRPS, CHIRPS, AND IS STILL ... MY CANDLE SINKS AND DIES
ANON.

FIREWORKS ENDED AND SPECTATORS GONE AWAY... AHD HOW VAST AND DARK!
SHIKI

TWO ANCIENT PINE-TREES ... A PAIR OF GNARLED AND STURDY HANDS WITH TEN GREEN FINGERS
RYOTO

p. 45

I MUST TURN OVER... BEWARE OF LOCAL EARTHQUAKES BEDFELLOW CRICKET!
ISSA

OH! I ATE THEM ALL AND OH! WHAT A STOMACH-ACHE... GREEN STOLEN APPLES
SHIKI

NOW IN SAD AUTUMN AS I TAKE MY DARKENING PATH ... A SOLITARY BIRD
BASHO

AT OUR LAST PARTING BENDING BETWEEN BOAT AND SHORE... THAT WEEPING WILLOW
SHIKI

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