Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Haiku Harvest

This is a collection of translations of some very old Japanese Haiku by Peter Beilenson and Harry Behn published in the 1960s. Most of this poetry is on nature and seasons but there are a few that occupied my thoughts for a while.

So cold are the waves
The rocking gull

Can scarcely

Fold itself to sleep. - Basho



When the autumn wind

Scatters peonies,

A few

Petals fall in pairs. - Buson



As she washes rice,

Her smiling face

Is briefly

Lit by a firefly. - Anon.

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