These collection posts just keep coming. We are up to the 5th collection of Haiku posts! This one features our usually suspects—Basho, Issa, Shiki—but also several others for your enjoyment.
If any of the haiku catch your fancy, click the title to visit a page specifically about that haiku, providing some info, hints for understanding it, or background.
つばき落ち鶏鳴き椿また落ちる
tsubaki ochi tori naki tsubaki mata ochiru
—Baishitsu
a camellia falls
a rooster crows
another camellia falls
雪ふるよ障子の穴を見てあれば
yuki furu yo shōji no ana o mite areba
—Shiki
it's snowing!
I can see it
through a hole in the shoji
朝顔の花で葺たる庵哉
asagao no hana de fukitaru iori kana
—Issa
covered with
morning glories...
my small shack
今朝秋や見入る鏡に親の顔
kesa akiya miiru kagamini oyano kao
—Murakami
autumn morning
in the mirror I see
my father's face
蜻蛉釣り今日はどこまで行ったやら
tombo tsuri kyou wa doko made itta yara
—Chiyo-ni
my little dragonfly hunter
I wonder how far
he has gone today...
落花枝にかへると見れば胡蝶哉
rakka eda ni kaeru to mireba kochoo kana
—Moritake
fallen blossom
returning to the branch?
ah, no—a butterfly
夏草や兵どもが夢の跡
Natsukusa ya tsuwamono-domo ga yume no ato
—Basho
summer grass...
the only remains
of the soldiers' dreams
梨さくや戦のあとの崩れ家
nashi saku ya ikusa no ato no kuzure ie
—Shiki
a pear tree in bloom
by the ruins of a house
on an old battleground
裏を見せ表を見せて散る紅葉
ura wo mise omote wo misete chiru
—Ryōkan
it shows its back
then, its front
falling autumn leaf
蝸牛そろそろ登れ富士の山
Katatsumuri sorosoro nobore Fuji no yama
—Issa
O snail
little by little climb
Mount Fuji
And there we go. Hope you enjoyed. Remember, you can click on the title of each haiku to go to the original post on that haiku where I give some commentary on the poem and perhaps some insight.
Also note, all of these were translated by me, except where otherwise noted. Feel free to use any of these translations anywhere you want, but if you do, please credit me (or the proper translator). I ask that not so much because of my ego, but as a haiku reader myself I always want to know who did the translation so I can find more from them if I like it, so I'm always glad when books or websites provide this info.
Needless to say, if you enjoyed any of these, follow me for more. I try to post one a day. Sometimes I miss a day if work or family gets in the way, but I do try to keep up. Also, I copy and paste these collection posts and probably don't proofread as carefully as I should. If you catch any mistakes, please point them out so I can fix them.
If you liked these, there are more! Here are the other collections in the Haiku of Japan series.
- Collection 1, haiku 1–10
- Collection 2, haiku 11–20
- Collection 3, haiku 21–30
- Collection 4, haiku 31–40
If you enjoyed this post, please like and resteem. Also be sure to follow me to see more from Japan everyday.
I post one photo everyday, as well as a haiku and as time allows, videos, more Japanese history, and so on. Let me know if there is anything about Japan you would like to know more about or would like to see.
 | David LaSpina is an American photographer lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time. |