Kobayashi Issa
At my daughter's grave, thirty days
after her death:
Windy fall—
these are the scarlet flowers
she liked to pick.
Approaching my village:
Don't know about the people,
but all the scarecrows
are crooked.
Translated by Robert Hass
I'm going out,
flies, so relax,
make love.
Hey, sparrow!
out of the way,
Horse is coming.
How much
are you enjoying yourself,
tiger moth?
In this world
we walk on the roof of hell,
gazing at flowers.
Napped half the day;
no one
punished me!
New Year's morning:
the ducks on the pond
quack and quack.
The pheasant cries
as if it just noticed
the mountain.
In spring rain
a pretty girl
yawning.
Napping at midday
I hear the song of rice planters
and feel ashamed of myself.
The snow is melting
and the village is flooded
with children.